[Bulbasaur]

Some of the subjects I am studying at GCSE next year are Btec, and they use the Pass/Merit/Distinction marks.

But what is the actual equivalents as grades?

I've heard that (at gcse) its:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A*

But I've also heard people saying its this:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A

Could someone just clear up what they actually are?

Thanks.

[Bulbasaur]

Or is it totally different to what I posted?

[Ijustdon'treallyknow]

Distinction could be either A/A* - I don't think there's a really an exact equivalent tbh. But I dunno, that's me just guessing. A s'pose a high Distinction would be an A* but they never really look at the actual marks so

[Bulbasaur]

(Original post by anisha.doshi)
Distinction could be either A/A* - I don't think there's a really an exact equivalent tbh. But I dunno, that's me just guessing. A s'pose a high Distinction would be an A* but they never really look at the actual marks so

Oh, okay, I see what you mean. Thanks

[Master.K]

(Original post by joshphillips999)
Some of the subjects I am studying at GCSE next year are Btec, and they use the Pass/Merit/Distinction marks.

But what is the actual equivalents as grades?

I've heard that (at gcse) its:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A*

But I've also heard people saying its this:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A

Could someone just clear up what they actually are?

Thanks.

If it's a btec then it's:
Pass - C
Merit - B
Distinction - A

If it's btec as in DiDA (ICT) it's:
Pass - C
Merit - B
Credit - A
Distinction - A*

[mcp2]

You can get Distinction* you know, which is equiv to A*

[addylad]

(Original post by anisha.doshi)
Distinction could be either A/A* - I don't think there's a really an exact equivalent tbh. But I dunno, that's me just guessing. A s'pose a high Distinction would be an A* but they never really look at the actual marks so

This. Higher distinctions can get A* AFAIK.

[hannahlkullen]

there is an exact equivalent:
Pass C
Credit B
Merit A
Distinction A*

[cba]

In BTEC ICT you have to complete 3 units of coursework..
Each coursework has 3 criteria's a Pass,Merit and distinction.

If All pass criteria's are completed to a good standard you will get a C grade.
If All Merit criterias are completed aswell as all of the pass's you will get a B Grade.
To achieve an A Grade you will have to complete all pass and merit criterias and at least one distinction in one of the units and to make your grade to a A* you will have to complete all pass,merit and distinction in all 3 units.

[Data]

(Original post by Bulbasaur)
Some of the subjects I am studying at GCSE next year are Btec, and they use the Pass/Merit/Distinction marks.

But what is the actual equivalents as grades?

I've heard that (at gcse) its:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A*

But I've also heard people saying its this:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A

Could someone just clear up what they actually are?

Thanks.

Part of the confusion is that BTECs have been revamped and the grading has changed slightly. Only people who started courses from September 2010 will have the new grading system, older students may give you duff advice.

Firstly having scanned through a few other posts, DIDA is not BTEC and never has been. It has different grading and just confuses the issue.

For the new QCF BTECs, you can get Pass, Merit or Distinction on individual units, but for your overall grade you can also get a Distinction*. The official grade equivalences for a QCF Level 2 BTEC First are:
Distinction* - A* at GCSE
Distinction - A
Merit - B
Pass - C

Surprisingly, you don't have to get (e.g.) an average of a merit to achieve a merit overall - more merits than passes will generally do it, though it does depend on the size of the different units.

[xander93]

(Original post by Bulbasaur)
Some of the subjects I am studying at GCSE next year are Btec, and they use the Pass/Merit/Distinction marks.

But what is the actual equivalents as grades?

I've heard that (at gcse) its:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A*

But I've also heard people saying its this:

Pass: C
Merit: B
Distinction: A

Could someone just clear up what they actually are?

Thanks.

While people say that they're equivalents, they're most certainly not. Universities don't class them as equal to GCSEs (or A-levels for that matter), because they're fundamentally easier and you get more 'equivalent grades' than someone doing the core subjects separately as proper GCSE exams.

However - to those who earn them, they may mean something. It really depends upon how well you think you did personally, but as I said, it doesn't matter anyway, any sort of 'equivalent qualification' is not 'equivalent', because its a damn sight easier and a whole different system. Why else would people choose BTECs over GCSEs apart from the fact that they're easier?

[daemonium]

BTEC grades:

Pass - C
Merit - B
Distinction - A
Distinction* - A*