Following feedback from teachers, we have updated the specifications and sample assessment materials for the following Level 1/Level 2 Cambridge National qualifications:

• Sport Science J828 (version 7)
• Sport Studies J829 (version 6) 

Updated specifications

The specification amendments we've made include the following:

For Sport Science Unit R181, we have updated marking criteria for Topic Area 2 to improve clarity.

For Sport Studies, we have made the following amendments to improve clarity:

• Unit R186: updated marking criteria for Topic Area 2 
• Unit R187: updated assessment guidance for Task 3.

For both specifications, our amendments also include:

• confirmation the unit recording sheets (URS) and set assignment feedback forms are now only available on Teach Cambridge
• clarification that on candidate results day we publish the raw mark to UMS converter on our website for the relevant series
• new details about our online training module
• a new section added on Informing students of their marks
• updated guidance on:
  • centre approval
  • plagiarism, including the use of AI
  • resubmitting moderated work
  • access to scripts.

We have listed all the amendments and corresponding section numbers at the front of the updated specifications.

You can view and download the updated specifications from qualification pages on our website and Teach Cambridge.

Please make sure you use the new versions of the specifications with your students from 1 June 2026.

Amended sample assessment material

To reflect the marking criteria in the amended specifications, we’ve also updated the sample assessment materials and unit recording sheets as follows:

• Sport Science Unit R181 – Task 3 has been updated to provide clarity, including the marking criteria.
• Sport Studies Unit R186 – Task 2 marking criteria amended so that ‘Media Source’ is now ‘Media Source(s)’
• Sport Studies Unit R187 – Task 3 now includes a Risk Assessment Template. Updates made to the task to provide clarity. 

You can view and download the Sport Science and Sport Studies sample assessment materials from the Assessment > Sample assessment materials section of the qualification pages on our website and Teach Cambridge.

Please make sure you are using the correct versions of the unit recording sheets with your students when they complete their NEA assessments for the 2027 series. You should also review the updated marking criteria and task instructions when using the 2027 Cambridge OCR-set assignments, available from 1 June 2026 on Teach Cambridge.

We would like to thank teachers for their feedback. We hope the changes we have made to the specifications support the teaching of these Cambridge National qualifications.

If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998 or email support@ocr.org.uk.

Qualifications

• Sport Science Level 1/Level 2 – J828
• Sport Studies Level 1/Level 2 – J829