A-Level non-exam assessment (NEA), commonly called coursework, is a substantial piece of work completed over an extended period, marked by the school and checked by the exam board. Not all A-Level subjects include NEA; following reforms from 2015, many removed it. Where it exists, NEA typically counts for 20%–30% of the final grade.
Which A-Level subjects include NEA?
Following the 2015–17 A-Level reforms, NEA was retained in subjects where extended independent work is central to the discipline. The table below covers the most common subjects.
| Subject | NEA type | Typical weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Art and Design | Portfolio or personal investigation | 60–100% |
| Design and Technology | Design and make project | ~50% |
| Music | Performance and/or composition | ~35–40% |
| Drama and Theatre | Live performance and written analysis | ~40% |
| History | Independent historical investigation (3,500–4,500 words) | 20% |
| Geography | Individual fieldwork investigation (3,000–4,000 words) | 20% |
| English Language | Language investigation or creative writing with commentary | 20% |
| English Literature | Comparative essay or creative writing with commentary | 20% |
| Physical Education | Performance or coaching analysis | ~30% |
| Media Studies | Production project | ~30% |
Subjects with no NEA (100% examined): Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Business Studies, Physics (written exam only for grade), Chemistry (written exam only for grade), Biology (written exam only for grade), Psychology, Sociology, and most Modern Foreign Languages. Note that Science A-Levels include a practical endorsement (a separate Pass/Fail assessment), but it does not contribute to the A-Level grade — the grade is determined entirely by written exams.
How is A-Level NEA marked?
The marking process for A-Level NEA has two stages:
- Internal marking: the pupil submits the completed work to their teacher at the school or college, who marks it against the exam board's published mark scheme. Teachers must apply the criteria consistently, and many will discuss the work with the pupil during the process — though the rules about how much guidance is permitted vary by subject and board.
- External moderation: the exam board selects a sample of marked work from each centre and sends it to a moderator — an experienced examiner working for the board. If the moderator judges that the teacher's marks are consistently too high or too low, all marks from that centre are adjusted up or down accordingly.
This two-stage process means that a pupil's NEA grade is not final until the exam board completes moderation in June.
What are the internal deadlines for NEA?
Schools and colleges set their own internal deadlines for drafts and submissions, typically several months before the exam board's deadline (which usually falls between March and May). Internal deadlines exist because teachers need time to mark work before sending samples to the moderator.
The stages typically run as follows:
- Year 12: initial research, planning, and early drafts in subjects with a written investigation component
- Autumn term of Year 13: substantial work completed; drafts reviewed by teacher
- December–January of Year 13: final submission for internal marking in most subjects
- February–March of Year 13: teacher marks returned; work submitted to exam board
Missing an internal deadline can result in a pupil being given zero marks for the NEA component, which may make the overall A-Level grade unachievable regardless of exam performance. Parents should treat the school's internal NEA deadlines as just as important as exam dates.
How much can teachers help with NEA?
The rules about teacher guidance vary by subject and exam board, but the principle is consistent: teachers may advise and provide feedback during the drafting process, but they may not write or rewrite sections for the student. Common permitted forms of support include:
- Pointing to relevant research sources
- Explaining assessment criteria and how marks are awarded
- Giving oral feedback on a draft without annotating it
- Confirming whether the student is working in the right direction
Once a pupil has been given written feedback on a draft, they are generally limited in how many times they can resubmit. The specific rules are set out in each exam board's specification; teachers are required to keep a record of all guidance given.
Can a pupil use AI tools for A-Level NEA?
Exam board regulations on this are evolving rapidly. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has issued guidance stating that submitting work that was generated by AI as the pupil's own is academic malpractice — the same as plagiarism. AI tools may be used for research or as a starting point for thinking, provided that the final submitted work represents the pupil's own ideas and expression.
Schools are increasingly alert to AI-generated submissions, and exam boards are developing tools to detect them. The safest approach is to document the research process and keep drafts showing the development of ideas.
How should parents support a child through NEA?
Parents do not need to understand the subject content to provide useful support. The most helpful things are:
- Keeping track of the school's internal submission deadline and making sure your child is aware of it well in advance
- Providing a quiet workspace and reducing competing demands in the weeks around the deadline
- Encouraging your child to start early — NEA projects are consistently better when begun in earnest in Year 12 rather than left to Year 13
- Asking "how is the project going?" regularly without reviewing or commenting on the content
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my child misses the internal NEA deadline?
The school will have its own consequences policy. In most cases, a missed internal deadline means the work is submitted late to the exam board, which can result in a mark of zero for the NEA component. Some schools will accept work very shortly after the deadline with a penalty; others do not. The exam board's own late-submission policy applies to the centre as a whole, not to individual pupils. Contact the school as soon as a deadline looks at risk.
Is the NEA marked the same way at every school?
The exam board's mark scheme is the same for all schools, but teacher application of it can vary. This is why external moderation exists — to ensure that a grade from one school means the same as the same grade from another. Moderation adjustments (positive or negative) are applied to all work in a centre, not just the sampled pieces.
Does NEA count if a pupil is absent during the completion period?
Absence during the NEA window is usually covered by an extension granted by the school, or in cases of extended illness or personal circumstances, by a special consideration application to the exam board. A pupil who misses a significant portion of the NEA period should have this documented and the school should be notified promptly.
Can a pupil resit A-Level NEA?
No — NEA can only be submitted once. If a pupil retakes an A-Level, they must produce a completely new piece of NEA work for the resit cohort, not resubmit the previous piece. This makes NEA-heavy subjects (such as Art and Design) significantly more demanding to resit.
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