The Student Room Group

BTEC Vs A Levels

Hi,

What’s the difference and which is easier? Would I be overlooked if I do a BTEC instead of an A Level?
Original post by Peanut_Butter
Hi,

What’s the difference and which is easier? Would I be overlooked if I do a BTEC instead of an A Level?

The main difference is that BTECs are more coursework based (with some exams), whereas A levels are all (or mostly) exams with no (or little) coursework.

Most universities are perfectly happy to accept BTECs for most courses. Note that this is not universally true, however.

Do you have a particular degree course in mind? Or any particular universities to which you'd be looking to apply.
Original post by DataVenia
The main difference is that BTECs are more coursework based (with some exams), whereas A levels are all (or mostly) exams with no (or little) coursework.
Most universities are perfectly happy to accept BTECs for most courses. Note that this is not universally true, however.
Do you have a particular degree course in mind? Or any particular universities to which you'd be looking to apply.


I’m looking to do an apprenticeship, the idea of uni is still there but I’m more towards apprenticeships. I don’t really like A Levels because of the linear courses but I do like the OCR Cambridge technicals because of the coursework and looking to do Pearsons BTEC. Do you know how I would be able to get my essays marked? Do I need a special tutor?
Original post by Peanut_Butter
I’m looking to do an apprenticeship, the idea of uni is still there but I’m more towards apprenticeships. I don’t really like A Levels because of the linear courses but I do like the OCR Cambridge technicals because of the coursework and looking to do Pearsons BTEC. Do you know how I would be able to get my essays marked? Do I need a special tutor?

Your question suggests that you're aiming to study independently, and not via a school or college. Is that right?

You can't do Pearson BTECs independently. I'm not sure about OCR Cambridge Technicals, but I suspect the same is true.
Original post by DataVenia
Your question suggests that you're aiming to study independently, and not via a school or college. Is that right?
You can't do Pearson BTECs independently. I'm not sure about OCR Cambridge Technicals, but I suspect the same is true.


Yes as a private candidate. Why would that be? I’m hoping to get a tutor.
Original post by Peanut_Butter
Yes as a private candidate. Why would that be? I’m hoping to get a tutor.

A private candidate is someone who learns outside of a school / college setting, perhaps independently or via tutor, but who is assessed within a school / college setting (i.e. they take their exams there). BTECs are primary assessed via coursework throughout the year, rather than via exams at the end of each year. As such it doesn't really match the private candidate model.

As I'm sure you're award BTEC is a brand owned by Pearson, with Pearson being the awarding body. As it says on their web site here, "Subjects with 100% externally assessed components will be marked by Pearson and are available to private candidates." (By "externally assessed" they mean exams, which are marked by Pearson, as opposed to coursework, which is marked by exam centres.) They also provide details of accomodations for qualifications which have an element of non-examined assessments (e.g. the field-trip required for A level Geography, or the lab work required for A level sciences). The list of such qualifications / subjects is here. It does not include BTECs.

I said above that, "I'm not sure about OCR Cambridge Technicals, but I suspect the same is true." I have just checked, and it is. As OCR say here, "A private candidate is someone who takes an examination or assessment at an approved examination centre, but studies independently." They go onto say on this page that "Internal assessment can be either coursework, controlled assessment or non-exam assessment" and that "Your chosen exam centre will be responsible for all aspects of the internal assessment, which includes supervision, authentication and marking." Whilst they don't specifically state that Technicals are not covered, the only qualifications they mention in this context are GCSEs, AS and A levels.

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which is an umbrella organisation for the UK exam boards, has a web page here where you can search for exam centres which accept private candidates by qualification and exam board. The main qualifications listed are GCSE, GCE (i.e. A level), and GCE AS Level. If you select the Other option, and then click-through onto the details page for some of the exam centres listed, you find that these "other" qualifications are things like "Edexcel International GCSE" or "International GCSE" - well, it was for all the ones I checked.
Original post by DataVenia
A private candidate is someone who learns outside of a school / college setting, perhaps independently or via tutor, but who is assessed within a school / college setting (i.e. they take their exams there). BTECs are primary assessed via coursework throughout the year, rather than via exams at the end of each year. As such it doesn't really match the private candidate model.
As I'm sure you're award BTEC is a brand owned by Pearson, with Pearson being the awarding body. As it says on their web site here, "Subjects with 100% externally assessed components will be marked by Pearson and are available to private candidates." (By "externally assessed" they mean exams, which are marked by Pearson, as opposed to coursework, which is marked by exam centres.) They also provide details of accomodations for qualifications which have an element of non-examined assessments (e.g. the field-trip required for A level Geography, or the lab work required for A level sciences). The list of such qualifications / subjects is here. It does not include BTECs.
I said above that, "I'm not sure about OCR Cambridge Technicals, but I suspect the same is true." I have just checked, and it is. As OCR say here, "A private candidate is someone who takes an examination or assessment at an approved examination centre, but studies independently." They go onto say on this page that "Internal assessment can be either coursework, controlled assessment or non-exam assessment" and that "Your chosen exam centre will be responsible for all aspects of the internal assessment, which includes supervision, authentication and marking." Whilst they don't specifically state that Technicals are not covered, the only qualifications they mention in this context are GCSEs, AS and A levels.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which is an umbrella organisation for the UK exam boards, has a web page here where you can search for exam centres which accept private candidates by qualification and exam board. The main qualifications listed are GCSE, GCE (i.e. A level), and GCE AS Level. If you select the Other option, and then click-through onto the details page for some of the exam centres listed, you find that these "other" qualifications are things like "Edexcel International GCSE" or "International GCSE" - well, it was for all the ones I checked.


Thank you for this info, i will look into it and get back to you as I do have a few more questions. Thanks

Quick Reply