Level 3 Applied Science

Can anyone help guide me on what grade I am looking at for my first year in a single applied science. I need a Merit in this subject at least as I want to go into nursing.

I have all distinctions in my coursework for the year. In my mock exams I got a low pass in chemistry and biology and a high pass in physics. I am revising but struggle with exam and just wondering what I need to get in my 3 exams to secure a merit in my first year.

The grading system looks really complicated.

Thanks

So unit 1 probably pass and unit 2 distinction

Can you confirm the full name of the qualification you're studying? You refer to is "a single applied science", which might imply that it's the equivalent in size to a single A level. So that would probably make it a Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science. However, that qualification has four units: "Principles and Applications of Science I", "Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques", "Science Investigation Skills", plus one from a long list of optional units. So that doesn't really tally with your "in my mock exams I got a low pass in chemistry and biology and a high pass in physics" comment.
Also, the fact that you refer to "my 3 exams" and "in my first year" suggests that this is one of the larger BTECs, so perhaps the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science? That's the equivalent of three A levels, and contains a total of 13 units across two years. However, it only contains four examined units in total, two of which are normally done each year. So this doesn't quite fit either.
Perhaps you're not studying a BTEC at all? So, what's the full name of the qualification you're studying?

Hey there, sorry it’s a bit random but I feel like you’re the perfect person to ask this question. So I’m currently completing a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering, I have been told the exact marks I got from the exams and I would appreciate it if you could tell me how much points they would equate on the BTEC grading calculator. So for unit 1: Engineering Principles I got 29 marks (which was a pass) and I sat this on June 2024. For unit 3 I got 29 aswell (which was a pass) and I sat this on January 2024. For unit 6 I got 45 marks (which was a merit) and I sat this on January 2025. I would really appreciate it if you could tell me how much points they would each give me if I was to put it on the grading calculator

Sure. As you sat those exams at different times, meaning we'll need to reference different grade boundaries, I'll do each unit separately. All three units are 120 GLH (guided learning hours) so we'll be referencing the right column of this table (from the specification) throughout:

Unit 1 - Engineering Principles - June 2024 - 29 marks (pass)
The relevant grade boundaries, from Grade boundaries - June 2024 - BTEC Nationals, are:

The difference between the M and P boundaries is 42 - 19 = 23 marks. You achieved 29 - 19 = 10 marks over the P boundary. So you earn the points for a P plus 10/23rds of the points difference between a P and an M. That points difference is 20 - 12 = 8. So you earn 12 + (10/23rds of 8) = 15 points (rounded).
Unit 3 - Engineering Product Design and Manufacture - January 2024 - 29 marks (pass)
The relevant grade boundaries, from Grade boundaries - January 2024 - BTEC Nationals, are:

The difference between the M and P boundaries is 32 - 21 = 11 marks. You achieved 29 - 21 = 8 marks over the P boundary. So you earn the points for a P plus 8/11ths of the points difference between a P and an M. That points difference is 20 - 12 = 8. So you earn 12 + (8/11ths of 8) = 18 points.
Unit 6 - Microcontroller Systems for Engineers - January 2025 - 45 marks (merit)
The relevant grade boundaries, from Grade boundaries - January 2025 - BTEC Nationals, are:

The difference between the D and M boundaries is 52 - 37 = 15 marks. You achieved 45 - 37 = 8 marks over the M boundary. So you earn the points for an M plus 8/15ths of the points difference between an M and a D. That points difference is 32 - 20 = 12. So you earn 20 + (8/15ths of 12) = 26 points.
Caveats
Note that I've rounded the calculated points in each case. Pearson don't specify exactly how they do this (they may always round up, or always round down), so I've made an assumption here. Also, the approach I've used is a simple extrapolation from the following statements, within both the specification and the grade boundaries document, respectively:
• "Raw marks from the external units will be awarded points based on performance in the assessment. The table below shows the minimum number of points available for each grade in the external units."
• "Points are awarded on a sliding scale between the grade boundaries based on the number of raw marks achieved by each learner."
Please check my maths. To err is human.

Yes I’ve checked your working out and it looks correct, thank you very much

Heyy
I just wanted to ask what would be my likely final results as I got a pass in all of my unit 2 courseworks, pass in unit 1 and unit 3 and then a distinction in Unit 8 for applied science extended certificate

All I can tell is that it will be a P or an M. For the reason this vagueness is that each BTEC unit earns you points, which they total to arrived at your total grade. For coursework units (i.e. 2 and 8 in your case) it's only the size of the unit and the grade which impacts the points you earn. But for exam-based units (i.e. 1 and 3 in your case) your mark also plays a part. So even though you got a pass for both of these units, you might have just scraped a pass, or been just short of a merit. And that would impact your points and hence your overall grade.
Each of these scenarios are depicted below. Note that the grades are identical, but I've changed the points for units 1 and 3 to reflect either end of the range you could have earned, whilst still getting a pass. Note that you have at least 46 BTEC points and at most 58 BTEC points. The M threshold is 52 points, exactly the mid-point of the range of points you have earned. So each grade is just a likely.


If you can tell me the mark you achieved in units 1 and 3, plus when you took then (January 2025), I can firm-up the above.

for principles i got 36 and for science investigation i got 24 but UMS is 17

Thanks. You haven't mentioned when you took the exams for those units, so I'll just go with the January 2025 boundaries (here), as they're very similar to the June 2024 boundaries for these units anyway.

As the grade boundaries PDF says, "Points are awarded on a sliding scale between the grade boundaries based on the number of raw marks achieved by each learner." (my emphasis)
For Unit 1 you get the points for a P, plus 14/17ths of the extra points you'd have got for an M (because the M and P grade boundaries at 17 points apart, and your mark of 36 is 14 marks above the P boundary). This is a 90 GLH (guided learning hour) unit, so a P is worth 9 points and an M 15 points. So you get 9 + (14/17ths of those 6 extra points) = 14 points (rounded).
For Unit 3 you get the points for a P, plus 6/9ths of the extra points you'd have got for an M (because the M and P grade boundaries are 9 points apart, and your mark of 24 is 6 marks above the P boundary). This is a 120 GLH (guided learning hour) unit, so a P is worth 12 points and an M 20 points. So you get 12 + (6/9ths of those 8 extra points) = 17 points (rounded).
So I make your total points 56, for a grade M overall.

thank u soo much ^^

Thanks. You haven't mentioned when you took the exams for those units, so I'll just go with the January 2025 boundaries (here), as they're very similar to the June 2024 boundaries for these units anyway.

As the grade boundaries PDF says, "Points are awarded on a sliding scale between the grade boundaries based on the number of raw marks achieved by each learner." (my emphasis)
For Unit 1 you get the points for a P, plus 14/17ths of the extra points you'd have got for an M (because the M and P grade boundaries at 17 points apart, and your mark of 36 is 14 marks above the P boundary). This is a 90 GLH (guided learning hour) unit, so a P is worth 9 points and an M 15 points. So you get 9 + (14/17ths of those 6 extra points) = 14 points (rounded).
For Unit 3 you get the points for a P, plus 6/9ths of the extra points you'd have got for an M (because the M and P grade boundaries are 9 points apart, and your mark of 24 is 6 marks above the P boundary). This is a 120 GLH (guided learning hour) unit, so a P is worth 12 points and an M 20 points. So you get 12 + (6/9ths of those 8 extra points) = 17 points (rounded).
So I make your total points 56, for a grade M overall.