T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Software Development - Version 1.1 - Specification and sample assessment

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet

Specification for the T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Software Development (Level 3), Version 1.1, with first teaching from September 2025 and validity through August 2026. Sets out qualification purpose, student profile and progression, and describes the full assessment structure including the core component and occupational specialism components. Details content areas such as requirements and acceptance criteria, ethics and risk management, knowledge sources, design and solution creation, implementation in multiple languages, testing, and software change, maintenance and support. Includes grading and results transfer, competency frameworks, and appendices with Python commands and flowchart symbols.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages102

Reading Time4 h 17 min

AccessFree to download

Introducing the qualification

T Level programme

Understanding the Specification and Administrative Guide

What is the Technical Qualification (TQ)?

Technical Qualification and Outline Content

English, maths and digital competencies

Employer and Provider panels

Qualification purpose

Student profile and progression

Qualification summary and structure

Summary

Assessment Structure

Core component

Occupational Specialism component

What does the qualification cover?

Core Component

Core paper 1

Core paper 2

Employer Set Project

Scheme of Assessment – Core Component

Core examination

Core Examination Assessment Objectives

Employer Set Project Assessment Objectives

Resources for the delivery of the Core component content

Occupational Specialisms

Digital Software Development

Content area 1

Content area 2

Content area 3

Content area 4

Content area 5

Content area 6

Content area 7

Content area 8

Scheme of Assessment

Resources for the delivery of Occupational Specialism: Digital Software Development

Technical Qualification grading, T Level grading and results transfer

How the Technical Qualification is graded and awarded

Calculation of the Technical Qualification grade

Awarding the components

Uniform Mark Scale

Calculation of the T Level grade

Results transfer to Providers

Technical Qualification result days

T Level Results reporting

Appendix

Appendix 1: General Competency Frameworks for T Levels

General English competencies

General maths competencies

General digital competencies

Command word taxonomy list

Appendix 2: Flowchart symbols and Python commands

Specification First teaching from September 2025 Version 1.1 – August 2026 T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Software Development (Level 3) Specification First teaching September 2025 Version 1.1 August 2026 About Pearson We are the world’s leading learning company operating in countries all around the world. We provide content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. This specification is Version 1.1 References to third-party material made in this specification are made in good faith. Pearson does not endorse, approve or accept responsibility for the content of materials, which may be subject to change, or any opinions expressed therein.(Material may include textbooks, journals, magazines and other publications and websites.) All information in this specification is correct at time of publication. Publication code VQ000475 All the material in this publication is copyright © Copyright in this specification belongs to, and is used under licence from, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education 2026 Contents 1 Introducing the qualification 1 T Level programme 1 Understanding the Specification and Administrative Guide 1 What is the Technical Qualification (TQ)? 1 Technical Qualification and Outline Content 2 English, maths and digital competencies 2 Employer and Provider panels 2 Qualification purpose 3 Student profile and progression 3 2 Qualification summary and structure 5 Summary 5 Assessment Structure 7 1. Core component 7 2. Occupational Specialism component 7 What does the qualification cover? 8 3 Core Component 9 Content 10 Core paper 1 10 Core paper 2 24 Employer Set Project 49 Scheme of Assessment – Core Component 53 Core examination 53 Core Examination Assessment Objectives 55 Employer Set Project 56 Employer Set Project Assessment Objectives 57 Resources for the delivery of the Core component content 58 4 Occupational Specialisms 59 Digital Software Development 59 Content area 1: Be able to analyse a problem to define requirements and acceptance criteria aligned to user needs 59 Content area 2: Apply ethical principles and manage risks in line with legal and regulatory requirements when developing software 65 Content area 3: Discover, evaluate and apply reliable sources of knowledge 67 Content area 4: Design 68 Content area 5: Create solutions in a social and collaborative environment 72 Content area 6: Implement a solution using at least two appropriate languages 73 Content area 7: Testing a software solution 77 Content area 8: Change, maintain and support software 79 Scheme of Assessment 81 Resources for the delivery of Occupational Specialism: Digital Software Development 83 5 Technical Qualification grading, T Level grading and results transfer 84 How the Technical Qualification is graded and awarded 84 Calculation of the Technical Qualification grade 84 Awarding the components 84 Uniform Mark Scale 84 Calculation of the T Level grade 85 Results transfer to Providers 86 Technical Qualification result days 86 T Level Results reporting 86 Appendix 1: General Competency Frameworks for T Levels 87 General English competencies 87 General maths competencies 88 General digital competencies 88 Command word taxonomy list 89 Appendix 2: Flowchart symbols and Python commands 90 Python commands 90 Additional libraries and commands 92 Flowchart symbols 93 1 Introducing the qualification T Level programme | T Levels are two-year, Level 3 study programmes that follow the study of GCSEsand Technical Awards and offer an alternative to A Levels and Apprenticeships. T Level

FAQs

What is the qualification purpose of the T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Software Development?

The specification sets out how students build core knowledge and occupationally specific skills for skilled employment in a defined occupation. It aligns taught and assessed content with industry needs and progression routes such as apprenticeships, higher-level study, or university.

How is the assessment structured for the qualification?

It includes a core component and an occupational specialism component. The core component assessment comprises core papers and an Employer Set Project, supported by defined assessment objectives, schemes of assessment, and delivery resources.

Which occupational specialism content areas are covered in Digital Software Development?

The specification lists eight content areas, including analysing problems to define requirements, applying ethics and managing risks, discovering and using reliable knowledge sources, design, creating solutions in social and collaborative environments, implementing using at least two languages, testing software solutions, and changing, maintaining, and supporting software.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet