Our assessment methods

ABE qualifications are assessed by assignments, timed open-book exams (timed OBEs) and, in the case of Level 4, traditional timed exam. They provide the most up-to-date and relevant assessments available. These assessments develop skills that help our learners become an invaluable asset in the workplace with a contemporary mindset able to apply knowledge to offer business solutions and critical analysis. Our assessments also develop sought-after abilities such as evaluating information,  report writing and time management.

New Level 4 learners coming straight from school will have some exams in a familiar exam format, making the qualification more accessible to those who have never previously done assignments or open-book exams (OBEs). In addition, these different assessment methods at the start of the ABE journey will produce rounded candidates as each method has its own merits and develops a different skill set.  The timed exams will help to ensure students memorise the fundamental principles underpinning their learning, whilst the OBEs and assignments develop the ability to apply these principles to real-world scenarios.   

At higher levels, the assessments provide superb preparation for academic progression as they are closely aligned to the type of assessments used by leading universities. 

Submitting work for assessment

All students must submit their work to their registered centre by the learners' submission deadline.  This gives your centre one week to submit assessments to ABE by the centres' submission deadline.

About OBEs

Timed OBEs require students to prepare throughout their learning, keeping detailed notes from lectures, studies guides and wider reading.  Once the question papers are published they will have three weeks to complete their answers.  ABE will provide a breakdown of how many words are expected per question.  Unlike traditional timed exams, students will have access to their notes throughout the answering process as Timed OBEs are not testing memory, instead, the examiner wants to see that they understand how to apply what they have learned to a real-world business scenario.

Read our OBE Guide in the library section of the portal (accessible to accredited centres only).

About ABE assignments

Assignments also test the ability to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.  Compared to Timed OBEs there is a much higher word count and students can complete them over several weeks (assignment briefs are usually published eight weeks before the submission date).  This means they require greater research and learners have more control over the format of the work and more narrative is required.

Read our Assignment Guide in the library section of the portal (accessible to accredited centres only).

About traditional timed exams

Traditional timed exams form part of the assessments for our Level 4 Diplomas. They are taken under controlled conditions, usually in an exam hall or quiet room at your centre, and candidates will not have previously seen the papers. 

This mixed assessment model further enhances the learning experience provided to ABE students.  New Level 4 learners coming straight from school will have some exams in a more familiar format, making the qualification more accessible to those who have never previously done assignments or open-book exams (OBEs).

See our infographic below showing the difference between assignments and OBEs:

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OBE v assignments
Assessment overview
All the key dates are here

Before each assessment session there is a series of deadlines and key information release dates.  Find all this inform here.

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