As GCSE students prepare to receive their exam results, many will be considering their options for further study, including vocational qualifications such as BTecs. But what are BTecs, and how are they marked? Here is everything you need to know.
A BTec, which stands for the Business and Technology Education Council, is a practical qualification available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own vocational courses managed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. BTec courses are assessed through exams, regular coursework and projects, and sometimes placements.
BTec Firsts are Level 2 qualifications, meaning they are equivalent to GCSEs. Students often take a mixture of the two. They can be helpful for people trying to get into further education colleges.
BTec Nationals are Level 3 qualifications, so can be taken alongside or instead of A-levels. Research suggests one in four students use them as a route into university, while others gain occupation-specific skills and go straight into employment. Starred Distinction/Distinction Star (D*) Some BTecs are worth two or three A-levels.
Students normally receive their results on the same days as A-level and GCSE students, but some receive them before this. Hundreds of thousands of students study BTEC qualifications and other vocational courses across the UK. Popular subjects include health and social care, applied science, construction, engineering, business and art and design.
BTec Nationals can be sat by any age group. In fact, most are taken by those over the age of 22, external as they develop practical career skills. They are particularly popular among white working class students, according to research by the Social Market Foundation think tank, external.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
