BTEC Business and Enterprise at Level 3
This page covers our BTEC Level 3 qualifications in Business, Enterprise and Marketing:
- BTEC Nationals in Business
- BTEC Nationals in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- BTEC Nationals in Marketing
In addition there are two sections to support the delivery and assessment of these qualifications.
Our qualifications
The delivery support page includes the following:
- getting started and recorded training
- delivery planning
- induction
- networking
- professional bodies partnerships (ACCA, CII, CIM, CMI)
- free and paid-for resources
The document below is intended to provide you with guidance for how you might adapt delivery for the BTEC Nationals in Business (RQF) in the academic year of 2021-2022.
The guidance can be found on pages 7-17.
The assessment support page includes the following:
- internally assessed units (including assessment guidance)
- externally assessed units (grade boundaries, grade statistics)
2020-2021: the Qualification-level ‘Teacher Assessed Grade’ (QTAG) processes ensured that learners were able to claim certification.
2021-2022: QTAGs not permitted.
2021-2022: an updated adaptation called ‘streamlined assessment’. Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
Centres should continue to plan to deliver all content and assessment to ensure learners are best placed for their future progression. However, streamlined assessment is available, if required, to create additional time for lost teaching and learning. The option to streamline the number of assessments indicated in the guidance is at the centre’s discretion upon reflection of the continued impact of disruption to learners caused by the pandemic.
Streamlined unit assessment means that the number of internally assessed units that need to be assessed in full is reduced, these could be mandatory or optional, but cannot be units that are synoptic.Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
So, for the BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Business, Unit 4 would not be eligible.
For the BTEC National Diploma in Business, Units 1, 4 and 5 would not be eligible.
Videos
This change affects all 2016 (RQF) BTEC Nationals in Business and in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
What has changed?
There will no longer be a two-week PART A pre-release window. Instead, learners will be given a Pearson-set Research Pack.
Part A (Low control) will now be sat in the afternoon before Part B, which will be sat the following morning (these dates will be specified by Pearson)
Learners will be able to annotate their Part A Research Pack and prepare up to two sides of notes to take in to Part B (Medium control).
The specifications on the qualification pages will be updated to reflect this change.
FAQs
What has changed for the Part A of the assessment?
The change to the condition of the assessment is that the pre-release period has been shortened and learners will be provided with a Pearson-set research pack, instead of having to carry out their own research.
We have worked with our subject and assessment experts in designing the Research Pack (Part A) to ensure that it will stimulate and engage the learners to respond with a sound level of understanding. As such, we expect the introduction of the Research Pack (Part A) to provide accessible and meaningful information to enable all learners to grasp the context and engage with the assessment.
We believe that the provision of research of the same quality to all learners will support learners who may have been disadvantaged by not being able to access good quality research.
What has changed for the Part B of the assessment?
Nothing has changed in Part B of the assessment, either in format or style. The change that has been made is in the mark scheme, where the focus is now on the need to use rather that obtain market research. The new Assessment Focus 3 is below.
Why has Pearson made these changes?
There are two fundamental reasons for the change:
- increasing levels of evidence that different learners and different centres are having variable experiences in their interaction with the assessment and;
- the outcomes of the assessment over recent series have seen significantly increasing levels of homogenous learner response which makes it increasingly difficult to differentiate outcomes within the awarding process for the unit.
Have you made changes to the timetable to reflect the Unit 2 changes?
Yes. We have removed the Part A 10-day window for learners to complete the practical investigation and added a 2-hour (Part A) review period on the afternoon prior to the Part B assessment. The Part B set task is timetabled for the morning after Part A.
Is there a new administration guide that we can refer to that takes into consideration the new arrangements of Unit 2?
Yes. We will be issuing an updated Administrative Support Guide to reflect the changes to the Part A document that is released before the start of the Part B examination.
Can you confirm the supervision and control for Unit 2 Part A and Part B?
