I do a BTEC and from what I have heard, A levels are harder apart from applied science which could be just as hard as the A level sciences
BTEC'S are changing anyway because they are going to have some exams in them, at least for my health and social care BTEC which shows that they don't match with A levels.
My tutors say that its unfair how a Pass at BTEC is equivalent to a A level C grade when students just write one paragraph and get a C grade.
But obviously for the merit and distinction work, there is a word count.