Qualifications Explained
Comparing Different Qualification Levels
Regulated qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are in one of the following frameworks:
- National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
- Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)
The table below shows how the most common qualifications compare. The levels show how difficult a qualification is.
|
Level |
NQF Examples |
QCF Examples |
|
|
|
|
|
Entry |
* Entry Level Certificate |
* Entry Level Award, Certificate |
|
|
* Entry Level Skills for Life |
and Diploma |
|
|
|
* Entry Level Functional Skills |
|
|
|
* Entry Level Foundation Learning |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
* GCSE (grades D-G) |
* BTEC Award, Certificate and |
|
|
* Key Skills Level 1 |
Diploma Level 1 |
|
|
* NVQ Level 1 |
* Foundation Learning Level 1 |
|
|
* Skills for Life Level 1 |
* Functional Skills Level 1 |
|
|
* Foundation Diploma |
* OCR National |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
GCSE (grades A*-C) |
* BTEC Award, Certificate and |
|
|
* Key Skills Level 2 |
Diploma Level 2 |
|
|
* NVQ Level 2 |
* Functional Skills Level 2 |
|
|
* Skills for Life Level 2 |
|
|
|
* Higher Diploma |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
* AS and A Level |
* BTEC Award, Certificate and |
|
|
* Key Skills Level 3 |
Diploma Level 3 |
|
|
* NVQ Level 3 |
* BTEC National |
|
|
|
* OCR National |
|
|
|
* Cambridge National |
|
|
|
|