Part A is low control and Part B must be conducted under medium-control supervision. Full details of supervision controls can be found in our Instructions for Conducting External Assessments (ICEA) document.
Can students make notes during the Part A review period and bring these notes into Part B?
Students can bring hand written annotated notes from their review of Part A materials into the Part B session but no other materials other than the Part A document should be present for Part B.
Should we retain Part A at our centre? If so, for how long?
Yes. Centres must retain each learner’s Part A document and keep it securely until the end of the Review of Marking and Moderation period. The Part A document must not be returned to Pearson with the Part B document.
The timetable for January 2022 is below.
Results Day is 23 March 2022.
Results Day: 18 August 2022
Recorded training
Getting Started: ways to teach and assess BTEC Nationals in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
The document below is intended to provide you with guidance for how you might adapt delivery for the BTEC Nationals in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (RQF) in the academic year of 2021-2022.
The guidance can be found on pages 7-9.
2020-2021: the Qualification-level ‘Teacher Assessed Grade’ (QTAG) processes ensured that learners were able to claim certification.
2021-2022: QTAGs not permitted.
2021-2022: an updated adaptation called ‘streamlined assessment’. Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
Centres should continue to plan to deliver all content and assessment to ensure learners are best placed for their future progression. However, streamlined assessment is available, if required, to create additional time for lost teaching and learning. The option to streamline the number of assessments indicated in the guidance is at the centre’s discretion upon reflection of the continued impact of disruption to learners caused by the pandemic.
Streamlined unit assessment means that the number of internally assessed units that need to be assessed in full is reduced, these could be mandatory or optional, but cannot be units that are synoptic.Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
So, for the BTEC National Foundation Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, Unit 4 would not be eligible.
For the BTEC National Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, Unit 1 would not be eligible.
For the BTEC National Extended Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, Unit 13 would not be eligible.
Videos
The timetable for January 2022 is below.
Results Day is 23 March 2022.
Results Day: 18 August 2022
The Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Marketing are not eligible for inclusion in performance tables but are eligible for funding.
Schemes of work and Delivery Guides
This are now available on the qualification page (please choose Course Materials and then Teaching and Learning Materials)
Recorded training
Getting Started with the BTEC Nationals in Marketing
BTEC Marketing Plus
We have a new digital resource called Marketing Plus to support this qualification.
The document below is intended to provide you with guidance for how you might adapt delivery for the BTEC Nationals in Marketing (RQF) in the academic year of 2021-2022.
2020-2021: the Qualification-level ‘Teacher Assessed Grade’ (QTAG) processes ensured that learners were able to claim certification.
2021-2022: QTAGs not permitted.
2021-2022: an updated adaptation called ‘streamlined assessment’. Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
Streamlined assessment is where you will only be required to assess one Learning Aim from the selected unit.
Centres should continue to plan to deliver all content and assessment to ensure learners are best placed for their future progression. However, streamlined assessment is available, if required, to create additional time for lost teaching and learning. The option to streamline the number of assessments indicated in the guidance is at the centre’s discretion upon reflection of the continued impact of disruption to learners caused by the pandemic.
Streamlined unit assessment means that the number of internally assessed units that need to be assessed in full is reduced, these could be mandatory or optional, but cannot be units that are synoptic.
So, for the BTEC National Extended Certificate in Marketing, Unit 3 would not be eligible.
For the BTEC National Diploma in Marketing, Unit 4 would not be eligible.
For the BTEC National Extended Diploma in Marketing, Unit 7 would not be eligible.
Videos
The timetable for January 2022 is below.
Results Day is 23 March 2022.
Results Day: 18 August 2022
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) is the world’s leading professional body for marketing, with over 28,000 members worldwide, of which there are over 2,500 Chartered Marketers. CIM’s mission is to create a marketing advantage for the benefit of professionals, business and society with a focus on export, data and skills.
Videos
Support for BTEC qualifications
This might be an important page to bookmark this year. The Teaching, Learning and Assessment web page will be updated throughout the year.
