BTEC National Qualifications A Guide for Higher Education Admissions Staff

Enhancing Progression Opportunities for Vocational Learners September 2009 CONTENTS

Introduction 1 Structure 2 Duration of Course 2 Entry Requirements 2 Assessment 2 Unit Grading 3 Overall Grading 3 UCAS Tariff 3 Functional Skills 3 Other BTEC Qualifications 3 The Future 4 Progression Agreements 4

1. Introduction BTEC qualifications have been running for twenty five years and are offered by the Edexcel awarding body, created in 1996 by a merger of BTEC and the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council. BTEC remains a brand and is offered only by Edexcel. In 2007, more than one million students enrolled on a BTEC course. The level 3 BTEC National qualifications are work related qualifications which aim both to accommodate the needs of employers and to allow progression to university. They provide work related learning with key theoretical background, and are based on relevant National Occupational Standards (NOS) as determined by sector skills councils. BTECs are flexible, enabling students to study them full-time or part-time. They can be taken as well as, or in place of, GCSEs and A levels in schools and colleges, as part of an apprenticeship or as part of the Additional Specialist Learning (ASL) component of the new Advanced Diploma. Teaching of the new BTEC qualifications in their current form began in September 2002. They are currently undergoing further development to be accredited onto the new national Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) from September 2010. The BTEC National qualification is at NQF (National Qualifications Framework) level 3 and is expected to be accredited onto the QCF at level 3 (broadly equivalent to A levels).

1 BTEC National Qualifications

2. Structure including GCSE English or Key Skills Communication 6. Unit Grading Grade Tariff Points The BTEC National has three ‘sizes’: Award, Certificate Level 2 or equivalent. Sometimes five GCSE passes or All assessment for BTEC Nationals is criterion Diploma Certificate Award and Diploma. Maths or Science GCSEs may be specified, or for some referenced, based on the achievement of specified DDD 360 The BTEC National Award: The 6-unit National Award subjects a portfolio. learning outcomes. Each unit has specified criteria seeks to provide a unit-based specialist qualification Alternatively a BTEC First Diploma may offer entry which are used for grading. DDM 320 that focuses on particular aspects of employment with a minimum overall grade specified. Mature DMM 280 within a vocational sector. students may be admitted with other relevant level 2 A summative unit grade can be awarded at pass, MMM DD 240 The BTEC National Certificate: The 12-unit National qualifications and knowledge and experience in the merit or distinction: MMP DM 200 Certificate seeks to provide a specialist work-related relevant sector or industry. • to achieve a ‘pass’ a learner must have satisfied all MPP MM 160 qualification that covers the key knowledge and the pass criteria PPP MP D 120 practical skills required in a vocational sector and 5. Assessment • to achieve a ‘merit’ a learner must additionally PP M 80 also offer a different emphasis through the choice of Each unit is assessed and graded through have satisfied all the merit criteria P 40 specialist units. It is broadly equivalent to two GCE A assignments. All units are internally assessed and • to achieve a ‘distinction’ a learner must addition- levels. assessments are constructed by the delivering organ - ally have satisfied all the distinction criteria. The BTEC National Diploma: The 18-unit National isation. Students will complete a range of 9. Functional Skills Diploma extends and deepens the specialist focus assignments, case studies and practical activities. 7. Overall Grading At the moment functional or keys skills are not an available in the 12-unit Certificate. The qualification All assessment is quality assured through internal integral part of BTEC Nationals, although they do prepares learners for employment in the sector. It is verification and Edexcel carry out external verification BTEC National Award provide the opportunity to achieve them. broadly equivalent to three GCE A levels. activities (including sampling assessors’ decisions Is given a single grade of Pass, Merit or With the advent of key and functional skills the using sector-specialist external verifiers). Distinction e.g. P, M,D. ‘Common Skills’ which the BTEC Nationals contained 3. Duration of Course in the past were removed from the qualification. A BTEC National Diploma will generally take two years BTEC National Certificate Universities will therefore separately specify entry Is given a double grade e.g. PP, MP, DD. to complete by full time study. requirements for degree courses in terms of GCSE However, being a unit based qualification, the BTEC National Diploma Maths and/or English or equivalents. actual duration of the course is flexible, dependent Is given a triple grade e.g. PPP, MMP, DDD. on the size and level of the qualification and whether 10. Other BTEC Qualifications it is studied full or part time. The mode of study is determined by the provider. 8. BTEC Nationals included in the UCAS Tariff Level 1 BTEC Introductory A BTEC National Award is equivalent to one GCE A 4. Entry requirements at FE colleges for BTEC Level (or two AS Levels), a BTEC National Certificate to Level 2 BTEC First Nationals two GCE A levels and a BTEC National Diploma to Entry requirements will vary but are generally a three GCE A Levels. Level 3 BTEC National minimum of four GCSE passes at Grade C or above, Actual tariff points are determined by the overall Level 4 (some at level 5) BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) Award Certificate Diploma grade. Where, for example, a learner has achieved an overall grade profile of 3 Merits - MMM - in the BTEC Level 4 and 5 Units 6 units 12 units 18 units BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) National Diploma this provides a learner with 3 A Equivalent to One GCE A level Two GCE A levels Three GCE A levels Level equivalence and 240 UCAS points. Breadth Choice of specialist units Deepened specialist focus

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11. The Future When the BTEC National is accredited onto the QCF from October 2010 the structure of the qualification will be based upon the number of credits (based upon the number and size of units achieved) as opposed to the number of units themselves. Furthermore, the titles will be amended to reflect the qualification nomenclature of the QCF. The BTEC document BTEC in the Future highlights the use of the BTEC National as part of Additional Specialist Learning on the new 14-19 Diploma. Addi - tionally, once on the QCF, both qualifications and units could be part of the potential flexibility of the QCF for learners.

12. Progression Agreements As one of its core activities to support progression into higher education, Linking London LLN brokers and develops progression agreements between FE and HE institutions, which make clear entry require - ments for BTEC National students and how applicants can expect to be treated in terms of offers, interviews and feedback. They also help to develop the ongoing relationships between course teams including discussing curricular issues.

13. Further Information For further information please contact: [email protected], 0207 380 3223 or visit www.linkinglondon.co.uk

Alternatively visit Edexcel’s pages at www.edexcel.com

This guide was prepared in collaboration with Edexcel by David Saunders, Credit and Progression Manager, Linking London Lifelong Learning Network, [email protected]

4 The Linking London Lifelong Learning Network is a membership organisation of thirty five universities and colleges in Central, East and North London which aims to improve the progression of vocational learners into and through Higher Education. We are funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and are hosted at Birkbeck, University of London, Egmont House, 25-31 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9UT . If you found this guidance document useful or would like to discuss our work in the area of vocational learning, please contact: [email protected] or 0207 380 3223 www.linkinglondon.ac.uk