Last updated 11 March 2021
Please note all external assessments for summer 2021 have been cancelled, except for Licence to Practise childcare qualifications.
Schools and colleges should continue to deliver internal assessment
As in previous years, internal assessment continues to be important, and we can confirm that schools and colleges are strongly encouraged to continue to deliver teaching, learning and conducting internal assessment in order to continue to ‘bank’ unit performance.
We can now confirm that our BTEC Level 2 Tech Awards, Firsts, Technicals and Level 3 Nationals will be in scope for alternative arrangements, where these qualifications share a core purpose of progression. In addition, many of the Entry – Level 1 BTECs will also be in scope. ***
View the full list of qualifications (XLXS, 0.3 MB)
For these qualifications, our priority is to ensure that learners are not disadvantaged, and that they can progress alongside those students taking General Qualifications (GCSEs and A levels).
For certificating learners only, we will be requesting a Qualification-level ‘Teacher Assessed Grade’ (TAG) to enable qualification results to be issued for learners completing these qualifications this year.
The Q-TAG replaces previous guidance on ‘reduced assessment’ where the DfE have acknowledged that not all assessment may be completed.
Mid- flight learners, refers to learners in year one of a two-year programme, aiming to certificate in 2022.
For non-certificating learners (‘mid-flight’ learners) the Q-TAG process cannot be used. Instead, the reduced assessment mitigation continues, and exam entries for assessment that were due to take place should be made.
Reduced Assessment and the cancellation of the 2021 External Assessment series, will mitigate against the ongoing disruption to teaching and learning in the 2020/2021 academic year.
Please refer to the Awarding Results in 2021 Guidance (PDF, 0.8 MB) for certificating and non-certificating learners for full details of the process to follow.
* For qualifications in childcare that are licence to practise, the reduced internal assessment does not apply to mandatory content, please refer to guidance available with regards to adaptations, and simulated activities, for Level 3 and Level 2. For Dental qualifications, no adaptations are currently permitted.
** CPLD Licence to Practise exams will still go ahead.
*** QTAG available as last resort only.
Please see the Information and guidance section below for further guidance:
Please note that additional internal assessment evidence adaptations can be found in the sector guides for Dance, Music and Music Technology, Performing Arts and Production Arts.
We've included below a series of sector guides designed to offer you guidance on how you might adapt delivery of BTEC qualifications from September 2020. These guides cover the following qualifications as well as additional sector-specific qualifications where appropriate:
Please choose from the list below to view or download your latest BTEC sector guide:
