This document provides background information on the T Level results publication. It explains the concepts and methods used to calculate the T Level results and provides an overview of the data sources, coverage, quality, and on how the data is validated and processed.
Provisional T Level results
- Published
Introduction
Changes to the methodology from 2022/23
The calculation for T Level results has changed to only include students who have attempted both Ofqual accredited components of the T Level (core component and occupational specialism) and so completed the examined elements of the two-year programme.
Previous methodology had included those students who had attempted at least one component (and so could include students who had potentially dropped out after 1 year). The change makes the T Level pass rate data more comparable to A levels, where students are only included if they enter all papers for a particular A level qualification.
A more minor change is to include a small number of students whose gender is unknown (excluded in the first production of these data last year).
Impact of the methodology change based on 2021/22 provisional data
The combined impact of the changes is shown in the table below, which applies the new methodology to provisional data for T Level results in 2021/22 and shows the difference from what was published last year.
The impact is to reduce the number of students included last year from 1,029 to 991. The same set of students are reported for the Overall T Level, and for the elements that make up the T Level. There is a larger change in the number of students with core results than the occupational specialism as the core is generally done in the first year and so was more affected by any students dropping out in the second year. The increase in 3 occupational specialism students is a result of including gender unknown.
| Provisional 2021/22 | Overall T Level | Core component | Occupational specialism | Industry placement |
| Number of students (Based on new methodology) | 991 | 991 | 991 | 991 |
| Impact of change (difference) | -38 | -38 | +3 | -38 |
Focusing on those that were assessed in both the core and occupational specialism has the impact of increasing the proportion of students that pass the overall T Level as shown in the table below.
| Provisional 2021/22 | Grade | Achieved grade (count) | Achieved grade (%) | Impact of change from old to new methodology |
Based on new methodology | ||||
Overall T Level | Distinction* | 28 | 2.8 | +0.1 ppt |
| Distinction | 329 | 33.2 | +1.3 ppt | |
| Merit | 412 | 41.6 | +1.8 ppt | |
| Pass | 183 | 18.5 | +0.7 ppt | |
| Partial achievement | 39 | 3.9 | -3.5 ppt | |
| Unclassified | 0 | 0.0 | -0.4 ppt | |
| Total students | 991 | n/a | -3.7% | |
| Achieving Pass or above | 952 | 96.1 | +3.8 ppt | |
Core component | A* | 47 | 4.7 | +0.1 ppt |
| A | 156 | 15.7 | +0.4 ppt | |
| B | 301 | 30.4 | +0.8 ppt | |
| C | 310 | 31.3 | +0.5 ppt | |
| D | 143 | 14.4 | -0.7 ppt | |
| E | 33 | 3.3 | -0.9 ppt | |
| Unclassified | 1 | 0.1 | -0.4 ppt | |
Occupational specialism | Distinction | 371 | 37.4 | 0.0 ppt |
| Merit | 439 | 44.3 | +0.1 ppt | |
| Pass | 156 | 15.7 | -0.1 ppt | |
| Unclassified | 25 | 2.5 | 0.0 ppt | |
Industry placement | Completed | 946 | 95.5 | +3.8 ppt |
| Completed (special considerations) | 23 | 2.3 | +0.1 ppt | |
| Not completed | 22 | 2.2 | -3.8 ppt | |
Data quality
Data on industry placement completion, core component grade and occupational specialism grade were supplied to the Department by providers and awarding organisations through the Manage T Level results service.
As such, the Department is reliant on third party validation and quality assurance of this data at point of entry. Providers and awarding organisations are restricted to enter only valid result options for learners who have previously been registered and assigned an assessment entry, when submitting data. Error reports are generated in line with validation rules (detailed on the Manage T Level results service website here) following bulk data uploads. The Department carried out checks of the data to assess quality and found no notable issues.
This is the second year of results for T Levels and represents the second phase of roll out in T Level pathways. In the first year there were three pathways available with a further seven added in year two. T Levels have not fully rolled out yet, and inferences made from the data must be done so with caution.
Overall T Level grades are calculated by the Department from core component grades, occupational specialism grades and industry placement completion status, according to rules set out in the T Levels action plan. This process has been appropriately quality assured.
Results for 2022/23 are provisional, as appeals may still be underway which could result in changes to some individual grades, and some partially achieving students are expected to complete their industry placement during summer 2023. Students where the core component or occupational specialism result is currently pending are excluded from these results.
Data are correct as of 9 August 2023.
