Administration at a glance

Cambridge Technicals - 2012 suite

Whether you’re new to OCR, or already offer our qualifications, you might find our admin overview useful. This outlines the main administration processes for our Cambridge Technical (2012 suite) qualifications, and will guide you to the relevant, detailed information on our website.

1. Get approved

The first step to offering Cambridge Technicals is to become an approved centre. For this, you’ll need to complete the vocational centre approval form.

You need approval for each suite of qualifications (e.g. IT or Media) and you can only enter candidates for the qualifications you are approved to offer.

2. Make entries

For Cambridge Technicals you make entries via Interchange or A2C using basedata.

Enter candidates for either the full qualification or individual units. Do not enter them for both. There are no entry or resit rules. See the entry codes booklet.

There are no entry deadlines but you should make entries at least four weeks before a planned moderation visit.

3. Arrange moderation and make claims

Candidate work is assessed and standardised by centre staff and then externally moderated by an OCR visiting moderator. This can take place at any time.

The moderator will contact you to agree mutually convenient dates for moderation.

Two free moderations per subject, per academic year are available. If you’re delivering both 2012 and 2016 suites, your two free visits will cover both suites.

To receive results in time for university entrance (or to coincide with the GCSE/A Level results release), book your final visit by 1 June so the visit is completed by 30 June.

When you’re ready to submit candidates’ work for external moderation, make a claim for each candidate via Interchange.

Make claims at least two weeks before the scheduled moderation.

See the visiting moderation page for more details.

4. Prepare the sample for the visit

Once the claims have been submitted via Interchange, your visiting moderator will select a sample.

You will receive an email from Interchange telling you the sample is ready to view.

You must make sure this work is available at the moderation visit, where the moderator will decide whether the work meets the agreed standards.

At the end of each visit, the moderator will discuss the outcomes and agree any action required.

5. Receive results

Once moderation has taken place and the OCR moderator has confirmed your learners’ claims, we will issue electronic results and a hard copy report.

A moderation report is completed by the OCR moderator and emailed to the centre within 48 hours of the moderation.

6. Receive certificates

Once a candidate has achieved a unit, unit certificates will be issued. Once a candidate has achieved the required number of units required for the whole qualification they are entered for, the overall certificate will be automatically issued.

For a different size qualification to be issued, you need to make a top up/move down entry to trigger the certificate.

7. Query results

If you have questions about results, including missing results, use one of our post-results services.

If you’re still unhappy with the post-results decision then you may be able to appeal.

Check the fees for each service.

8. Need support?

We’re here to support you throughout the assessment cycle and we produce a range of tools and additional guidance material you may find useful.

Find your local Customer Support Manager, and your local exams officer or teacher network.

Keep up to date with our monthly exams officer update and subject information updates, plus our regular blog posts.