In this week's Bulletin, we would like to take the opportunity to update you on adaptations to assessments available to BTEC suites, aimed at supporting you to continue to deliver teaching, learning and assessment under the current COVID-19 restrictions.
We encourage you to continue assessing your learners, even if this is partial assessments of units whilst centres are closed. We expect teaching to continue remotely, where possible.
There are two types of reduced internal assessment adaptations that are available:
- Reduced unit assessment - the number of internal units that need to be assessed is reduced, these could be mandatory or optional.
- In unit adaptation – the amount of assessment evidence needed to meet criteria have been reduced.
The Reduced Internal Assessment Adaptation for each qualification can be found here.
BTEC RQF Nationals (2016–2020)
Qualification size |
Maximum Reduction in Mandatory or Optional Internal Assessments for learners certificating in 2021 and for learners who registered September 2020 and certificating in 2022 |
Certificate (180 GLH) |
None |
Extended Certificate (360 GLH) |
1 unit |
Foundation Diploma (510/540 GLH) |
1 unit |
Diploma (720 GLH) |
2 units |
Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) |
2 units |
Please note for RQF Nationals, you can now reduce assessment of mandatory or optional internal units. The adaptation is for number of units, and not the GLH of the unit.
Level 3 BTEC Specialist qualifications in Engineering
(including Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace and Aviation Engineering, Rail Engineering, Composites Engineering and Machining) have the same adaptations applied as the BTEC Nationals RQF (2016) suite.
Children’s Play Learning and Development
Please refer to the guide, with regards to when reduction of assessment can apply, the main principle is if the learner wants to be awarded an ‘Early Year Educator’ qualification that allows them to be counted into level 3 childcare ratios, they must complete all mandatory content.
Sport
Where the qualification is underpinned by CIMSPA standards, the mandatory unit assessments must take place. This impacts the 2019 Career Focused Sport Qualifications, and the BTEC National in Fitness Services. For these qualifications, reduced assessment applies only to optional content, please see the guide for further detail.
BTEC Nationals (2018/2019) Creative Practice Qualifications
Reduced assessment adaptations are now available for the following qualifications which can be found in the linked sector guides:
- BTEC Level 3 540 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Art and Design Practice (2019)
- BTEC Level 3 540 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice (2019)
- BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma and Extended Diploma in Music and Music (Production) (2018)
- BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma and Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice (2019)
- BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma and Extended Diploma in Production Arts Practice (2019).
BTEC RQF National Level 3 in Applied Science and Forensic Investigation
The following in-unit assessment adaptations have been added and can be found in the Teaching and Learning Guide.
BTEC RQF National Level 3 in Applied Science
|
Unit 2 Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques:
LA: A – learners only need to carry out one titration or colorimetry.
LA: B – learners only need one cooling curve, but must include change of state (liquid to solid).
LA: C – learners only need to carry out Paper or Thin Layer Chromatography to identify unknown components in a mixture and measure Rf. |
|
Unit 4 Laboratory Techniques and their Application:
LA: B & C – learners only need to prepare and test the purity of a liquid or solid |
BTEC RQF National
Level 3 in Forensic Investigation
|
Unit 4 Forensic Investigation Procedures in Practice:
LA: A - only one piece of biological, chemical and physical evidence must be collected.
LA: B - only one piece biological, chemical and physical evidence must be analysed. |
BTEC QCF Nationals 2010
Qualification size |
Maximum Reduction in Mandatory or Optional Internal Assessments for learners certificating in 2021 and for learners who registered September 2020 and certificating in 2022 |
Certificate (180 GLH) |
None |
Subsidiary Diploma (360 GLH) |
10 Credits |
90-Credit Diploma (540 GLH) |
10 Credits |
Diploma (720 GLH) |
20 Credits |
Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) |
20 Credits |
BTEC Firsts
Qualification size |
Maximum Reduction in Mandatory or Optional Internal Assessments for learners certificating in 2021 and for learners who registered September 2020 and certificating in 2022 |
First Awards (120 GLH) |
30 GLH * |
First Certificate (180/240 GLH) |
30 GLH * |
Extended Certificate (360 GLH) |
60 GLH |
Diploma (480 GLH) |
60 GLH |
*Further adaptations are available as follows:
BTEC First Award in Engineering (600/4788/4)
BTEC First Certificate in Engineering (600/6628/3) |
Unit 7: Machining Techniques
Both Learning Aims must be assessed, but only for the 'drilling' process.
The 'turning or milling' process does not need to be assessed. |
|
Unit 8: Electronic Circuit Design and Construction
Only Learning Aims A and B must be assessed.
Learning Aims C and D do not need to be assessed. |
|
Unit 12: Engineering Design
Only Learning Aims A and B must be assessed.
Learning Aim C does not need to be assessed. |
BTEC First Award in Information and Creative Technology
|
Unit 10 Database
Centres do not need to assess Learning Aims A and B for the current cohort but these must be taught.
There is no change to Learning Aim C.
Learning Aim D has been updated.
Please refer to the updated guide for further information. |
|
Unit 13 Website
Centres do not need to assess Learning Aims A and B for the current cohort but these must be taught.
There is no change to Learning Aim C.
Learning Aim D has been updated
Please refer to the updated guide for further information |
BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Award in Principles of Applied Science
|
Centres do not need to assess a maximum of one learning aim per internally assessed unit (Units 2, 3 and 4) up to three learning aims in total. The learning aim not assessed must be taught. |
BTEC Level 1/ Level 2 First Award in Application of Science |
Centres do not need to assess a maximum of one learning aim per internally assessed unit (Units 5, 6 and 7), up to three learning aims in total. The learning aim(s) not assessed must be taught. |
BTEC Tech Awards
In unit adaptations, please refer to the guide, where internal component adaptations have been applied.
BTEC Level 2 Technicals and BTEC Industry Skills NEW
Qualification size
|
Maximum Reduction in Mandatory or Optional Internal Assessments for learners certificating in 2021 and for learners who registered September 2020 and certificating in 2022 |
Award (120 GLH) |
30 GLH |
Certificate (150 – 180 GLH)) |
30 GLH |
Diploma (270 –360 GLH) |
60 GLH |
Please note these adaptations do not apply to BTEC Level 2 Technicals in Children's Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Practitioner).
For Level 2 Creative Industry Skills qualifications, please refer to the teaching and learning guides for further details on adaptations available:
Level 1 and Entry Level qualifications
Please refer to the teaching and learning guide to support your delivery, we are still reviewing adaptations for these qualifications.