What are T-levels and how do they work?

With GCSE and BTec students having received their exam results, many will be considering a T-level as their next step.

But what are T-levels, what courses are available and how are they marked?

T-levels are vocational qualifications aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in England, external, which focus more on practical subjects than academic ones.

Introduced in 2020, the qualification includes a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience. A work placement of at least 315 hours - or nine weeks - makes up about 20% of the course.

T-levels are designed to cater for students who want an alternative to A-levels but do not wish to take an apprenticeship, which typically requires as much as 80% of a student's time to be spent with an employer.

Final marks are based on a combination of exams, coursework and completion of the industry placement.

Students get one of four grades, ranging from a pass to a distinction*. Their certificate shows their overall grade and lists their experiences on the course.

A distinction* is worth 168 Ucas points - the same as three A*s at A-level - and a merit is equivalent to three Bs at A-level.

There are currently more than 20 T-Level subjects to choose from, external, including accounting, craft and design, engineering and media production.

Students will no longer be able to start a T-level in onsite construction. The DfE said this was due to low numbers of students taking it, adding that, external "the needs of learners and the economy are best met through apprenticeships and other classroom provision."

There have been delays to some courses becoming available, such as catering.

Some proposed T-levels have been scrapped all together, including hairdressing.

The number of students taking T-levels has increased each year since they were introduced.

However, many T-level students do not complete their course. Retention rates for most A-levels and other equivalent qualifications are consistently above 90%.

In comparison, 77% of students who started a T-level in 2024 finished the two-year programme in 2026.

That had increased from 73% in 2025.

There have also been issues raised over the quality of teaching and assessments. In July 2024, the exams watchdog Ofqual fined the NCFE exam board £300,000 over "major failings" with papers sat by 1,200 health and science T-level students in 2022.