T Levels

Overview

T Levels are vocational qualifications taken after GCSEs in England. The T Levels website describes them as an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses, equivalent in size to 3 A levels, with a focus on vocational skills that can lead to skilled employment, higher study or an apprenticeship.

Who can apply

T Levels are for students who have finished their GCSEs and choose a school or college offering the T Level they want. The public pages used here give no further entry rules; each provider sets its own.

Exam pattern

A T Level programme has a Technical Qualification and an industry placement. The Technical Qualification has two components:

• Core: an Exam sub-component (Paper 1 and Paper 2) and an Employer-Set Project.

• Occupational Specialism: assesses the practical skills of the chosen occupation.

The industry placement lasts at least 45 days. Students spend about 80% of the course in their learning environment and 20% on the placement. For the overall grade to be issued, all mandatory aspects, including the industry placement, must be achieved.

Marking and results

The Core is graded A* to E, with Unclassified (U) for results below E. The Occupational Specialism is graded Pass, Merit, Distinction or Unclassified. The overall T Level is reported on a four-grade scale: Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction*, worked out by combining the Core and Occupational Specialism grades. Strong performance in one Core sub-component can compensate for weaker performance in the other, and the E grade is set at 40% of the maximum uniform mark. These details come from the City and Guilds grading guide (version 3.0, July 2026), which applies to its own Technical Qualifications.

How to apply

Apply to the school or college that offers the T Level you want.

FAQs