BTEC Level 3 Nationals (Sixth Form)
What is a BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate?
It is intended as an Applied General qualification, and is equivalent in size to one A level. It supports access to a range of higher education courses, possibly in health and social care, if taken alongside further level 3 qualifications. The qualification typically makes up one third of a study programme.
What is the difference between BTEC certificate and BTEC extended certificate?
The BTEC Certificate is equivalent to half of an A Level achieved with one block of the timetable study in one academic year. Certificate students can progress to the “single” Extended Certificate for their second year of study. The Extended Certificate is equivalent to one A Level.
What happens if I fail my BTEC exam?
In certain cases, if the overall performance is below the passing threshold, students may be required to retake the unit. Learners who do not meet the minimum requirements for a qualification grade to be awarded will be recorded as Unclassified (U) and will not be certificated.
Internally-assessed units
Most units in the sector are internally assessed and subject to external standards verification. This means that you set and assess the assignments that provide the final summative assessment of each unit, using the examples and support that Pearson provides. Before you assess you will need to become an approved centre, if you are not one already.
Points available for internal units
The table below shows the number of points available for internal units.
|
|
60 GLH |
90 GLH |
|
U |
0 |
0 |
|
Pass |
6 |
9 |
|
Merit |
10 |
15 |
|
Distinction |
16 |
24 |
Externally-assessed units
Each external assessment for a BTEC National is linked to a specific unit. All of the units developed for external assessment are of 90 or 120 GLH to allow learners to demonstrate breadth and depth of achievement. Each assessment is taken under specified conditions, then marked by Pearson and a grade awarded. Learners are permitted to resit external assessments during their programme.
Points available for external units
Raw marks from the external units will be awarded points based on performance in the assessment. The table below shows the minimum number of points available for each grade in the external units.
|
|
90 GLH |
120 GLH |
|
U |
0 |
0 |
|
Near Pass |
6 |
8 |
|
Pass |
9 |
12 |
|
Merit |
15 |
20 |
|
Distinction |
24 |
32 |
Calculation of the qualification grade
The final grade awarded for a qualification represents an aggregation of a learner’s performance across the qualification. As the qualification grade is an aggregate of the total performance, there is some element of compensation in that a higher performance in some units may be balanced by a lower outcome in others. In the event that a learner achieves more than the required number of optional units, the mandatory units along with the optional units with the highest grades will be used to calculate the overall result, subject to the eligibility requirements for that particular qualification title.
|
|
Certificate |
Extended Certificate |
|
180 GLH |
360 GLH |
|
|
U |
0 |
0 |
|
Pass |
18 |
36 |
|
Merit |
26 |
52 |
|
Distinction |
42 |
74 |
|
Distinction* |
48 |
90 |
Course Information
Business
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Internal Unit | 31462 | 90 |
| 2 | External Unit | 31489 | 90 |
| 3 | External Unit | 31463 | 120 |
| 8 | Internal Unit | 31466 | 60 |
Applied Law
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 20168 | 90 |
| 2 | Internal Unit | 20169 | 90 |
| 3 | External Unit | 20170 | 120 |
| 6 | Internal Unit | 20173 | 60 |
Health and Social Care
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 31490 | 90 |
| 2 | External Unit | 31491 | 120 |
| 5 | Internal Unit | 31495 | 90 |
| 12 | Internal Unit | 31507 | 60 |
Engineering
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 31706 | 120 |
| 2 | Internal Unit | 31707 | 60 |
| 3 | External Unit | 31708 | 120 |
| 10 | Internal Unit | 31711 | 60 |
Sport
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 31524 | 120 |
| 2 | External Unit | 31525 | 120 |
| 3 | Internal Unit | 31526 | 60 |
| 7 | Internal Unit | 31530 | 60 |
Art
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 31827 | 120 |
| 2 | External Unit | 31828 | 90 |
| 3 | Internal Unit | 31829 | 90 |
| 12 | Internal Unit | 31842 | 60 |
Applied Science
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 31617 | 90 |
| 2 | Internal Unit | 31618 | 90 |
| 3 | External Unit | 31619 | 120 |
| 8 | Internal Unit | 31642 | 60 |
Travel
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 20207 | 90 |
| 2 | External Unit | 20208 | 120 |
| 3 | Internal Unit | 21797 | 90 |
| 9 | Internal Unit | 20221 | 60 |
Applied Psychology
| Unit Number | Type of Unit | Unit Code | GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | External Unit | 21331 | 90 |
| 2 | Internal Unit | 21332 | 90 |
| 3 | External Unit | 21333 | 120 |
| 4 | Internal Unit | 21334 | 60 |
