The graphs below show the grade distributions of Vocational and Technical Performance Table Qualifications (PTQs).
The PTQ types included here are:
- Applied Generals
- Technical Awards
- Technical Certificates
- Tech Levels
To use this interactive visualisation, please make selections via the dropdown boxes. The options presented within each dropdown are dependent upon selections made in the other boxes. For example, if you select 'Level 3' in the qualification level dropdown, then only Level 3 PTQ types (ie Applied Generals and Tech Levels) will be shown in the PTQ type dropdown.
This visualisation reports only on qualification grades being awarded between 1 March and 31 August in each year (including provisional results). This means that the picture of results might look different at different points in the year.
Comparisons across different qualification types may not be meaningful, as they may have very different purposes, qualification/assessment structures, and different cohorts of learners.
As the regulator of qualifications in England, we are using this visualisation to provide an overall picture of results being issued, as opposed to specific qualification detail.
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For data from previous years, please select a single sector subject area
For any feedback on these graphs or tables, please contact [email protected].
Return to the Ofqual Analytics home page.
If you need an accessible version of this information to meet specific accessibility requirements, please email [email protected] with details of your request.
1. What does this visualisation show?
The visualisation shows the cumulative or non-cumulative grade distributions for vocational and technical qualifications included in the Department for Education’s (DfE) performance tables (VTQ PTQs – specifically Applied Generals, Tech Levels, Technical Certificates and Technical Awards). Different qualifications use different grading structures (eg Pass Merit Distinction or A-E), so we report the results according to the grading structures used for different qualifications. You are also able to filter the visualisation to select a specific qualification level, PTQ type and guided learning hour combination. The data shown in each graph is as follows:
- Graph 1: the overall percentage of grades issued for each grade in the grading structure, for the qualification level, PTQ type and guided learning hours selected, for all years available
- Graph 2: If you select ‘All sector subject areas’ in sector subject area dropdown, the graph panels show the percentage of grades issued for each grade in the current year for all the available sector subject areas in the grading structure, qualification level, PTQ type and guided learning hours selected. If you select a specific sector subject area, the graph shows the percentage of grades issued for each grade in all available years for the sector subject area, grading structure, qualification level, PTQ type and guided learning hours selected.
We have only plotted graphs for breakdowns relating to 5 or more qualifications and 500 or more total results in the current year as we would normally expect less stability in grade distributions over time for smaller groups. If you select dropdown combinations which do not meet this threshold, the graph is not plotted, and the following message is presented: ‘Graph not plotted due to too few learners and/or qualifications’.
2. Where does this data come from and what are the limitations of the data?
The data is supplied to Ofqual by awarding organisations approximately one week prior to results day. At the point in time that Ofqual receives the data, all grades may not have been fully processed.
Additionally, the data does not reflect changes to grades that may occur after results are awarded.
3. What results are included in the visualisation?
This visualisation reports on PTQ grades awarded between 1 March and 31 August in each year only (including provisional grades yet to be awarded). Please note that the picture of results might look different at different points in the year.
Cases where a learner has failed, was absent, or their grade is pending, are excluded from the visualisation.
4. What is the difference between the display of cumulative and non-cumulative percentages?
Non-cumulative percentages for each grade show the actual percentage of learners achieving a particular grade (eg achieving a Pass grade).
Cumulative percentages are the percentage of students achieving that grade and all the grades above it (eg grade Pass and above for qualifications which use a Pass/Merit/Distinction/Distinction* grading scale would include grades Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction*).
In the visualisation, percentages are calculated from certificating grades only and do not include fail, absent or pending grades.
5. What is in the information above the interactive graphs?
This is information on the total number of grades issued and the total number of qualifications with grades issued for the dropdown combination selected. The median age of learners taking that selection of qualifications is also shown. Figures stating the number of grades issued are rounded to the nearest 5 and values between 1 to 499 are shown as ‘fewer than 500’. Figures stating the number of qualifications available are not rounded to the nearest 5, however values between 1 to 4 are shown as ‘fewer than 5’. In both instances, 0 represents zero values.
6. How were grades awarded in summer 2021 and summer 2020?
In 2020 and 2021, many assessments were adapted, delayed, or replaced by Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs) in summer 2020 or teacher assessed grades (TAGs) in summer 2021, as part of the measures put in place in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. CAGs and TAGs at assessment level from 2020 and 2021 might have been carried forward and be used when determining 2022 grades. For more information on how grades were awarded in these years please see Ofqual’s publications relating to the awarding of vocational, technical and other general qualifications in the academic years 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021.
7. What does the ‘PTQ type’ dropdown refer to in this visualisation?
PTQ type in this visualisation refers to the type of performance table qualification and is taken from DfE performance tables. Specifically, the types include:
- Applied Generals
- Technical Awards
- Technical Certificates
- Tech Levels
Other qualifications recognised for use in DfE performance tables are not included in this visualisation.
8. What does the ‘guided learning hours’ dropdown refer to in this visualisation?
Guided learning is when a member of staff is present to give specific guidance to learners that contribute towards the qualification aim being studied. ‘Guided learning hours’ in this visualisation refers to the total number of hours of guided learning that a student receives. As such, it gives an indication of the size of a qualification. PTQs have a range of guided learning hours, for the purpose of this visualisation they are split into 3 categories, which are:
- up to 180
- 181 to 599
- 600 and above
Providing a more detailed breakdown would likely lead to a smaller number of learners and qualifications in each group, and less data being able to be plotted if the learner and qualification thresholds are not met.
9. What does the ‘qualification level’ dropdown refer to in this visualisation?
All regulated qualifications are assigned a level from entry level through to level 8 broadly indicating the relative difficulty of the qualification. Awarding organisations assign a level to regulated qualifications with reference to Ofqual’s published level descriptors. Qualifications at the same level may cover different amounts of the same subject and take different lengths of time to study. This visualisation presents data on level 1 to level 3 PTQs. Data on level 3 PTQs is published in this visualisation a week before level 1, level 1/level 2 and level 2 data as many level 3 results are issued a week earlier.
10. What does the ‘sector subject area’ dropdown refer to in the visualisation?
Sector subject area is a classification of qualifications into broad business sectors or subject areas maintained by Ofqual. The sector subject area for each qualification is self-selected by the awarding organisation.
11. How have the data been rounded, and confidentiality maintained?
To ensure confidentiality of the data, all figures for the number of grades have been rounded to the nearest 5.
In the pop-up box which is displayed when you hover over a bar on the graphs, the number of grades has been rounded to the nearest 5. If the value is less than 5 (1 to 4), it is represented as 'fewer than 5', and 0 represents zero values. The total number of grades issued has been calculated using unrounded figures. As a result, the sum of rounded figures may slightly differ from the total reported.
For any feedback on these graphs or tables, please contact [email protected].
Return to the Ofqual Analytics home page.
If you need an accessible version of this information to meet specific accessibility requirements, please email [email protected] with details of your request.