OCR Nationals
OCR Nationals are vocationally-related qualifications for students who want to develop skills and knowledge through work-related learning rather than through a traditional academic route.
They may be taken full time or part time at levels 1-3 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and are one of the qualifications that may be taken in place of the recently withdrawn GNVQ.
OCR Nationals are available in a range of subject areas, including the following:
- Business
- Design
- Health and Social Care
- IT
- Leisure and Tourism
- Media
- Public Services
- Science
- Sport
- Travel and Tourism
There are a number of different levels of courses, including the following:
Level 1 OCR Nationals
| Qualification | Units | Equivalent to: |
|---|---|---|
| First Award | 4 | 1 GCSE (grades D - G) |
| Award | 8 | 2 GCSEs (grades D - G) |
| Certificate | 12 | 4 GCSEs (grades D - G) |
Level 2 OCR Nationals
| Qualification | Units | Equivalent to: |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 6 | 4 GCSEs (grades A* - C) |
Level 3 OCR Nationals
| Qualification | Units | Equivalent to: |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 6 | 1 A' Level |
| Diploma | 12 | 2 A' Levels |
| Extended Diploma | 18 | 3 A' Levels |
Level 3 OCR Nationals can be taken as an alternative to A levels, providing a route into Higher Education. Each Level 3 qualification qualifies for UCAS points, as shown in the table below.
| UCAS Points | Certificate | Diploma | Extended Diploma |
|---|---|---|---|
| 360 | D1 | ||
| 320 | D2/M1 | ||
| 280 | M2 | ||
| 240 | D | M3 | |
| 220 | |||
| 200 | M1 | P1 | |
| 180 | |||
| 160 | M2/P1 | P2 | |
| 140 | |||
| 120 | D | P2 | P3 |
| 110 | |||
| 100 | |||
| 90 | |||
| 80 | M | P3 | |
| 70 | |||
| 60 | |||
| 50 | |||
| 40 | P | ||
| 30 | |||
| 20 |
Key
P = Pass (divided into P1, P2 and P3 at Diploma level and above)
M = Merit (divided into M1 and M2 at Diploma level and above)
D = Distinction (divided into D1 and D2 at Extended Diploma level)
