Entries - Vocational Qualifications

A. Yes. The candidate may be entered for the examination the following year, using the same company number.

A. Please view the timetable and key dates page for the latest dates for entering candidates for timetabled exams. Centres are advised to enter prior to this date to enable checking of candidate entries. Centres should note that there are no amendments permitted after this date.

A. Yes. This must be written on to the NQF1 form (D784) that is used to enter candidates for the qualification. It must be written in the column headed 'Centre Candidate Number (if applicable)(20 characters max)'.

A. Details on entry fees can be found in the OCR fees list.

A. Late entry fees are applicable from the day after the published entries closing date. Late fees are applied in two stages. Details on the level of late entry fees can be found in the OCR fees list.

A. All CPC modules achieved to the syllabus current until the December 2005 examinations will initially be given credit towards the new 2006 syllabus full CPC qualifications. Earlier syllabus modular achievements can no longer be recognised towards full CPC qualifications.

A. Entries withdrawn within one month of the associated entry closing date will be refunded their entry fee(s). Exceptions to this are candidates who are withdrawn on medical grounds or bereavement. To claim a refund for a candidate withdrawn on medical grounds the production of a medical certificate will be required by OCR. Bereaved or deceased candidates will need to be notified on school headed paper. Both documents should be forwarded to: Manager, Candidate Data, OCR, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU. These details can be found in the OCR fees list.

A. Candidates should approach their Centre in the first instance for all queries.

For information on a wide range of queries, including examination dates and information on scheme content, please contact the Customer Contact Centre on 02476 851509 or vocational.qualifications@ocr.org.uk.

For all aspects concerning the administration of the qualifications, including processing of candidate entries and results, please contact the Operations Team on 02476 470033.

For results enquiries, please contact Vocational Assessment Business Support Services on 02476 470033.

A. EDI entry and amendment files will receive a confirmation message from OCR upon downloading the file. Centres will receive entry feedback documentation confirming the individual entries received. These documents are normally produced with 48hrs of successfully loading of the entries. Alternatively, Centres may contact the Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 who can access this information.

A. Upgrading was only available until June 2004. You will now have to re-take all four units to achieve a full National and International CPC certificate.

A. Details on the despatch dates of question papers can be found on the OCR Key Dates posters and in the Administration section of the website.

A. Check that the UCI number allocated to the candidate for the session is the same as in previous session. If this differs an entry amendment will need to be forwarded to OCR Candidate Data. If the UCI from a previous session needs to be changed, Centres should submit a request in writing to Candidate Data, OCR, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU or fax 01223 552742.

Additional entries may need to be made for the missing units, or the certification code may need to be withdrawn if the candidate is not expecting to complete the course in this session.

If the candidate is attempting to improve upon a previous certification grade in retaking selected unit(s), you will need to check that the previous grade has been declined. Application to decline a previous grade will need to be forwarded to OCR Candidate Data along with the original certificate for the grade being declined. Please note grades can not be declined for candidates who will then be in breach of the resit rules.

A. Entries can be withdrawn upto two weeks prior to the issue of results.

A. You can't! However through careful administration you can ensure that the resit rules will not impact on you. Key documents to monitor are the Cumulative Specification Results Report, Statements of Results and Cumulative Statements of Results. All of these highlight candidates that may not be re-entered for specific units until those that are currently 'banked' are used towards certification. This will help you ensure that candidates do not begin studying for units that they will not be allowed to enter for.

A. Statement of Results display results for units and certifications entered in a specific session. Historical results data can be found on the Cumulative Specification Results Report. Details of which units have been used in calculating the certification grade can also be found on the Cumulative Specification Results Report

A. Amended certificates can only be replaced once original certificates have been returned to: Candidate Data, OCR, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU.

A. The use of Forecast Grades is defined by the Code of Practice (2002/03 edition - paragraphs 117 ix, 120 and 123), issued by QCA. This states that Awarding Bodies must use the Centres' Forecast Grades for all candidates when setting the grade boundaries. The Code goes on to indicate that the use must extend to internally assessed units and also the certification. They provide valuable information when grade boundaries are set, when candidates are identified for Marking review, when a candidate is absent through sickness, or when a candidate requires special consideration. Information relating to Forecast Grades can be found in the Administrative Guide to General qualifications.

A. UCIs (Unique Candidate Identifiers) are unique 13 digit numbers which are allocated to each candidate and are used to link candidates' unit results for certification. All qualifications now require candidates' to be allocated a UCI and entries submitted without one will be rejected and the Centre requested to supply them. Centres are required to supply the first 12 digits and OCR will allocate the 13th (check) digit.

A. Entry amendments can be made by submitting an EDI amendment file via your EDI carrier. Alternatively, Centres can complete a Centre Entry Amendments form (CEA) or by supplying the details on centre headed paper. Details on making entry amendments can be found in the Administrative Guide to General qualifications.

A. Centres wishing to decline a candidates grade after the advertised deadline for the session need to submit their request in writing, justify the delay in requesting this service, along with returning the original certificate. These documents should be forwarded to: Manager, Candidate Data, OCR, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU.

Please note that if the grade being declined has been awarded whilst the candidate was at a previous centre, the previous centre will need to request the decline.

A. Yes, all centres will need to seek centre approval to deliver the new qualifications. Centre approval forms can be found on the back of the qualification datasheets and in the Tutor's Handbook.

Centre approval is free of charge. However, where a centre is not already an approved OCR examination centre, it may be necessary to implement a centre inspection visit. There is a fee for this visit.

A. The number of exams is identified within the Tutor's Handbook, but centres should always refer to the Vendor web site for clarification and exact details. An example would be the CompTIA A+ exam which requires 2 exams and therefore 2 vouchers to be purchased.

A. Not necessarily. They may be different. The Examiner-moderator details are sent to centres after candidates have been entered for the qualification. The Examiner details are sent with the question papers along with a label preprinted with the Examiner details.

A. Centres entering candidates must enter the candidate as either a School candidate or a Private candidate. However, candidates entered at different centres may have different statuses.