The Student Room Group

BTEC grade calculation

My college uses ProPortal to calculate my grade and it says that my target grade is MM for BTEC National Diploma In IT, and that my projected grade is DM. The BTEC grade calculator does not work for me, however I can list my units and the grades i achieved:

Unit 1 Information Technology (Exam): Pass
Unit 2 Creating System to Manage Information (Exam): Pass
Unit 3 Using Social Media in Business: Distinction
Unit 5 Data Modelling: Merit
(These were for my extended certificate Merit overall)
Unit 4 Programming: Merit
Unit 9 IT Project Management: Distinction
Unit 11 Cyber Security and Incident Management (Exam): Merit
Unit 20 Enterprise in IT: Distinction

What could i possibly achieve and what are the best universities which can offer computer science for these grades/points, even though I already chose my firm and insurance place but just in case for clearing or UCAS extra options?
Original post by a1_hsn01
My college uses ProPortal to calculate my grade and it says that my target grade is MM for BTEC National Diploma In IT, and that my projected grade is DM. The BTEC grade calculator does not work for me, however I can list my units and the grades i achieved:

Unit 1 Information Technology (Exam): Pass
Unit 2 Creating System to Manage Information (Exam): Pass
Unit 3 Using Social Media in Business: Distinction
Unit 5 Data Modelling: Merit
(These were for my extended certificate Merit overall)
Unit 4 Programming: Merit
Unit 9 IT Project Management: Distinction
Unit 11 Cyber Security and Incident Management (Exam): Merit
Unit 20 Enterprise in IT: Distinction

What could i possibly achieve and what are the best universities which can offer computer science for these grades/points, even though I already chose my firm and insurance place but just in case for clearing or UCAS extra options?

To work out your overall grade, we need to establish your points per unit and then sum those to get your overall points, which can then be converted into an overall grade. For coursework units, the points are directly based upon the unit size (in guided leaning hours, GLH) and the grade - so it's simple.

For exams, you mark has an impact too. Say, for example, it was a 120 GLH unit like Unit 1 and you just hit the pass boundary - you'd get 12 points. If you just hit the merit boundary - you'd get 20 points. Simple so far. However, if you were half-way between the two boundaries - you'd get 16 points (half-way). If you were really close to the merit boundary, you'd get 19 points. I say all this so explain why I can only give you a range of grades - as I know know the mark you got in each exam.

If you achieved the bare minimum mark to get exam grade you've mentioned, then you have DM overall:

BTEC Nationals Diploma - Information Technology - a1_hsn01 - DM.JPG

However, if we assume you got to highest mark in each exam (whilst still achieving the same grade), then you have DD overall:

BTEC Nationals Diploma - Information Technology - a1_hsn01 - DD.JPG

(Please do check I've entered your grades into the calculator correctly.)

Reply 2

Original post by DataVenia
To work out your overall grade, we need to establish your points per unit and then sum those to get your overall points, which can then be converted into an overall grade. For coursework units, the points are directly based upon the unit size (in guided leaning hours, GLH) and the grade - so it's simple.
For exams, you mark has an impact too. Say, for example, it was a 120 GLH unit like Unit 1 and you just hit the pass boundary - you'd get 12 points. If you just hit the merit boundary - you'd get 20 points. Simple so far. However, if you were half-way between the two boundaries - you'd get 16 points (half-way). If you were really close to the merit boundary, you'd get 19 points. I say all this so explain why I can only give you a range of grades - as I know know the mark you got in each exam.
If you achieved the bare minimum mark to get exam grade you've mentioned, then you have DM overall:BTEC Nationals Diploma - Information Technology - a1_hsn01 - DM.JPGHowever, if we assume you got to highest mark in each exam (whilst still achieving the same grade), then you have DD overall:BTEC Nationals Diploma - Information Technology - a1_hsn01 - DD.JPG(Please do check I've entered your grades into the calculator correctly.)

Thank you and yes I have my exam answers for a more accurate answer:
Unit 1: Information Technology - 26 marks (Pass)
Unit 2: Creating Databases to Manage Information: 14-16 marks I think I had a pass
(From January 2023 exams)
Unit 11: Cybersecurity - 42 marks (re-marked from 41) (this year) which is a merit
So how many unit points would this be?
Also how many UCAS points and what grade could I revive around 80-96? Could I go to a uni like City, QMUL, or another great uni for computer science there but I might have to do a foundation year if they even accept my entry requirements for clearing, or which are the best universities in and around London which would accept these grades? I really wanted to do the extended diploma and I definitely could have done it but it was because of me not passing maths in the first place, which is why I think I have been limited by my options which is very annoying.
Also thank you for your reply
(edited 11 months ago)
Original post by a1_hsn01
Thank you and yes I have my exam answers for a more accurate answer:
Unit 1: Information Technology - 26 marks (Pass)
Unit 2: Creating Databases to Manage Information: 14-16 marks I think I had a pass
(From January 2023 exams)
Unit 11: Cybersecurity - 42 marks (re-marked from 41) (this year) which is a merit
So how many unit points would this be?
Also how many UCAS points and what grade could I revive around 80-96? Could I go to a uni like City, QMUL, or another great uni for computer science there but I might have to do a foundation year if they even accept my entry requirements for clearing, or which are the best universities in and around London which would accept these grades? I really wanted to do the extended diploma and I definitely could have done it but it was because of me not passing maths in the first place, which is why I think I have been limited by my options which is very annoying.
Also thank you for your reply

