BTEC Handbook

BHASVIC Business & Economics students on their China trip

BTEC Student Handbook

This BTEC Student Handbook is your one-stop shop for all information regarding BHASVIC’s BTEC qualifications.

BTECs are a valuable part of our broad and balanced curriculum and are so good for preparing you for your future success and well-being. By studying BTECs with us you will build your subject knowledge as well as your wider skills (e.g. digital, communication, team working) and values (e.g. independence), to enable you to flourish within and beyond our community.

Explore the handbook via the menu below:

1. BTECs & Employment
2. BTECs & Universities
3. Dates & Info Exams (Externally Assessed Units)
4. Dates & Info Coursework (Internally Assessed Units)
5. Rules - Referencing & Citation
6. Rules - Plagiarism
7. Rules - Submitting Coursework Assignments
8. Rules - Requesting a Coursework Assignment Deadline Extension
9. Monitoring Your Progress
10. Maximising Your Progress
11. Our Courses
12. Policies

1. BTECs & Employment

BTEC Nationals are level 3 vocational qualifications that provide specialist, work-related learning across a range of sectors. BTEC Nationals are designed to equip you with the specialist knowledge, practical skills and understanding you need to progress along your chosen career paths. Below are a few examples of the many employability skills and attitudes you’ll develop on our vocational courses:

		How you can develop the right skills and attitudes while completing a BTEC qualification
Communication	Listening skills Speaking skills	Listening - When processing info and instructions for different coursework tasks and exams. Speaking - When delivering coursework presentations.
Willingness to Learn	Aiming High skills	When aiming for a distinction in every unit because the UMS points you’ll accumulate count towards your final grade
Team Working	Teamwork skills	When working on group coursework projects or revising for exams
Initiative	Staying Positive skills	When navigating the workload of juggling coursework and exam prep throughout the course and alongside other subjects!
Problem Solving	Problem Solving skills	When working out the most valid and reliable source for your coursework

2. BTECs & Universities

Alongside A levels, BTEC Nationals are the most widely recognised qualification for admission to higher education, especially for courses that align with vocational or applied learning. They are level 3 vocational qualifications that provide specialist, work-related learning across a range of sectors. BTEC Nationals are designed to equip you with the specialist knowledge, practical skills and understanding you need to progress along your chosen learning and career paths.

Here's a summary of how they are viewed by UK universities:

UCAS Tariff Points: BTECs carry the same UCAS points as A Levels, which universities use to assess eligibility for undergraduate courses. The number of points depends on the qualification size (e.g. Extended Certificate vs Diploma) and the grades achieved

Course Relevance: Universities often value BTECs for their subject-specific, hands-on approach, particularly for degrees in areas like business, health and social care, engineering, IT, and creative industries.

Entry Requirements: While many universities accept BTECs, some competitive courses (especially at Russell Group universities) may require a mix of BTECs and A-levels, or specific subjects at A-level. This is because those courses are mostly, or solely, assessed through exams and may require A level exam-based evidence.

Preparation for Higher Education: BTECs are designed to develop independent learning, research, and project management skills, which are essential for university success and are more reflective of the work and assessment patterns expected across much of the university sector.

BTEC success: We are pleased that for the past 5 years our BTEC students’ offer rates are higher than A level equivalents and in most years stands at 100%.

UCAS Tariff Points - what are they and how do they work?

3. Dates & Info - Exams (Externally Assessed Units)

1. BHASVIC Exams homepage - Exams	2. Results and your choices	3. Exam calendar - BHASVIC Exams Calendar
4. Preparing for exams - Before/On Exam Day	5. Resits info - Resits/Other Exams	6. General Exam Support & Advice

4. Dates & Info - Coursework (Internally Assessed Units)

Coursework deadlines are set to ensure all students have the same and fair amount of time to complete these internally assessed units that contribute towards your final grade. These deadlines are agreed by the teaching team in September and then shared with the exam board. The exam board then expects you to meet these deadlines. Failing to meet coursework deadlines can result in you failing the qualification.

You can find coursework deadline dates written on your Assignment Briefs and here - Calendars.

