Each unit in an ABE qualification is assessed by an open-book exam (OBE) an assignment, or in the case of Level 4 a traditional timed exam (see Our Assessment Methods).
Assessments for our Business Management-based portfolio take place twice a year (second quarter and final quarter), plus there is an additional assignments-only window in March. There are a series of deadlines for these assessment sessions and accredited centres are supported by regular reminders to ensure there is plenty of time to prepare. New learners can be registered throughout the year but there are closing deadlines if they wish to take assessments in a particular session and existing learners need an active membership in order to book.
- Click here for the March 2025 assessment timeline
- Click here for the May 2025 assessment timeline
- Click here for the November 2025 assessment timeline
ABE's shorter Awards are assessed by assignment and operate on a rolling six-week turnaround from submission.
Please note: assignments and OBEs must be received by the deadline. We will not accept late submissions except unless very exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of ABE, in which case there will be an additional charge to cover our incurred costs.
Link to grade and award information
November 2024 assessments
Results day: 28 February 2025
March 2025 assessments
Bookings open: 10 January 2025 - start booking your March assessments from this date.
Assignment brief release date: 17 January 2025 - assignment briefs will be available on the portal from this date.
Registration deadline: 24 January 2025 - new learners wishing to take March assessments must be registered with ABE by this date (lapsed members also need to re-register by this date).
Booking deadline: 7 February 2025 - all bookings and payments for March assessments must be received by this date.
Learners' submission deadline: 11 March 2025 - all learners' assessments must be submitted to your centre by this date.
Centres' submission deadline: 18 March 2025 - centres must submit all assessments to ABE by this date. Please note: learners CANNOT submit assessments to centres (or ABE) after 11 March
Results day: 4 June 2025
May 2025 assessments
Bookings open: 14 March 2025 - start booking your May assessments from this date.
Assignment brief release date: 24 March 2025 - assignment briefs will be available on the portal from this date.
Registration deadline: 21 March 2025 - new learners wishing to take May assessments must be registered with ABE by this date (lapsed members also need to re-register by this date).
Booking deadline: 4 April 2025 - all bookings and payments for May assessments must be received by this date.
Open-book exam release date: 28 April 2025 - question papers will be available on the portal from this date.
Learners' submission deadline: 16 May 2025 - all learners' assessments must be submitted to your centre by this date.
Centres' submission deadline: 23 May 2025 - centres must submit all assessments to ABE by this date. Please note: learners CANNOT submit assessments to centres (or ABE) after 16 May.
Timed exam dates: 28 & 29 May 2025
Results day: 3 September 2025
November 2025 assessments
Bookings open: 5 September 2025 - start booking your November assessments from this date.
Assignment brief release date: 15 September 2025 - assignment briefs will be available on the portal from this date.
Registration deadline: 26 September 2025 - new learners wishing to take November assessments must be registered with ABE by this date (lapsed members also need to re-register by this date).
Booking deadline: 3 October 2025 - all bookings and payments for November assessments must be received by this date.
Open-book exam release date: 20 October 2025 - question papers will be available on the portal from this date.
Learners' submission deadline: 10 October 2025 - all learners' assessments must be submitted to your centre by this date.
Centres' submission deadline: 17 November 2025 - centres must submit all assessments to ABE by this date. Please note: learners CANNOT submit assessments to centres (or ABE) after 10 October.
Timed exam dates: 27 & 28 November 2025
Results day: 2 March 2026
Grades and awards
Grades
Successful candidates will be awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction in each subject where applicable.
This is the grading for the ABE's RFQ qualifications (the core syllabus):
| Mark | Grade |
| 70% + | Distinction |
| 55% - 69% | Merit |
| 40% - 54% | Pass |
| 0% - 39% | Fail |
ABE's short awards have a slightly different grading scale as follows:
| Mark | Grade |
| 80% + | Distinction |
| 65% - 79% | Merit |
| 50% - 64% | Pass |
| 0% - 49% | Fail |
ABE's QCF grades (from the syllabus delivered from 2011 - 2017) were as follows:
| A* | 75% - 100% | Higher Distinction |
| A | 65% - 74% | Distinction |
| B | 50% - 64% | Merit |
| C | 40% - 49% | Pass |
| D | 30% - 39% | Marginal Fail |
| E | 15% - 29% | Fail |
| F | 0% - 14% | Unclassified |
| CF | - | Criteria Fail |
Top Paper Awards
ABE believes in rewarding success. Twice a year, we honour our highest Distinction achievers in each unit with a special Top Paper Award. Recipients and their tutors get a special certificate and the chance to publicise their achievement. All learners also receive one year's free subscription.
Click here to read the latest Top Paper stories.
Our assessments have been judged to be the most up-to-date and relevant available. They develop skills that help learners become an invaluable asset in the workplace. Find out all about them.
