Grading

We have made changes to the way that we calculate the final qualification grade for BTEC Nationals (2016) to ensure that grading accurately reflects a learner's' performance and achievements.

Our grading model achieves this through three main structures:

Each unit is individually graded and contributes towards a learner's final qualification grade

Final qualification grades reward overall course performance, as units, and success within them, contributes points proportionally to the overall grade. This allows learners to gain recognition for strong performance in areas where they excel.

  • A higher proportion of points are contributed by units with a larger Guided Learning Hours (GLH).

  • Units are marked on a grade scale where students receive more points for higher grades.

  • Learners can re-submit internally assessed units within 15 days to improve their grade.
     

Except in qualifications that offer a license to practise, students can still pass a qualification even if they fail a unit.

As parts of the Childresn Learning, Play and Development suite offer a license to practice, there are strict regulations on assessment, however in the the smaller sizes, provided performance elsewhere is strong enough, a failed unit does not immediately result in a failed qualification, as final grades are based on a combined total of points earned from assessments.

  • In the Extended certificate (360 GLH) and Foundation Diploma (540 GLH) students can still pass the qualification even if they have failed a unit.

  • In the Early Years Educator Diploma (720 GLH) student must pass all units to gain the qualification.

  • In the Early Years Educator Extended Diploma (1080 GLH), students can still pass the qualification even if they fail Unit 4 or the optional units, all other units require at least pass.
     

External assessments are marked using a precise points scale. 

A graduated points scale for external units precisely recognises learners achievement, as learners receive points for achievement both within each grade boundary and below pass.

  • External units report grade points rather than just a grade, allowing learners who just miss a grade threshold to still get full recognition for their efforts, reflecting the fact that they achieved at the top of their grade level.

  • The introduction of the N grade, sitting between the Pass and Unclassified grades, allows students to gain points towards their overall qualification grade despite not reaching the pass threshold in that assessment. However in the Early Years Educator Diploma (720 GLH) and Early Years Educator Extended Diploma (710 GLH) all mandatory units must receive a Pass or above for the students to obtain the qualification. However, this does not supersede the pass requirements of certain qualifications.