Employer Set Project (ESP)
Controlled assessment worth 100 marks (40% of Core Component). Students complete 5 tasks across multiple supervised sessions totaling up to 14 hours 30 minutes. No internet or AI tools permitted.
ESP Assessment Details
| Component | Assessment Method | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Timetable | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Set Project | Externally set project | 14 hours 30 minutes | 100 | 40% | Set date/time | May/November |
ESP Assessment Notes
- • The ESP is externally set and marked by Pearson
- • Forms 40% of the Core Component (20% of total T Level grade)
- • Students complete 5 tasks across multiple supervised sessions
- • No internet access or AI tools permitted during assessment
- • Pre-release materials may include industry context for familiarisation
ESP At a Glance
Assessment Conditions
- Up to 14 hours 30 minutes total
- Multiple supervised sessions
- No internet access permitted
- No AI or response-preparation tools
Portfolio Submission
- Planning documents
- Annotated digital portfolio
- Working prototype
- Testing evidence
- Reflective evaluation
Assessment Objectives (100 marks total)
Planning
12% weighting
Application
41% weighting
Selecting techniques and resources
9% weighting
English, maths, digital
6% weighting
Outcomes and review
32% weighting
Task-by-Task Requirements
Task 1: Planning a project
Produce a project plan using the Pearson template with a Gantt chart plus a resource and cost plan. Schedule to a defined deadline, prioritise activities, assign resources and align to an appropriate development lifecycle.
Provide a rationale that justifies key planning decisions including task order, allocation, benefits, risks, timing and costs.
Expected Evidence:
Task 2: Identifying and fixing defects in existing code
Assess given code against stated requirements. Design and run tests with clearly identified test data: valid, valid extreme, invalid, invalid extreme, erroneous and record expected versus actual results.
Correct errors and adjust the code so it meets the brief while following sound programming conventions.
Expected Evidence:
Task 3: Designing a solution
Decompose the problem with clear abstraction and refinement, show reusable components and communicate algorithms using appropriate tools (flowcharts or code).
Apply logical thinking with well-defined steps and use consistent structure and naming conventions. Communicate the design so a client can make decisions and a third party could implement the solution.
Expected Evidence:
Task 4a: Developing a solution
Implement the solution to the brief using appropriate programming techniques and both pre-written and user-written modules. Organise code clearly: avoid deep nesting, use clear indentation, precise logic, functions or classes, comments, mostly local variables and constants.
Testing is expected implicitly through a working product that meets requirements. User experience should show consistency, simplified inputs, meaningful messages and where relevant data visualisation (e.g. with Matplotlib).
Expected Evidence:
Task 4b: Reflective evaluation
Apply reflective evaluation. Demonstrate that the product meets the success criteria and user needs using evidence from testing.
Discuss realistic improvements you would make if revisiting the problem.
Expected Evidence:
Learning Time & Delivery Conditions
Assessment Time
- • Total supervised assessment: up to 14 hours 30 minutes
- • Multiple sessions scheduled by the centre
- • Pre-release familiarisation with industry context allowed
Conditions
- • Supervised sessions only
- • No internet access
- • No AI or similar tools for any assessed task
Core Component Context
- • Total Core: 630 guided learning hours
- • ESP: Controlled project element within Core
- • Worth 40% of Core marks
Required Software & Resources
Software Requirements:
- Diagramming or flowcharting software for algorithms and system diagrams
- Python 3.10 or later with appropriate IDE plus libraries (Pandas and Matplotlib)
- Spreadsheet software for data handling, dashboards, Gantt chart and costings
- Word processor, presentation tool, project management tool
- Image editor, programming editor, database tools
- Web browsers, web server
Note: All items listed are explicitly required in the Core resources section of the Pearson specification for ESP delivery.
Student ESP Brief
Would you like a printable one-page brief for students with tick-box checklist for evidence per task and session-by-session running order for the 14 hours 30 minutes?