From the January 2023 grade boundaries, here:
BTEC Nationals - Grade Boundaries - IT - January 2023.JPG

From the January 2024 grade boundaries, here:
BTEC Nationals - Grade Boundaries - IT - January 2024.JPG

Your Unit 2 and Unit 11 points are easiest to deal with, as you're right on the grade boundary. For Unit 2 you achieved 14-16 marks; a "pass" in January 2023 required 14 marks - so you get the bottom of the range of marks that a 90 GLH pass can give you: 9 points. For Unit 11 you achieved 42 marks; a "merit" in January 2024 required 42 marks - so you get the bottom of the range of marks that a 120 GLH merit can give you: 20 points.

For Unit 1 you achieved 26 marks; a "pass" in January 2023 required 21 marks and a merit required 34 marks - a difference of 13 marks. You were 5 marks over the pass boundary, so you gain 5/13ths of the difference in the points for a pass and the points for a merit. For a 120 GLH unit that difference is 8 points. So in addition to the 12 marks you get for the pass, you also get 5/13ths of 8 (i.e. 3) for a total of 15 points.

As you can see from the below, your overall grade is therefore DM (new information in green).
BTEC Nationals Diploma - Information Technology - a1_hsn01 - DM - Version 2.JPG

A DM in a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma gets you 80 UCAS points. This does not meet the entry requirements for the one-year Computer Science Foundation course at City (they want 96 UCAS points, reduced by 8 for contextual candidates) - source. (If this course is available via Clearing, then you might stand a chance.) Nor does it meet the entry requirements for any Computer Science course at QMUL - source. :frown:

To be honest, a DM (i.e. 80 UCAS points) isn't likely to get you access to a "great uni for computer science" anywhere. What grades do your firm and insurance choice need? Are you hoping to "upgrade" to a "better" university via Clearing, or are you worried about not meeting the offer requirements of either?
(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 4

Original post by DataVenia
From the January 2023 grade boundaries, here:
BTEC Nationals - Grade Boundaries - IT - January 2023.JPG
From the January 2024 grade boundaries, here:
BTEC Nationals - Grade Boundaries - IT - January 2024.JPG
Your Unit 2 and Unit 11 points are easiest to deal with, as you're right on the grade boundary. For Unit 2 you achieved 14-16 marks; a "pass" in January 2023 required 14 marks - so you get the bottom of the range of marks that a 90 GLH pass can give you: 9 points. For Unit 11 you achieved 42 marks; a "merit" in January 2024 required 42 marks - so you get the bottom of the range of marks that a 120 GLH merit can give you: 20 points.
For Unit 1 you achieved 26 marks; a "pass" in January 2023 required 21 marks and a merit required 34 marks - a difference of 13 marks. You were 5 marks over the pass boundary, so you gain 5/13ths of the difference in the points for a pass and the points for a merit. For a 120 GLH unit that difference is 8 points. So in addition to the 12 marks you get for the pass, you also get 5/13ths of 8 (i.e. 3) for a total of 15 points.
As you can see from the below, your overall grade is therefore DM (new information in green).
BTEC Nationals Diploma - Information Technology - a1_hsn01 - DM - Version 2.JPG
A DM in a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma gets you 80 UCAS points. This does not meet the entry requirements for the one-year Computer Science Foundation course at City (they want 96 UCAS points, reduced by 8 for contextual candidates) - source. (If this course is available via Clearing, then you might stand a chance.) Nor does it meet the entry requirements for any Computer Science course at QMUL - source. :frown:
To be honest, a DM (i.e. 80 UCAS points) isn't likely to get you access to a "great uni for computer science" anywhere. What grades do your firm and insurance choice need? Are you hoping to "upgrade" to a "better" university via Clearing, or are you worried about not meeting the offer requirements of either?
My firm is UWL and needs 72 points for a foundation year and 112 for three years.
My insurance Middlesex and requires is 80 points as well but isn’t a foundation year. Yes I am hoping to kind of upgrade my choices if that is possible or even if I can meet these requirements I still want to go to a high ranking university for computer science and IT
Thank you for calculating the grades.
Original post by a1_hsn01
My firm is UWL and needs 72 points for a foundation year and 112 for three years.
My insurance Middlesex and requires is 80 points as well but isn’t a foundation year. Yes I am hoping to kind of upgrade my choices if that is possible or even if I can meet these requirements I still want to go to a high ranking university for computer science and IT
Thank you for calculating the grades.

