Cambridge Advanced Nationals

Cambridge Advanced Nationals (AAQs), our new Level 3 qualifications, are available for first teaching in 2025.

These new qualifications follow the recent Department for Education (DfE) decision to reform the qualifications system for students aged 16 and over.

Our Post-16 reform hubpage explains more about what reform could mean for you and your post-16 curriculum. This reform and its timeframes might be subject to review under this or any future government. This could potentially result in a continuation of funding for our current Cambridge Technical Level 3 qualifications, which, under those circumstances, we would expect to continue to offer.

Who are Cambridge Advanced Nationals for?

Designed for students aged 16-19 years, our Level 3 Cambridge Advanced Nationals will complement existing A Level study programmes.

Our qualifications provide students with the practical and essential skills and knowledge they need to better prepare themselves for entry into higher education and university.

How might Cambridge Advanced Nationals fit into a Level 3 programme of study?

Possible combinations of Level 3 qualifications:

1 x 360GLH Cambridge Advanced National + 2 x A Levels
1 x 720GLH Cambridge Advanced Nationals* + 1 x A Level
1 x 1080GLH Cambridge Advanced National*

Check out examples of possible A Level and Cambridge Advanced Nationals combinations on our dedicated webpage

*Sport only

📄Download the Cambridge Advanced Nationals (AAQ) Explained brochure

Continue teaching Cambridge Technicals with confidence

You can continue teaching our current Cambridge Technicals Level 3 qualifications with confidence in 2023/24.

Apart from the Level 3 Cambridge Technical (2016) Diploma in IT (720 GLH) and the Level 3 Cambridge Technical (2016) Extended Diploma in IT (1080 GLH), which are to be defunded in July 2024, our other Level 3 Cambridge Technicals are unaffected in 2024/25.

If there were to be a change to existing policies, for example, due to a change of government, this reform may be reviewed which could lead to a continuation of funding for current Level 3 qualifications.

Check out all the current last first teach dates for Level 3 Cambridge Technicals with our Level 3 Cambridge Technicals funding guide

Why choose Cambridge Advanced Nationals?

Full compensation grading: Students are always rewarded for their demonstrated abilities - every single mark your students earn will directly contribute to their final grade. No mark will go to waste.
No more hurdles: Gone are the days of hurdle elements in units. If a student meets all but one Pass criterion and some Merit criteria, they won't face failure. Our approach compensates for performance at both the unit and qualification levels, ensuring fairness and encouragement for every student.
Features teachers love and more: Cambridge Advanced Nationals incorporate the popular features from our Cambridge Technicals, including visiting moderation, a blend of examination and coursework units, and we're keeping the well-recognised Pass, Merit, Distinction grade scale. Plus, you'll continue to benefit from our range of comprehensive support and resources.
Pathways to university: Designed in collaboration with teachers and universities, Cambridge Advanced Nationals equip students with a well-rounded skill set for today's undergraduate studies as part of a Level 3 programme of study.
Complementary practical application: Designed to be taken alongside A Levels, Cambridge Advanced Nationals seamlessly complement a mixed study programme while maintaining a strong focus on the practical application of skills and knowledge - a valuable supplement to A Levels, enabling clear progression to university.

Let us know what you think!

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Cycle 2 - First teach September 2026

For cycle 2 we'll be redeveloping further qualifications in the following subjects (subject to DfE approval):

Creative Media Production
Cyber Security and Digital Networking
Enterprise and Innovation
Marketing
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Policing and Criminal Justice*
Sport
Sustainability

*The Department for Education (DfE) have announced in an updated ‘Guide to Post-16 qualifications’ that it would NOT consider funding a small AAQ as a Criminology subject. We are reviewing options for submitting such a qualification in subject categories where funding will be considered and will communicate our decision soon.

Everything you need to start teaching

Embarking on the journey of teaching a new qualification may seem overwhelming at first, but rest assured, we're here to support you every step of the way. Whether it's getting started with teaching, planning your course, providing guidance for exams or offering post-results services, we have a wealth of resources, textbooks and training to assist you at every stage.

Starting from September 2025, you'll have access to everything you need to teach Cambridge Advanced Nationals, ensuring a smooth and successful experience, including:

Mapping and overview documents that compare the new Cambridge Advanced National specifications with existing Applied Generals to help you understand what’s new and different about the new qualifications.
Free teaching and assessment resources, including overview curriculum planners and detailed schemes of work for every unit, teaching activities and Sample Assessment Materials to help you get going, plan your teaching and support you through delivery.
An extensive professional development programme to help you get the most from our qualifications, from making the choice to deliver Cambridge Advanced Nationals to preparing your students for assessment.
Textbooks - We’re working with leading publishers to provide you with textbooks and other resources before first teach in September 2025.
Exceptional post-results services, including our past-paper question-building platform ExamBuilder, results analysis through Active Results, and free on-demand Access to Scripts.

All our support will be instantly and easily accessible via Teach Cambridge, our online hub for teachers.

Don't forget to sign up for email updates and stay informed about the availability of support materials and courses.

A complete post-16 programme of study

Cambridge Advanced Nationals complement existing A Level study programmes, so students who want to progress onto further or higher education, but don't want to study only A Levels (or a T Level programme), can choose a mixed study programme.

We already offer over 30 A Level qualifications in a wide range of subject areas and many students already take one or more A Levels alongside vocational qualifications, such as our existing Cambridge Technicals. Students also choose to supplement their study programmes with our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or Core Maths.

This mixed study programme provides students with the practical and essential skills and knowledge they need to better prepare themselves for entry into higher education and university.

Level 3 Cambridge Advanced Nationals (AAQ)

Who are Cambridge Advanced Nationals for?

How might Cambridge Advanced Nationals fit into a Level 3 programme of study?

Every mark matters

Interested in teaching Cambridge Advanced Nationals?

Continue teaching Cambridge Technicals with confidence

When will Cambridge Advanced Nationals be available for teaching?

Why choose Cambridge Advanced Nationals?