BTEC Firsts in Music and BTEC Tech Award in Music Practice: October 2021 update

2021 - 2022 Academic year

U-TAGs and Z flags

The guidance for providing U-TAGs and changing the Z grades that were provided last academic year to a Z flag has been released. The functionaility on Edexcel Online is expected to be available in mid-October with a deadline of 10 November 2021.

Adaptations for assessments in 2021-22

There are adaptations that are in place for this academic year if they are needed. You should plan to deliver and assess units/components as normal but if this isn't possible then you can use the adaptations that apply to your qualification.

We have confirmed the in-unit adaptations for all BTEC qualifications and the approach to streamlined assessment that can be used this academic year, if needed.

External Assessments

All BTEC external assessments for 2021/22 are expected to go ahead. In light of feedback from centres, the January series will commence one week later (from 12 January) with results day moving to 23 March. The February series will also commence one week later (from 7 February) with results day moving to 6 April.

Final timetables for January, February and March 2022 are now up on the website and included in the BTEC External Assessment Overview document.

The provisional summer 2022 exam timetables have been published. If you have any feedback on the provisional timetable please email timetables@pearson.com.

Redeveloped BTEC Tech Award in Music Practice

Last September the DfE published the technical guidance for KS4 qualifications to be included in 2024 performance tables in England. To meet these new requirements, Pearson has submitted revised BTEC Tech Award qualifications and the revised specifications.

The BTEC Tech Award in Music Practice has largely retained the same content and it is the processes for internal assessment that have changed.

The draft specification, Sample Assessment Material and example Pearson Set Assignments have been published and it is intended to be available for first teaching from September 2022.