Coursework, controlled assessment and non-exam assessment (NEA)

Coursework can take many different forms, including presentations, performances, videos, artwork and essays. 

Centres must ensure that candidates are clear about the assessment criteria that they're expected to meet in their coursework and controlled assessment tasks. You'll find information about the subject-specific criteria on the relevant qualification page.

Find a qualification

Submitting marks

You can submit marks to us through Edexcel Online or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) depending on the specification. For some qualifications EDI submissions are not available. Please refer to the ‘Instructions for Internally Assessed Components’ or ‘Guidance for Moderation’ documents for each specification. Please see the guidance on submitting marks.

Removal of OPTEMS

In order to help increase security, and also allow more time for centres to process and submit their centre assessed marks, from Summer 2017 we will only be allowing centres to submit those marks online; via Edexcel Online or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

This will be in keeping with other Awarding Organisations, and will offer the following advantages:

• you will be able to submit marks right up to the deadline
• a reduction in the amount of paper being sent through the system, and stored in centres
• it will eliminate the risk of OPTEMS being lost or damaged in the post
• Edexcel Online will display the latest allocated moderator details, capturing any late changes

If your teaching staff usually complete their own OPTEMS forms, please see the guide below on how you can give senior teachers or Heads of Department the relevant access to Edexcel Online to complete their own electronic submissions.

The only exception to this change will be for Entry Level Certificate (Academic) which will continue to have marks submitted via OPTEMS, as these qualifications are not on Edexcel Online.

Deadlines