Applied Science BTEC Nationals/Course Structure and Assessment

Unit Choice

The course is made of 53 units. Students take a maximum of 18:

Certificate	3 units	= 1 AS-level
Subsidiary Diploma	6 units	= 1 A2-level
Diploma (90-Credit)	9 units	= 1 A-levels Plus 1 AS-Level
Diploma	12 units	= 2 A2-levels
Extended Diploma	18 units	= 3 A2-levels

Between the Certificate and Subsidiary Diploma Units 1, 2 and 4 are compulsory. Between the 90-Credit Diploma and Extended Diploma units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are compulsory.

Method of Assessment

All units are assessed by written coursework, which is initially assessed by the school/college and then checked by Edexcel.

Making the Grade

The work must be your own. Copying large chunks of text from a book or the internet is not allowed - even if you credit where you obtained the text.

Check the requirements of each unit and make sure your work meets those requirements. Work which is not on the syllabus will not improve your grade, so don't waste your time with it.

Tip: Use the specification to write headings for your assignments, and research material for each heading. This way you should cover all the topics required: It will be obvious which parts of your assignment need further work. Putting your research into headed sections will prevent you copying or paraphrasing a large chunk from one source, and then a large chunk from another source without comparing the two sources on what they say point-by-point.

Note every reference you use.

References:

Definitive details from the Edexcel website.