How Many Hours Should a CIPD Assignment Take at Level 3, 5 and 7?

Is There an Official CIPD Number of Hours?

Short answer: no, not per assignment.

What CIPD does publish is:

• Guided Learning Hours (GLH) – time with a tutor or structured learning

• Total Qualification Time (TQT) – everything: classes, reading, reflection and assignment work

For example:

• Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice: around 240 hours TQT for the whole qualification (24 credits, 1 credit ≈ 10 hours).

• Level 5 Associate Diploma: around 420 hours TQT in total (42 credits).

• Level 7 Advanced Diploma: around 1,200 hours TQT across all units (120 credits).

You can see these details on the official CIPD qualifications regulatory information.

Once you remember that each qualification has several units, and each unit usually has one major assignment (sometimes broken into tasks), those big numbers make the ranges above very sensible.

Level 3 - How Many Hours for a Typical Assignment?

Level 3 sits at Foundation level. You’re expected to understand and apply, not write a mini dissertation.

A full Level 3 written assignment (say 1,500–2,500 words) often breaks down like this:

• Understanding the brief & checking criteria – 1–2 hours

• Reading unit materials and making notes – 3–6 hours

• Planning your structure – 1–2 hours

• Drafting the answer – 4–6 hours

• Editing, checking and referencing – 2–4 hours

That’s how you end up with a sensible range of about 10-20 hours for a main Level 3 assignment, spread over a couple of weeks rather than one frantic weekend.

Smaller tasks (short reflections, PowerPoint slides, brief knowledge questions) may only need 4-8 hours, depending on how confident you are with the topic.

At Level 3, the main time-eaters are:

• Working out what the question is really asking

• Finding simple workplace examples

• Getting used to the idea of structuring longer answers

If you’re finding every Level 3 assignment is taking you 25–30 hours, you’re probably over-researching or rewriting too much. Tighten your plan before you start writing.

Level 5 - How Many Hours for a Typical Assignment?

Level 5 steps things up. It’s equivalent to undergraduate level study, so you’re expected to analyse, compare and think more critically.

Providers often say you’ll spend around 6–8 hours per week on Level 5 over the length of the course. Combine that with the official TQT (about 420 hours for the full diploma), and you can see that a single unit’s work, including its assignment, is no small thing.

For one main Level 5 assignment, a realistic breakdown is:

• Understanding the brief & grading criteria – 1–2 hours

• Reading core texts and articles, making notes – 8–12 hours

• Planning your structure and link to models/theory – 2–3 hours

• Drafting the full answer – 6–10 hours

• Re-drafting, tightening arguments, referencing and formatting – 3–8 hours

That’s how you land in the region of 20–35 hours per substantial Level 5 assignment.

You’ll feel the jump from Level 3 because you’re:

• Drawing on more models and frameworks

• Comparing different approaches instead of just describing them

• Linking your examples to organisational impact, not just “what HR did”

If you’re trying to do a Level 5 assignment in one six-hour sprint, you’ll usually end up with something that feels rushed, thin on evidence and hard to edit. Level 5 work is much calmer when you give yourself space for two or three shorter sessions.

Level 7 - How Many Hours for a Typical Assignment?

Level 7 is postgraduate level. It’s designed to sit at the same level as a master’s in terms of complexity and depth.

The full Level 7 Advanced Diploma has around 1,200 hours TQT, which is a big jump from Level 5. Many providers guide students to expect 10–15 hours of study per week while they’re working through it.

For a single major Level 7 assignment (often 4,000–6,000 words with heavier reading), a realistic pattern is:

• Getting to grips with the brief and marking grid – 2–3 hours

• Reading journal articles, reports and core texts, plus note-taking – 15–25 hours

• Designing a detailed plan and structure – 4–6 hours

• Writing the first full draft – 12–20 hours

• Reworking arguments, tightening the line of reasoning, referencing, and final checks – 5–10 hours

That’s where the 35–60 hour range comes from.

The time jump at Level 7 is not just about word count. It’s also about:

• Reading more technical sources (journal articles, research reports)

• Building a clear argument rather than just explaining concepts

• Linking people practice decisions to wider business strategy and risk

If you’re only spending 10–15 hours on a Level 7 assignment, something will usually give – either the depth of reading or the quality of your analysis.

How Do You Know if You’re Spending “Enough” Time?

A simple way to judge it:

• If you understand the brief,

• Can explain each main point in your own words,

• Have at least a couple of decent sources at Level 5 and 7,

• And you’ve left time to edit,

…you’re probably in the right ballpark.

Warning signs you’re under-investing time:

• You start writing before properly reading the brief

• You’re Googling definitions halfway through the assignment

• You submit your first draft as it is, without a final tidy-up

Warning signs you’re over-investing time:

• You keep “researching” but never feel ready to write

• You rewrite the same paragraph over and over

• You’re already well past the recommended word count but still adding new points

How to Use These Hour Ranges in Real Life

Instead of thinking, “I’ll do the assignment on Saturday,” give each stage a little slot in your week.

For example, for a Level 5 assignment (aiming for ~25 hours total):

• Evening 1–2: Read the brief, highlight assessment criteria, start a rough plan

• Evening 3–4: Do focused reading and note-taking

• Evening 5–6: Write the first half of the assignment

• Evening 7–8: Write the second half

• Evening 9: Edit, polish and sort your references

Same idea at Level 3, just scaled down; same idea at Level 7, but with more blocks for reading and re-drafting.

When It Makes Sense to Get Extra Support

If you’re working full-time, have family commitments, or English isn’t your first language, those “average” hour ranges can feel tight.

That’s usually the point where students start looking for structured help with:

• Interpreting the brief

• Building a clear plan

• Tightening a messy draft

If you want guided support with planning or structuring your work so you’re not wasting hours going in circles, you can explore our CIPD assignment help options for Level 3, 5 and 7.