The QCF in practice

In the QCF framework every unit and qualification has a credit value and a level. One credit represents ten 'notional' hours of learning, which includes both Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and independent learning hours, and shows how much time the qualification takes to complete. Levels vary from Entry level to level 8, showing how difficult the qualification is. There are three sizes of qualifications in the QCF:

• Awards (1 to 12 credits)
• Certificates (13 to 36 credits)
• Diplomas (37 credits or more)

So in the new framework you can have an award at level 1 or an award at level 8. This is because the qualification type (award, certificate, diploma) represents the size of a qualification, not how difficult it is.

Each qualification title contains the following:

• the level of the qualification (from Entry level at the bottom to level 8 at the top)
• the size of qualification (award/certificate/diploma)
• details indicating the content of the qualification

Simply by looking at the title of a qualification you will be able to see how difficult it is, how long it will take the average learner to complete, and its general content. To understand the level of difficulty of the units and qualifications in the new framework it might be helpful to know that GCSEs (grade A*–C) are level 2, GCE A levels are level 3 and a PhD is a level 8. Knowing this can help to position the difficulty and challenge of each level in the framework.

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