The new BTEC options tool has been designed to help you talk to learners about their next steps. The website civers employability skills and post-BTEC career options.
We have also provided a poster and an editable teacher handout.
The programme ratings are available on pages 17-18 of the BTEC Centre Guide to Quality Assurance (please see below).
Our VQ Bulletin is a consolidated briefing from Pearson, which contains all the key updates you need about our vocational qualifications.
To view all past issues, please see our VQ Bulletin Blog, and if you would like to sign up please visit the sign up link.
The Professional Development Academy is a one-stop shop that provides access to a wide range of flexible, high-quality online courses for teachers.
You will find a range of on-demand, live and self-guided training courses creating flexible options for learning at a time that suits individual needs.
...
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Children's brain and emotional development
This five-hour course will help you to understand children’s emotional and psychological states in the context of new research into the brain, body and nervous system.
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Diversity, equity & inclusion for educators
This online course is a series of three modules (Turning Inward, Turning Outward, Turning to Action) designed to help educators to engage a range of anti-bias, multicultural and social justice issues and provide them with strategies and tools to help their learners understand, appreciate, include, and advocate for those around them.
- Browse all courses on the Professional Development Academy
The main proposal is to introduce a binary system of T levels and A levels at Level 3, where most young people pursue one of these qualifications at the age of 16.
Consultation outcome
The Review of post-16 qualifications at level 3: second stage concluded in July 2021.
Timelines
Qualifications which overlap with T Levels
No changes are being made to technical qualifications until the 2023/24 academic year at the earliest. In 2022, we hope to hear which qualifications will and will not be funded for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Qualifications which overlap with A Levels
No changes are being made to academic qualifications, including Applied General qualifications, until the 2024/25 academic year at the earliest. In 2022, we hope to learn about the criteria qualifications will need to satisfy in order to qualify for funding from 2024.
BTEC qualifications can continue to be available where there is a clear need for skills and knowledge that T Levels and A levels alone cannot provide. For example:
- Alternatives to T Levels
- Small specialist qualifications to sit alongside T Levels
- Alternatives to A levels
- Small qualifications taken alongside A levels (one A level size or smaller)
The Protect Student Choice campaign
The #ProtectStudentChoice campaign, focuses on the Department for Education’s current review of post-16 qualifications. The Six Form Colleges Association (SFCA) has launched a petition urging the government to reconsider restricting students' choice of qualifications at the age of 16.
Support for assessment 2021-2022
All BTEC external assessments in 2022 are expected to go ahead.
We have created this infographic to guide you in managing absences, in relation to learners taking external assessments.
We will keep you updated with any decisions relating to this, and any additional guidance that is released to support centres, should a policy change occur.
Contingencies in the event that examinations are cancelled or there is widespread disruption: DfE issued contingency guidance in Autumn 2021 following the above consultation outcome.
This document outlines the arrangements that could be put in place if examinations and other assessments are no longer viable:
- TAGs being reintroduced for qualifications most similar to GQs
- Delayed assessment for competence-based qualifications
- Continued assessment with adaptations such as remote assessment for qualifications with mixed purpose (i.e. for FSQs)
In order to access the ACS, you will need to complete the form using the following options:
| Option | Please select |
| Customer options | Teacher & Department Heads |
| Issue type | Systems, Tools & Services |
| Category type | BTEC Assignment Checking Service |
You can then complete the rest of the online form providing all the information relevant to your case, attach the assignment brief once you have submitted the case.
Please ensure that you have also read the ACS terms & conditions.
Updated every year the BTEC Centre Guides provide details of the procedures you need to follow with regards to assessment and internal verification.
The Pearson Quality Advisor Team offer a range of free online events to support all aspects of Quality Assurance in relation to your BTEC programmes. Whatever your role, please take a look at our list of events on offer on our Quality Support Hub Events page. These events are offered on different days and at different times so we are sure you will find a slot to suit you and your teams.
Go to the Quality Support Hub Events page
Subject advisor
Colin Leith
Business
