T-level results 2023: 1 in 3 students dropped out

A third of wave two T-level students quit their course during their studies, results data suggests.

T-level results were released to 3,448 students today, a third lower than the 5,210 T-level students the government reported started the two-year course in 2021.

This comes following a damning review of T-levels by Ofsted, published last month, which warned that “many” students left before the end of their course.

Early 2023 data reveals 3119 students, 90.5 per cent of those picking up their results achieved at least a pass in their T-level and 69.2 per cent achieved a merit or above. 

This means those students successfully achieved each individual element that makes up a T-level.

To pass, a student needs to score at least a grade E in the core component, a pass or above in their occupational specialism and met the industry placement requirements.

Students that attempted but don’t achieve all three component requirements count as a partial achievement. This year, 316 students, 9.2 per cent, only partially achieved their T-level. 

This is the second year that T-level results have been awarded, but the first where students’ results are based entirely on formal assessments.

The first cohort of T-level students, awarded their grades this time last year, had their results based partially on teacher-assessed grades.

Almost 1 in 4 achieve top T-level grades

Overall this year, 22.2 per cent of students achieved the top distinction and distinction* (the level above distinction) grades.

Nearly half, 47.1 per cent, achieved a merit and 21.2 per cent scored a pass. 

Breakdowns of results by subject and component were not part of the initial data release but will be released by the Department for Education separately.  

According to UCAS, 1,220 T-level students got a higher education place this year.

Added to last year’s completers, there are now 4,477 young people with T-levels on their CVs.

Today’s results are the first for seven new T-levels that were introduced in 2021. Among them are T-levels in health, healthcare science and science.

Those students found themselves at the centre of a “serious” incident last year when exams regulator Ofqual deemed their first-year assessment results invalid.

Other T-levels being awarded for the first time today include digital support services, onsite construction and building services engineering for construction.

The Department for Education was approached for comment.