1. Level 2 Certificate in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy ( VRQ)
External assessment

2. Feedback to centres Overview of the external assessment Grading
Candidate performance January 2015 series
Candidate preparation – mock examinations
Improving candidate examination performance
On the day of the exam
Things to avoid
Questions

3. Overview - External assessment
Online assessment accessed through Linx2Achieve on the VTCT website.
Time allocation: 1hr 30 mins
Total marks per paper: 60 marks
Generally between questions per paper
Paper includes a mixture of short and long answer question, to provide stretch and challenge
Questions assess knowledge and understanding over all three learning outcomes for UV21578 Understanding the hair and beauty sector.
All bulleted content in the unit specification will be covered over a cycle of examination series
All questions have the ‘command’ word highlighted in bold
The mark allocation is clearly stated in brackets after each question
Candidates can revisit an answer before they submit their paper

4. Grading The external exam paper pass marks for the UV21578 are:
Merit - 60 – 79 %
Distinction - 80 % and above
(Please note: these are ‘rough’ boundaries that are subject to change from series to series)

5. Candidate performance January 2015
Strengths
The majority of candidates could identify a wide range of hair and beauty businesses.
Most candidates recognised the hair and beauty sector had a positive impact on the UK economy.
A large number of candidates were able to identify industries and sectors that have links with the hair and beauty sector.
Many candidates demonstrated a good understanding of the common hair and beauty services and treatments.
The majority of candidates were able to show a very good understanding of a range of beauty and make-up products

6. Strengthen knowledge and understanding of range of related businesses
Candidate performance January 2015
Areas for improvement
Some candidate's were able to identify key information but did not demonstrate sufficient understanding when describing or explaining answers. Below are the main areas to focus on:
Build knowledge and understanding of the main focus and purpose of each type of hair and beauty business.
Strengthen knowledge and understanding of range of related businesses
Reinforce the ways the hair and beauty sector contributes to the UK economy
Build understanding of how other industries and sectors are linked to the hair and beauty sector.
Work on the key features/advantage and disadvantages of a range of types of business ownership.

7. Strengthen knowledge and understanding of a range of hair products
Candidate performance January 2015
Areas for improvement - Continued
Strengthen knowledge and understanding of a range of depilatory products.
Strengthen knowledge and understanding of a range of hair products
Reinforce knowledge and understanding of key health, safety, hygiene and legislation, paying particular attention to how each is applied in a hair and beauty environment.
Support knowledge and understanding of the importance of a range of skills and attributes required by industry professionals.

8. Suggestions for mock exams
Candidate preparation - mock exams
It is good practise to allow candidate's to sit mock examinations well before they attempt the online external assessment
Suggestions for mock exams
Download exemplar paper available on VTCT website, allow learners to sit the paper under exam conditions
January archive paper will be available online shortly and can be used in the same way
Give learners the exemplar mark scheme and allow them to peer mark so they become familiar with the criteria
Preparation activities are available in the Teachers Resource Pack
Tutor could construct their own questions with a similar format to exemplar papers
Candidates could construct their own questions swap papers with their peers and peer mark

9. Good practise / general guidance
Improving candidate examination performance
Tutors can coach and advise candidates to do the following during their preparation for external assessment:
Good practise / general guidance
Launch revision and recapping session well before the exam date
Encourage candidates to produce flash cards/mind maps/key cards etc. with important facts and information, focus on accurate professional terminology and language
Complete regular short 30 min revision sessions at home and in class covering all the specification content
Provide candidate's with a checklist of the unit specification content that will be assessed in the exam to help them focus their revision

10. Encourage candidates to :
On the day of the exam
Encourage candidates to :
Read the question carefully looking specifically at the ‘command’ word in bold and the mark allocation. Both will offer guidance to the depth and breath of knowledge required in the answer.
Read through all of the questions then attempt the questions you know first.
If you get stuck on a particular question, stay calm move on and revisit later
When all questions have been completed, read all of the answers and check for accuracy, quite simply does the answer make sense?

11. ‘Slang’ and ‘text’ language
Things to avoid
Repeating the whole question within the answer, it wastes time and does not gain any extra marks
‘Slang’ and ‘text’ language
Repeating the same information within the answer , it will not gain more marks
Entering candidates before they have been sufficiently prepared for the external assessment

12. State – Express in clear terms
Understanding external assessment questions
Coach learners to recognise the requirements of each question by understanding the ‘command’ words in bold. The following are command words commonly used:
List – Provide a number of points with no elaboration (The number required will also be in bold)
State – Express in clear terms
Identify – Name or otherwise characterise, may be a single word or phrase
Define – Specify the meaning of a word or term
Outline – Provide an overview, restrict answer to essential detail only
Describe – Give a detailed account providing relevant characteristics
Explain – Set out the purpose or reason with relevant detail and content

13. Questions