Lets settle this: A levels vs btecs

Ah, so only more work than the GCSE equivalent BTECs. I did Level 2 Engineering at GCSE (outside of school) and that was 4 units in one year. Is it true that exams are being made for btec?

A BTEC at College or Sixth form is alot more work than a BTEC at GCSE. I vaguely remember someone saying something about some BTECs having exams eventually but I don't know whether this is true or not.

Why is this even a question?

Why is this even a question?

Because it has an answer.

Let's just say there is a big difference between the laid-back BTEC life and the 24/7 stressful life of an A level student...

This. I have done both BTEC Level 3 and A-levels at two different times. I was able to pass the BTECs having done literally about an hour's work outside of college the entire year and very little inside college.

At A-level I did Biology, Chemistry, Physics. AS was okay with moderate work put in. A2 was just constant full-tilt work for the entire year, with very very little free time to do something else. I can't really speak for other subjects, though.

A-levels are far, far more difficult. We can all argue over how effective each qualification is all we like, but that's just a fact. I genuinely feel sorry for the people who get suckered into the whole BTEC distinction = A level A* or whatever those pedalling the course harp on about. That's not how it works, and tbh the equivalences should be far more regulated to avoid people falling into the trap of thinking they can do medicine at uni with DDD (yes, I've met plenty of people under this impression)

Completely agree with you, it's the whole situation involving recalling and applying information/facts/cases etc under a pressurised environment under time constraints which, IMO, instantly makes a levels harder, due to the fact that you are tested rigorously rather than copy out of a textbook all lesson in btecs

Definitely. It's the "send your essay to your teacher and they can tell you what to change to get a distinction" part that gets me. Universities will never be able to respect that kind of assessment.

But of course A Levels are harder than BTEC's as you have to study properly and remember things. In BTEC's you can repeat assignments multiple times until you pass - you don't in my opinion, have the same work ethic unless you are serious about the subject.

A friend that was studying at university but decided to leave to pursue healthcare actually said she personally felt her BTEC studies were harder and more demanding than her degree.

For BTECs it all just comes down to the lecturers you're given. Her course had ex-midwifes, nurses and psychologists teaching her Level 3 so they were far harsher marking. BTEC studies are a lucky dip.


As I've said in the above, its a lucky dip. My friend was allowed two chances to achieve her grades and if she messed up her assignment second time around, she wasn't allowed to re-do it. Exactly like A-Level resits.

As I've said in the above, its a lucky dip. My friend was allowed two chances to achieve her grades and if she messed up her assignment second time around, she wasn't allowed to re-do it. Exactly like A-Level resits.

BTEC's are necessary for vocational careers such as Catering and should not be looked down upon in this respect.

But of course A Levels are harder than BTEC's as you have to study properly and remember things. In BTEC's you can repeat assignments multiple times until you pass - you don't in my opinion, have the same work ethic unless you are serious about the subject.

The stupid thing about BTEC's at GCSE was that they were apparently equivalent to '2 GCSE's' which is a load of crap. I took a few BTEC's alongside GCSE's and was constantly being told this as reassurance for taking them.

I got told that my BTEC level 2 engineering was worth 2 gcses, and I got D*, and UCAS has legitimately accepted it as part of my application this coming school year.