The truth is: success is about understanding the mark scheme and writing concisely to meet its requirements. This means:
You pick up more marks in less time.
You avoid “faff” work that won’t count.
You still learn loads and (hopefully!) enjoy the process.
Yes, there are plenty of online resources telling you what to do – but I haven’t seen many that show you what high-scoring work looks like in practice.
What follows below is
A practical guide to the process (general advice only)
An exemplar project to see quality in context (to use in conjunction with the guide)
Guidance on how AI can be used for feedback*
*A note on AI and JCQ rules
AI tools can be helpful for generating ideas or getting general feedback – but they must never be used to complete sections of your project or to write content for you. That would make your submission not your own work, which is malpractice under JCQ regulations. Always check the latest guidelines before using AI.
If you use AI at any stage:
Be transparent – record the tool used, date, and prompts.
Keep full responsibility for the work – the thinking, coding, and writing must be yours.
Remember: this guide does not contain writing frames or task-specific templates, as these are not permitted.