These statistics are updated annually, where provisional data for the previous year is updated to ‘revised’.
The coverage of these statistics in 2022/23 mirrors Ofqual data on T Level Technical Qualification (TQ) results, which includes data for learners expected to complete their T Level programme in 2023, who have completed both the core component and occupational specialism. Results may differ slightly due to differences in processing and rounding and the timing of data collection.
Data structure
It is possible for learners to sit the core component assessment up to three times.
For the first cohort of students, reported here as revised data for 2021/22, most students entered for the core assessment in summer 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Teacher Assessed Grades were used in place of planned assessments. The data presented includes the highest grade achieved for learners who have made more than one attempt at the assessment.
For the second cohort of students, reported here as provisional data for 2022/23, most students entered for the core assessment in summer 2022, and sat externally assessed exams.
Partial achievement in these data refers to students who attempt both the core component and occupational specialism and achieve one. It also includes students who attempt both the core component and occupational specialism, achieve neither, but complete the Industry Placement.
Temporary flexibilities were introduced for 2020 cohort of learners' industry placements, to recognise the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Whilst data are presented split by gender and T Level subject, the number of male and female learners can be uneven across T Level pathways. For this reason, users should take caution when making comparisons between the pass rates for males and females within or between T Level pathways.
Scheduled revisions to data
Updating provisional data
The provisional results published for 2021/22 have been updated to 'revised’ following updates to data for students that started T Levels in 2020/21. This means the data includes late results and reviews of marking, as well as any accepted amendments.
The table below shows revised data and the impact when compared to provisional data based on the new methodology.
Overall T Level | Core component | Occupational specialism | Industry placement | |
| Number of students | 991 | 991 | 991 | 991 |
| Impact of change | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Revised 2021/22 | Grade | Achieved grade (count) | Achieved grade (%) | Impact of change from provisional to revised |
Based on revised data | ||||
Overall T Level | Distinction * | 28 | 2.8 | 0.0 ppt |
| Distinction | 338 | 34.1 | +0.9 ppt | |
| Merit | 416 | 42.0 | +0.4 ppt | |
| Pass | 181 | 18.3 | -0.2 ppt | |
| Partially achieved | 28 | 2.8 | -1.1 ppt | |
| Unclassified | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 ppt | |
| Total students | 991 | n/a | 0.0 % | |
| Achieving Pass or above | 963 | 97.2 | +1.1 ppt | |
Core component | A* | 46 | 4.6 | -0.1 ppt |
| A | 156 | 15.7 | 0 ppt | |
| B | 303 | 30.6 | +0.2 ppt | |
| C | 309 | 31.2 | -0.1 ppt | |
| D | 142 | 14.3 | -0.1 ppt | |
| E | 34 | 3.4 | +0.1 ppt | |
| Unclassified | 1 | 0.1 | 0 ppt | |
Occupational specialism | Distinction | 382 | 38.5 | +1.1 ppt |
| Merit | 440 | 44.4 | +0.1 ppt | |
| Pass | 149 | 15 | -0.7 ppt | |
| Unclassified | 20 | 2 | -0.5 ppt | |
Industry placement | Completed | 953 | 96.2 | +0.7 ppt |
| Completed (special considerations) | 24 | 2.4 | +0.1 ppt | |
| Not completed | 14 | 1.4 | -0.8 ppt | |
Annexes
Overall T Level grades
T Level Pass (P) refers to students who achieve an E or above on the core component, a Pass or above on the Occupational Specialism and complete the Industry Placement.
T Level Unclassified (U) refers to students who attempt but do not achieve either the core component or occupational specialism and do not complete the Industry Placement.
T Level Partial Achievement (PA) refers to students who attempt both the core component and occupational specialism and achieve one. It also includes students who attempt both the core component and occupational specialism, achieve neither, but complete the Industry Placement.
T Level Pass Rate: refers to the % of students in a cohort who have achieved an E or above on the core component, passed their Occupational specialism and met the requirements of the Industry Placement, as a proportion of those who have made an attempt at the Core component and Occupational specialism.
Help and support
Contact us
If you have a specific enquiry about Provisional T Level results statistics and data:
16 to 18 Accountability Data and Development team
Email: Attainment.STATISTICS@education.gov.ukContact name: Chris Bennett
Press office
If you have a media enquiry:
Telephone: 020 7783 8300
Public enquiries
If you have a general enquiry about the Department for Education (DfE) or education:
Telephone: 037 0000 2288
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