Key Skills allow learners to prove their ability to use certain transferable skills, equipping them for the workplace and further education.
The qualifications are targeted at pre- and post-16 learners. They are designed to improve students' motivation, progression and achievement.
The Key Skills qualifications (Communication, Application of Number and ICT) are assessed through an external test (England and Northern Ireland only) and internally-assessed portfolio. The Wider Key Skills (Working with Others, Problem Solving and Improving Own Learning Performance) are assessed through an internally-assessed portfolio only.
ACS
Accredited Centre Status (ACS) is the title for OCR's new assessment model. ACS allows centres who have demonstrated consistently accurate assessment standards to directly claim Key Skills portfolio achievements. The key feature of the model is the enhanced trust placed on centres and the professional judgements of teachers/assessors.
Centres must have achieved two successful standards moderation visits in order to claim ACS.