Qualifications & training

RHS Level 2: Exams and assessment

To help you understand how you will be assessed in order to achieve your qualification, we have some additional guidance available, including sample examination papers for all our externally assessed qualifications

RHS Level 2 Qualifications are assessed externally by the RHS. To complete an assessment, learners must be enrolled with an RHS approved centre.

RHS approved centres are responsible for enrolling learners, entering learners for assessments, supporting and preparing learners for assessment and the issuing of results and certificates.

Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture

In order to achieve this qualification (pass, merit or distinction), learners must complete and attain: 

  • Online competency assessment
  • Practical competence assessments
Learners must pass both elements in order to be awarded the full qualification. These methods provide an opportunity for learners to demonstrate their practical skills while also being able to recall and apply appropriate knowledge and understanding elements underpinning these skills.

The assessments can be attempted in any order and there is no requirement to pass one element before progressing to the other. 

Marks from the online test will be combined with the Practical Competence test and released by RHS Qualifications to the approved centre once both elements have been assessed.

Online competency assessment

  • 75 minutes long
  • Can be taken at the centre, or at home using our remote invigilation software
  • In overall terms, the OCA represents 20% of the overall marks for the qualification, with the Practical Competence Assessments representing 80% of the total marks available (40% each for PCA1 and PCA2)

    • The OCA is split into 2 sections: 
      • Section A – plant-related questions including identification (topic 1)
      • Section B – forced answer multiple choice questions (topics 2-8)
    • The pass mark for the full OCA is 50%

    Practical competence assessment

    This is the main opportunity for learners to demonstrate their practical skills and is assessed by an RHS External Examiner at the approved centre.  

    • Assessments will take place at two points during the programme (winter and summer) 
    • The assessments will require the learner to demonstrate around 3-5 core skills
    • Learners will be presented with written instructions on the day of the assessment

    Once the marks for the online and practical tests are available, the overall mark will then be graded, as follows:

    • 0-49% Fail
    • 50-64% Pass
    • 65-79% Merit
    • 80%+ Distinction

    Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development

    In order to achieve the full qualification, learners must complete and achieve two examinations.

    • Available online or paper-based 
    • February, June and October each year
    • Each exam will take 120 minutes to complete
    • Learners must achieve at least 50% in each exam to pass (each exam carries equal marks)
    A final grade for the overall qualification in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development will be calculated by amalgamating the marks for each exam and expressed as a percentage. The result will be issued to the approved centre where the learner is enrolled. 
     

    The overall mark will then be graded, as follows:

    • 0-49% Fail
    • 50-64% Pass
    • 65-79% Merit
    • 80%+ Distinction

    Discover more

    Browse example papers for Level 2 qualifications and view the exam timetable

    Level 2 example papers

    Sample theory paper units 1 & 2 (1.1MB pdf)

    Exam timetable

    Download the 2024/25 exam dates (348kB pdf)

    Approved centres offering RHS qualifications are free to define their own teaching framework, within the structure of the qualification specification, and will provide the learning materials to support your studies and prepare you for the assessments.

    RHS Qualifications are unable to issue results to learners directly. Learners must obtain their results from the approved centre where they completed the assessment.

    Do you have a question about RHS Qualifications?
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