The dos and don’ts of completing coursework…

✅ Dos

❌ Don’ts

1. Understand the Requirements

· Read the assignment brief carefully.

· Clarify any doubts with your teacher.

1. Don’t Procrastinate

· Avoid last-minute work – it leads to stress and lower quality.

2. Plan Ahead

· Break the task into manageable parts.

· Set deadlines for each stage.

2. Don’t Plagiarise

· Copying work can lead to serious academic penalties.

3. Research Thoroughly

· Use credible sources.

· Take notes and keep track of references.

3. Don’t Ignore Feedback

· Use past feedback to improve future work.

4. Follow Academic Integrity

· Always cite your sources.

· Use plagiarism checkers if needed.

4. Don’t Overlook Instructions

· Missing small details can cost marks.

5. Stick to the Guidelines

· Follow formatting, word count, and submission rules.

· Meet the deadline!

5. Don’t Use Unreliable Sources

· Avoid Wikipedia, random blogs, or forums unless verified.

6. Proofread and Edit

· Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

· Ensure your work is logical and well-structured.

6. Don’t Submit Without Reviewing

· Always double-check your work before submission.

7. Back Up Your Work

· Save your work regularly.

· Use your college cloud storage.

5. Rules - Referencing & Citation

Referencing. You must reference in each assignment’s bibliography any work you have quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, including from websites, textbooks, journal articles, magazines, newspapers, YouTube videos, or social media sites.

Citing. You can cite either in-text or using footnote citations. For example, "(McEwan, 2022)" or (1)" or

You can cite the same source multiple times in your work, but you only need to reference it once.

Referencing AI

AI tools like Microsoft Copilot can be incredibly useful for learning. AI can write text, make art and create music by learning from data from the internet, but watch out – they can also make things up and be biased. BHASVIC are supportive of you using AI, however, you must use it responsibly and if you do use AI for coursework assignments you will need to reference in the bibliography by following these four steps:

The AI website/engine e.g. Microsoft Copilot, Open AI (2024), Chat GPT [online] chatgpt.com
The prompt that you used, e.g. ‘Explain how businesses ensure equality, diversity and inclusion when recruiting and selecting’
The time and date accessed: Accessed 13^th January 2025
You will also need to save a screenshot (which needs to go in your bibliography)

Overall example: Microsoft Copilot. Prompt: ‘Explain how businesses ensure equality, diversity and inclusion when recruiting and selecting’ Accessed 13^th January 2025. [Insert screenshot below]

Read the information and guidance the Library team have helpfully provided - Using AI in academic work*

Failure to reference AI accurately can result in the authenticity of your work being challenged as per our Plagiarism policy.

6. Rules - Plagiarism

Plagiarism means copying someone else’s words, thoughts or ideas and trying to pass them off as your own. This includes copying content from generative AI. Plagiarism is a form of cheating which is taken very seriously. It is alright to paraphrase other people’s work or AI, but you must reference it in a bibliography at the very least. You should cite and can use quotation marks where appropriate.

When you submit a coursework assignment, you must sign and submit the Assessment Record to declare that the work you are submitting is your own and confirm that you have read and followed the regulations. You are also making this declaration when you 'hand in' each coursework assignment. Don’t take any risks and always ask your teacher for advice if you are unsure.

There are many ways that teachers and moderators detect plagiarism:

Changes in the style of writing and use of language
Familiarisation with the topics they are marking, and a good chance they may have read the source you have used
The student’s verbal understanding is far weaker than their written understanding
Specialised computer software can be used to detect match phrases or pieces of text with original sources and to detect changes in the grammar and style of writing or punctuation.

Penalties for plagiarising
If it is discovered that you have broken the regulations, one of the following penalties will be applied by your awarding body as set out in JCQ guidance for managing plagiarism in coursework:

In a first submission, the criteria in the piece of work identified as needing further work will have to be resubmitted by a given deadline, and you will be placed on a red ‘BTEC Qual at Risk’ thread in CEDAR. This thread will last for the duration of the unit or the academic year depending on the extent of the plagiarism
In a resubmission the piece of work will be awarded zero marks, and you will be disqualified from the unit
If the unit is a mandatory unit, then you will be disqualified from the whole qualification
You will be disqualified and barred from entering again for a period of time.

