Submitting examined and moderated NEA files in summer 2024

We’ve been working hard to improve the way schools and colleges submit audio and visual files to us. Our final testing is now complete and for summer 2024, we’re pleased to say we’ve built on the system we used last year and listened to your feedback.

New for summer 2024: moderated NEA components

If you’re entering learners for any of the following non-exam assessment (NEA) subject components in summer 2024, we’re making changes to the way you submit your NEA coursework samples to us.

For the summer 2024 series, and for the following subject components only, you’ll upload files and corresponding admin documentation to us digitally on Centre Services using Centre Marks Submission, so the same place where you submit your NEA marks/grades. As you’ll no longer post us samples and upload them digitally, moderator address details will also no longer be visible on Centre Marks Submission for these components.

• GCSE Dance (8236/C)
• GCSE Drama (8261/C)
• GCSE English Spoken Language (8700/C)
• GCSE Media Studies (8572/C)
• GCSE Music (Performing) (8271/P)
• GCSE Music (Composing) (8271/C)
• A-level Computer Science (7517/C)
• A-level Drama and Theatre (7262/C)
• A-level Media Studies (7572/C)
• Functional Skills English Level 1 Speaking (8720S)
• Functional Skills English Level 2 Speaking (8725S)

We’ve enhanced the Centre Marks Submission area on Centre Services to allow you to easily upload coursework, including the candidate record form and/or centre declaration sheets for the requested sample once marks/grades have been submitted.

We have detailed guidance on how to upload NEA coursework and corresponding admin documentation for the requested sample once marks/grades have been submitted.

Get ready to submit moderated NEA files

So you can be ready to submit files in April and May, we have some helpful tips to help you prepare.

1. Check that your files are included in the table of supported file types.

For GCSE Music, please note that AIF audio files are not supported.

2. Follow the filename convention so that your files will automatically be tagged (assigned) to the candidate number(s) in the filename as you upload them.

Filename convention

CentreNumber_ComponentCode_CandidateNumber(s)_Description.extension

Guidance on how to name the files

• Each piece of information must be separated by an underscore (_)
• The (/) character in the component code must be replaced by a hyphen (-)
• The description can be anything you like

Filename examples

For a single candidate:

92345_8700-C_1001_description.mp4

For multiple candidates:

92345_8700-C_1001 1005 1010_ description.pdf

3. Candidate record forms (CRFs) can be signed digitally. You do not need to obtain handwritten signatures on printed copies of the CRF.

4. There’s no need to encrypt files that are being uploaded through Centre Marks Submission.

Media Studies teachers are advised to ensure that print work has been viewed as a printout by the learner during the process of production to ensure the work follows print media conventions. Teachers should also consider the way the work would be presented in print when applying the mark scheme. Moderators will consider the work in this way during moderation. Teachers should also ensure that any double-page spreads are uploaded to Centre Marks Submission both in full and as individual pages.

Improvements for summer 2024: examined NEA components

For summer 2024 we’ve made some improvements to the upload functionality on the Digital Media Submissions portal>Media submissions dashboard on Centre Services to allow up to 50 files to be uploaded at a time, and to allow auto-tagging of candidates.

You can upload files for the following subject components:

• GCSE, AS and A-level modern foreign languages (MFL) speaking tests
• A-level Music Performance and Composition (7272/P and 7272/C)

We have detailed guidance on how to upload the audio files and supporting documentation, including candidate record forms and/or centre declaration sheet for relevant components on to our Digital Media Submissions Portal.

Just so you know, the process for submitting files for these subjects hasn’t changed, and is still the same as last year.

Submit files

The Digital Media Submissions portal>Media submissions dashboard area of Centre Services will be open on Monday 8 April. Centre Marks Submission will open on Monday 8 April for GCSE and Monday 15 April for A-level and Functional Skills. We’ll email schools and colleges in April to let you know you can submit all marks/grades.

All Centre Services users and administrators will be able to access these areas on Centre Services so you will not need to assign any new roles or permissions within Centre Services.

Audio and visual files no longer need to be sent to us on a CD or memory stick, and for the above NEA coursework components only, hard copies of learners’ sample work will need to be submitted digitally. Moderator address details will no longer be visible for these components on Centre Marks Submission.

Help and support

We’ve updated our NEA pages with guidance and support, including a full list of NEA components to be uploaded digitally in summer 2024.

In case you missed these, you can also watch a recording of our ‘NEA and Centre Marks Submission 2024’ event for exams officers available on YouTube.

For any subject component(s) that are not listed as digital submission, you’ll still need to follow the usual process and submit your NEA coursework and forms to us by post.