So, assuming the grade calculations above are correct, UWL will confirm your place on results day for the foundation year course. You can then check (on UCAS Search and individual uni web sites) to see which are available in Clearing. You can then call any of interest and have an informal conversation about whether they would be likely to accept you via Clearing. However, you can't formally apply via Clearing whilst still holding the UWL place. So you'd need to click the "Decline my Place" button in UCAS Hub and then formally apply elsewhere via Clearing. (It's a bit of a gamble, because the uni which said "yes" informally on the phone might change their mind once they see your full application - which they won't have initially had access to as you weren't in Clearing when you spoke with them.)

Reply 6

Original post by DataVenia
So, assuming the grade calculations above are correct, UWL will confirm your place on results day for the foundation year course. You can then check (on UCAS Search and individual uni web sites) to see which are available in Clearing. You can then call any of interest and have an informal conversation about whether they would be likely to accept you via Clearing. However, you can't formally apply via Clearing whilst still holding the UWL place. So you'd need to click the "Decline my Place" button in UCAS Hub and then formally apply elsewhere via Clearing. (It's a bit of a gamble, because the uni which said "yes" informally on the phone might change their mind once they see your full application - which they won't have initially had access to as you weren't in Clearing when you spoke with them.)

Can you still check the different courses for clearing which would be available without declining any offer/place?
(edited 11 months ago)
Original post by a1_hsn01
Can you still check the different courses for clearing which would be available without declining any offer/place?

Yes. That's literally what I wrote above: "You can then check (on UCAS Search and individual uni web sites) to see which are available in Clearing." :smile:

It's only if you want to formally apply via Clearing that you'd need to decline any place you were holding elsewhere.

Reply 8

Original post by DataVenia
Yes. That's literally what I wrote above: "You can then check (on UCAS Search and individual uni web sites) to see which are available in Clearing." :smile:
It's only if you want to formally apply via Clearing that you'd need to decline any place you were holding elsewhere.
Oh ok, and you can see the entry requirements and courses of it as well?
Original post by a1_hsn01
Oh ok, and you can see the entry requirements and courses of it as well?

Some universities will publish their entry requirements for Clearing (but typically only in terms of A level grades from what I've seen in previous years). For others you'd need to complete an on-line enquiry form or call their Clearing hotline.

Reply 10

Original post by DataVenia
Some universities will publish their entry requirements for Clearing (but typically only in terms of A level grades from what I've seen in previous years). For others you'd need to complete an on-line enquiry form or call their Clearing hotline.

Ok thank you

Reply 11

Original post by a1_hsn01
My college uses ProPortal to calculate my grade and it says that my target grade is MM for BTEC National Diploma In IT, and that my projected grade is DM. The BTEC grade calculator does not work for me, however I can list my units and the grades i achieved:
Unit 1 Information Technology (Exam): Pass
Unit 2 Creating System to Manage Information (Exam): Pass
Unit 3 Using Social Media in Business: Distinction
Unit 5 Data Modelling: Merit
(These were for my extended certificate Merit overall)
Unit 4 Programming: Merit
Unit 9 IT Project Management: Distinction
Unit 11 Cyber Security and Incident Management (Exam): Merit
Unit 20 Enterprise in IT: Distinction
What could i possibly achieve and what are the best universities which can offer computer science for these grades/points, even though I already chose my firm and insurance place but just in case for clearing or UCAS extra options?

bro was cyber security exam hard ive got it tomorrow overthinking loads haven't revised that much

Reply 12

Original post by hdwdwd
bro was cyber security exam hard ive got it tomorrow overthinking loads haven't revised that much

I am doing an extra year of college at a different one to do a BTEC National extended diploma in IT as I did a national diploma only before and I want better qualifications. I achieved a merit in it by remarking it as I was off by one mark I did 10 threats and it was ok I feel like unit 14 is harder im not sure tho im doing it this week im not retaking unit 11 though.

Reply 13

good luck bro
icl activity 2 is confusing icl how do they expect u to do like 10 different protection measures cant even think of that many for different things

Reply 14

Original post by hdwdwd
good luck bro
icl activity 2 is confusing icl how do they expect u to do like 10 different protection measures cant even think of that many for different things

Yh it was long man ty to you too I wrote like 3 to 5 protection measures for activity 2 I believe and 10 threats for activity 1.

Reply 15

Original post by a1_hsn01
My college uses ProPortal to calculate my grade and it says that my target grade is MM for BTEC National Diploma In IT, and that my projected grade is DM. The BTEC grade calculator does not work for me, however I can list my units and the grades i achieved:
Unit 1 Information Technology (Exam): Pass
Unit 2 Creating System to Manage Information (Exam): Pass
Unit 3 Using Social Media in Business: Distinction
Unit 5 Data Modelling: Merit
(These were for my extended certificate Merit overall)
Unit 4 Programming: Merit
Unit 9 IT Project Management: Distinction
Unit 11 Cyber Security and Incident Management (Exam): Merit
Unit 20 Enterprise in IT: Distinction
What could i possibly achieve and what are the best universities which can offer computer science for these grades/points, even though I already chose my firm and insurance place but just in case for clearing or UCAS extra options?


Hi can I please dm you
I’m also doing btec IT
I have a question

Reply 16

Original post by Depressed44
Hi can I please dm you
I’m also doing btec IT
I have a question

Yeah sure

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