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Financial Studies Test Page

Year 12 Level 3 Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS)

CeFS covers the core disciplines of financial education. The qualification provides a foundation for continued study within the finance sector and a wide range of other business-related disciplines.

CeFS is made up of two mandatory units which need to be successfully completed in order for the student to achieve the certificate. Unit 1 (Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short Term) highlights the importance of financial capability in meeting immediate and short-term financial needs. Unit 2 (Financial Capability in the Medium and Long Term) highlights the importance of planning for medium- and long-term financial needs, with particular reference to the importance of the need to budget for future aspirations and life events.

Many students go on to study subjects such as accounting, business, finance and banking at university or through further vocational training.

Year 12 learners can use the qualification as a steppingstone towards future employment within the finance sector, gaining valuable understanding to support entry to employment in a range of varied roles.

The overall qualification will be graded A* - E. To achieve a pass, students must achieve a pass of 40% of the Uniform Mark Scheme (UMS) in both units.

You can find full details of the CeFs course and assessment  here

Year 13 Level 3 Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS)

The DipFS is for students who have already achieved the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS).

Building on the knowledge gained in CeFS, this course enables students to develop and enhance their financial knowledge and skills by applying them to the wider financial environment.

The DipFS is made up of two mandatory units which need to be successfully completed in order for the student to achieve the certificate Unit 3(Sustainability of an Individual’s Finances) highlights the importance of financial sustainability and develops key skills to ensure that an individual’s financial capability is sustained over a period of time, taking into consideration the personal and external factors that lead to change.

Unit 4 (Sustainability of the Financial Services System) explores the financial services system and looks at how financial services providers work and compete with one another, their priorities and responses to external influences in maintaining financial sustainability.

DipFS instils further knowledge to support progression to university to study subjects such as accounting, business, finance and banking. It can also be the launchpad to an entry level career within the financial sector ensuring that learners have a broad financial understanding and knowledge, or the first step towards a further profession qualification such as CeMAP or DipFA.

The overall qualification will be graded A* - E. To achieve a pass, students must achieve a pass of 40% of the Uniform Mark Scheme (UMS) in all four units.

This qualification is included in DfE 16 - 18 Performance Tables.

You can find full details of the DipFS course and assessment here

This qualification is included in DfE 16 - 18 Performance Tables.