Short answer
You teach a session of at least fifteen minutes to two or more learners aged 14 or over, recorded or observed live by a tutor. You submit it with your session plan, resources and a short reflection. The assessor checks that you planned, delivered inclusively, checked learning and reflected. The micro-teach allows one resubmission, so it is worth checking everything before you submit.
The micro-teach is the only part of the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (L3AET) where somebody watches you teach. Everything else is written. That is why it takes up so much space in people's heads and why it is worth understanding properly before you plan anything.
You deliver a session of at least fifteen minutes to a small group of real people. You record it or a tutor observes it live. You submit the recording with your session plan, your resources and a short reflection. A qualified assessor watches it against the unit criteria and gives you written feedback.
What actually happens on the day
Your learners can be colleagues, friends or family, as long as there are at least two of them and they are aged 14 or over. They do not need to know your subject. In fact a group who knows nothing about it works in your favour, because you have to explain rather than assume.
Fifteen minutes, the minimum, is shorter than it sounds. A single clear objective is enough. Teaching one knot, one safety check or one piece of terminology properly scores better than racing through a whole topic.
Tip
Time yourself once, out loud, before the day. Almost everyone plans about twice as much content as fifteen minutes will hold.
What the assessor is looking for
Not polish. The criteria are about whether you can plan a session, deliver it inclusively, check that learning happened and reflect honestly afterwards. A nervous delivery that does all four passes. A slick delivery where nobody learns anything does not.
The most common gap is checking learning. Asking "does that make sense?" is not a check. Asking someone to show you, repeat it back or pick the right answer is.
The session does not have to be impressive. It has to be teachable, inclusive and checked.
Preparing so it goes smoothly
Write the session plan first and teach from it. Assessors read the plan alongside the recording, so the two need to match. If you planned a demonstration and then talked for fifteen minutes instead, that shows.
Check the recording before you submit it. Sound matters more than picture. A phone propped at the back of the room is fine as long as you can be heard. For the full kit and room checklist, read setting up your micro-teach.
After you submit
Marking comes back in 24 to 72 hours. If something is missing, you get specific notes on what to add. The micro-teach allows one resubmission, so we kindly ask you to check your recording, plan and reflection carefully before you submit. If you would like your tutor to look over your plan first, just ask. We are always happy to help before you record.
Most people who are asked to resubmit are asked for one thing, usually the reflection or a clearer record of how they checked learning. That is the whole process: at least fifteen minutes, one objective, a group of two or more and an honest reflection afterwards.
Questions people ask
How long is the L3AET micro-teach?
A minimum of fifteen minutes.
How many learners do I need?
At least two, aged 14 or over.
How many resubmissions do I get for the micro-teach?
One. Please check your recording, plan and reflection before you submit, and ask your tutor if you would like them to look over your plan first.
Do my learners need to know my subject?
No. Learners who know nothing about it often make the session easier to assess.