Jon Varey, PE and Sport Subject Advisor

When you're marking Cambridge Nationals Sport Studies and Sport Science NEA units, one of the questions you might ask yourself is, “What does work at each mark band actually look like?"

Candidate exemplars can help. They show previously moderated candidate work alongside commentary explaining how the marking criteria were applied. Used appropriately, they can help build confidence in assessment decisions and support consistency when marking candidates' work across your centre. Exemplar work can be found on Teach Cambridge in the assessment section for our Cambridge National qualifications.

Start with the right purpose

One of the most important things to remember is that candidate exemplars are assessment support resources for teachers.

The purpose of these documents is to help teachers understand how marks were awarded and to support the marking of their own candidates' work. They are not teaching resources and should not be used to deliver the qualification.

When reviewing an exemplar, try to focus on the moderator commentary as much as the candidate response itself. Ask yourself:

• why was this mark awarded?
• which parts of the marking criteria have been met?
• what evidence was particularly strong?
• what prevented the work from achieving the next mark band?

This can help you build a clearer understanding of the assessment standard expected.

Keep candidate exemplars for teacher use

Moderated candidate exemplar materials are intended solely for teacher use. They must not be shared with candidates, either electronically or as printed copies. Teachers should not use them as classroom resources, model answers, or examples for students to follow. Sharing exemplar materials with students is not permitted and could result in concerns about assessment authenticity and potential malpractice investigations.

If you're looking for resources that can be used directly with students, Teach Cambridge provides a range of approved support materials, including sample assessment materials and lesson preparation packs.

Always check the current assignment

Candidate exemplars come from previous assessment series, so they reflect the marking approach applied at that time.

While they are valuable for understanding standards, teachers should always refer to the live assignment and current assessment guidance for the series being delivered.

This is particularly important if you're using exemplars as part of department standardisation activities. Use them to understand standards but always assess current work against the requirements of the live assignment.

Supporting students with referencing

Referencing is another area teachers often ask us about.

Students should always use their own words to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. Where students use information from books, journals, websites, online sources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, the source must be acknowledged appropriately.

The Student Guide to NEA Assignments explains that presenting information from other sources as a student's own work is not acceptable and reminds centres and students to follow their school's policy regarding the use of AI. This useful guide will help students to understand what should be referenced and why.

Developing good referencing habits from the beginning of the course can help students produce authentic work and avoid unnecessary issues later in the assessment process.

Make use of the wider support available

Candidate exemplars are just one part of the support available for Cambridge Nationals Sport Studies and Sport Science. I would thoroughly recommend reading and understanding the specification to further help with your understanding.

We also provide online professional development, assessment support materials and a range of resources through Teach Cambridge to help centres with the delivery and assessment of moderated units.

These resources can be particularly useful if you're new to the qualification or would simply like additional reassurance that you're on the right track.

Making the most of candidate exemplars

Candidate exemplars are one of the best tools available for helping teachers understand assessment standards, but they work best when they're used for their intended purpose.

Use them to support marking, standardisation, and professional development. Focus on the moderator commentary, compare the evidence against the marking criteria, and always refer back to the live assignment when assessing current candidates.

And finally, remember that candidate exemplars are for teachers only and should not be shared with students. Using them correctly helps maintain the integrity of the assessment while giving teachers valuable insight into how the marking criteria are applied.

Stay connected

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About the author

Jon joined Cambridge OCR as a PE and sport subject advisor in September 2021 having taught in a variety of secondary schools across the country for over 20 years, gaining a wealth of experience and subject knowledge. During this time, he has set up, delivered, and assessed a wide range of courses within physical education and sport. In his spare time, he is a keen runner and enthusiastic mountain biker, enjoys attending sporting and music events when possible and walking his two whippets.