All End Point Assessments (EPAs) that the CIPD offer have a range of possible grading outcomes. In all cases the overall EPA grade is determined through a combination of the grades achieved for the assessment methods.
Select your apprenticeship standard tab to see how the score and grade is awarded.
Resits and retakes are available to apprentices with their employers’ authorisation. Find out about additional costs and read the resit policy and guidance.
Level 3 HR Support
To pass the Level 3 HR Support EPA, an apprentice will need to achieve full coverage. This means all knowledge, skill and behaviour components must be sufficiently evidenced. The components are split between the assessment methods with knowledge and some skills assessed in the Consultative Project and behaviours and the remaining skills assessed in the Professional Discussion.
The available grades are: Fail, Pass and Distinction which are determined based on a combination of the two assessment methods.
| Overall EPA | Consultative Project | Professional Discussion |
|---|---|---|
| Fail | Any Grade | Fail |
| Fail | Fail | Any Grade |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | Distinction | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | Distinction |
| Distinction | Distinction | Distinction |
Grades are achieved for each assessment method based on these rules:
- Fail is where not all components have been sufficiently evidenced
- Pass is where all components have been sufficiently evidenced and the overall score is between 60% and 84%
- Distinction is where all components have been sufficiently evidenced, Distinction components have exceeded requirements and the overall score is between 85% and 100%
Level 5 HR Consultant Partner
To pass the Level 5 HR Consultant Partner EPA, an apprentice will need to achieve full coverage. This means all knowledge, skill and behaviour components must be sufficiently evidenced. The components are split between the assessment methods with knowledge and some skills assessed in the Consultative Project and behaviours and the remaining skills assessed in the Professional Discussion.
The available grades are: Fail, Pass and Distinction which are determined based on a combination of the two assessment methods.
| Overall EPA | Consultative Project | Professional Discussion |
|---|---|---|
| Fail | Any Grade | Fail |
| Fail | Fail | Any Grade |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | Distinction | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | Distinction |
| Distinction | Distinction | Distinction |
Grades are achieved for each assessment method based on these rules:
- Fail is where not all components have been sufficiently evidenced
- Pass is where all components have been sufficiently evidenced and the overall score is between 60% and 84%
- Distinction is where all components have been sufficiently evidenced, Distinction components have exceeded requirements and the overall score is between 85% and 100%
Level 3 L&D Practitioner
To pass the Level 3 L&D Practitioner EPA, an apprentice will need to achieve full coverage. This means all grading descriptors need to be sufficiently evidenced. A premium has been placed on EPA1 - Work Based Project with Professional Discussion, which means that a Distinction must be achieved in EPA1 for an overall Merit or Distinction.
The available grades are: Fail, Pass, Merit, and Distinction which are determined based on a combination of the two assessment methods.
| Overall EPA | EPA1 - Work Based Project with Professional Discussion | EPA2 - Presentation and Q&A based on the Learning Journal |
|---|---|---|
| Fail | Any Grade | Fail |
| Fail | Fail | Any Grade |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | Distinction |
| Merit | Distinction | Pass |
| Distinction | Distinction | Distinction |
Grades are achieved for each assessment method based on these rules:
- Fail is where not all grading descriptors have been sufficiently evidenced
- Pass is where all grading descriptors have been sufficiently evidenced
- Distinction is where all grading descriptors including the Pass and Distinction criteria have been met
Level 5 L&D Consultant Business Partner
To pass the Level 5 L&D Consultant Business Partner EPA, an apprentice will need to achieve full coverage. This means all grading descriptors need to be sufficiently evidenced. A premium has been placed on EPA1 - Work Based Project with Professional Discussion, which means that a Distinction must be achieved in EPA1 for an overall Merit or Distinction.
The available grades are: Fail, Pass, Merit, and Distinction which are determined based on a combination of the two assessment methods.
| Overall EPA | EPA1 - Work Based Project with Professional Discussion | EPA2 - Presentation and Q&A based on the Learning Journal |
|---|---|---|
| Fail | Any Grade | Fail |
| Fail | Fail | Any Grade |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | Distinction |
| Merit | Distinction | Pass |
| Distinction | Distinction | Distinction |
Grades are achieved for each assessment method based on these rules:
- Fail is where not all grading descriptors have been sufficiently evidenced
- Pass is where all grading descriptors have been sufficiently evidenced
- Distinction is where all grading descriptors including the Pass and Distinction criteria have been met
Level 7 Senior People Professional
To pass the Level 7 Senior People Professional EPA, an apprentice will need to meet the required standard across all areas. This means all grading descriptors need to be sufficiently evidenced. The grading descriptors are split between the assessment methods with the majority in the Professional Discussion.
The available grades are: Fail, Pass and Distinction which are determined based on a combination of the two assessment methods.
| Overall EPA | Professional Discussion | Project Proposal, Presentation and Questioning |
|---|---|---|
| Fail | Any Grade | Fail |
| Fail | Fail | Any Grade |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Pass | Distinction | Pass |
| Pass | Pass | Distinction |
| Distinction | Distinction | Distinction |
Grades are achieved for each assessment method based on these rules:
- Fail is where not all Pass level grading descriptors have achieved a rating of met or exceeded
- Pass is where all Pass level grading descriptors have achieved a rating of met or exceeded
- Distinction is where all grading descriptors including Pass and Distinction level have achieved a rating of met or exceeded
Support materials equipping you for success
Costs and fees related to apprenticeship programmes.
As the professional body for the people profession, the CIPD has huge experience in assessing professional standards for HR, L&D and OD