Release of 2025-26 V Cert non-exam assessment (NEA) materials
We wanted to let you know that the DRAFT assessment materials for the upcoming V Cert non-exam assessments are now available. You can access these materials in the Portal, see below for detailed instructions.
We’ve published this watermarked draft ahead of releasing the final version that you can deliver to learners. We’ll publish the final version on Wednesday 1 October.
The clarification window was implemented to allow you to submit your questions before the assessment goes live. This process enables us to collate all enquiries and share comprehensive answers with all centres at the same time, ensuring fairness and consistency. Find out more about the clarification window (which closes on Tuesday 16 September) and how to submit your questions to us below.
What qualifications have an NEA?
- NCFE CACHE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Child Development and Care in the Early Years (603/7012/9)
- NCFE CACHE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Health and Social Care (603/7013/0)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Business and Enterprise (603/7004/X)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Creative Design and Production (603/7003/8)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Engineering (603/7006/3)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Food and Cookery (603/7014/2)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Graphic Design (603/7011/7)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Health and Fitness (603/7007/5)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Interactive Media (603/7005/1)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Technology (603/7008/7)
- NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Sports Studies (603/7010/5)
How do I access the NEA brief?
To access the live NEA, your learners need to register in the current assessment window, then you can follow the below steps:
- log in to the Portal
- go to the 'Bookings' tab and click ‘View Assessments’
- search for a batch number or product code to find students on the relevant qualification/assignment
- select all learners by checking the box
- scroll to the bottom and click ‘View Bookings’
- click on the desired component and a drop down will appear
- click the material link to download it.
Clarification window – submit your questions to us before Tuesday 16 September
Once you’ve reviewed the draft NEA, you can ask any clarification questions to us through this form. The clarification window closes on Tuesday 16 September. From this point, we’ll review all the questions we’ve received and respond on our website when the final NEA is published on Wednesday 1 October. Please note, once an assessment is live, we may be unable to answer questions about the materials directly as this could potentially compromise the integrity of the assessment. Additionally, responding to individual queries after the finalised assessment is live may disadvantage other learners and centres if we cannot provide the same information to all participants at the same time.
If you have questions about the live assessment, please refer to:
- Clarification documents: Answers to questions raised during the clarification window will be available in the clarification document for each qualification. These will be available once the assessment goes lives.
- JCQ guidance: For additional information about V Cert delivery or regulatory questions, please refer to the JCQ guidance document.
The non-exam assessment (NEA) is a formal synoptic assessment that requires learners to independently apply an appropriate selection of knowledge, understanding, skills and techniques, developed through the full course of study, to a real-world situation.
Before the NEA, learners are given a project brief related to their chosen sector and will carry out a synoptic project based on this. Synoptic assessment is an important part of a high-quality vocational qualification because it shows that learners have achieved a holistic understanding of the sector.
The summer 2026 pack contains the live assessment materials, including a learner version and a centre version, which contains a mark scheme.
To access the live NEA, available from Wednesday 1 October, your learners need to be registered on the current assessment window, then follow the below steps:
- log in to the Portal
- go to the 'Bookings' tab and click ‘View Assessments’
- search for a batch number or product code to find students on the relevant qualification/assignment
- select all learners by checking the box
- scroll to the bottom and click ‘View Bookings’
- click on the desired component and a drop down will appear
- click the material link to download it.
Read more in the Portal User Guide.