Link to college plagiarism policy - https://www.bhasvic.ac.uk/student-dashboard/a-to-z-student-guide

7. Rules - Submitting Coursework Assignments

You will be taught the assignment theories and will often develop your understanding of theory using an example activity (practice). This will then be followed up with an explained assignment brief. Please familiarise yourself with the BTEC internal assessment procedure below:

Complete the assignment task in given lessons and during independent study over the given period of time,
Submit your coursework assignment by the given deadline and following correct procedure,
Teacher assessment 1 – your teacher will assess your work and give you feedback by their given deadline,
If your assignment meets the desired assessment criteria, then your Assessment Record will identify your assignment grade.
If you have made sufficient effort to complete the assignment but your work fails to achieve the desired assessment criteria, then you will be given permission to resubmit. Your teacher will identify what you have and haven’t achieved on the Assessment Record Sheet, as well as your resub deadline,
Resubmit coursework by the given deadline. Make sure improved work is highlighted in bold or a different colour font,
Teacher assessment 2 – your teacher will assess your work and give you feedback by their given deadline,
If your assignment meets the desired assessment criteria, then your Assessment Record will identify your assignment grade.
If you have followed all the above and your work fails to achieve the pass criteria, then the course’s Lead Internal Verifier may allow you to retake the assignment depending on the circumstances.

8. Rules - Requesting a Coursework Assignment Deadline Extension

Setting and meeting deadlines for assessment is an essential part of BTEC delivery. Learners should be assessed fairly and consistently, and learners should not be advantaged by having additional time to complete assignments. If you are struggling to meet an assignment deadline, discuss this with your teacher before the deadline date. You may be able to negotiate a formal deadline extension with your teacher or the Lead Internal Verifier depending on the circumstances.

These are the circumstances in which you can request and be authorised a formal extension to a given assignment deadline:

You have asked your teacher for a deadline extension at least one college day in advance of the deadline date. You will need to provide an appropriate reason for the request such as illness, bereavement, or an unexpected and disruptive event beyond your control.

There is evidence logged in CEDAR that supports the need for a deadline extension, such as authorised absence or a pastoral log

Your tutor or Guidance Manager has confirmed via other channels that there is a need for a deadline extension.

IN ADDITION,

A deadline extension needs to be fair so that “students are not advantaged by being given additional time to complete assignments”. It also needs to be manageable for both you and your teacher. When negotiating a deadline extension, your teacher can consider your workload for your other subjects.

Consequences for missing a coursework assignment deadline without authorisation

If you miss a first-submission coursework assignment deadline without meeting any of the criteria above, then your teacher will write a red ‘BTEC Qual at Risk’ thread in CEDAR. This thread will last for the duration of the college year, and if you miss another coursework assignment deadline without authorisation then you will fail the unit and if this unit is a mandatory unit, you will fail the qualification.

Depending on your circumstances, the Lead Internal Verifier may authorise your teacher to assess your late first-submission coursework assignment. If your late work is assessed by your teacher, then you then you will not be allowed to resubmit this assignment. If this late work fails to meet the pass criteria, then you will fail the unit and if this unit is a mandatory unit, you will fail the qualification.

If you miss a second-submission coursework assignment deadline without meeting any of the criteria above, then the grade you receive for this assignment will be the one you were awarded for your first submission. If your first submission didn’t meet the pass criteria, then you will fail the unit and if this unit is a mandatory unit, you will fail the qualification.

Flow chart

9. Monitoring Your Progress

You can monitor your modular unit and qualification UMS progress using the BTEC Markbook in CEDAR.

Use the vertical green menu bar on the left side of your CEDAR profile & click on;
Curriculum and Achievement,
Markbook Overview,
BTEC Markbook - Here you can see the UMS points you’ve been awarded for each unit, and these added together determine your overall qualification grade.

Extended Certificate		Certificate
Grade	Points threshold	Grade	Points threshold
Pass	36	Pass	18
Merit	52	Merit	26
Distinction	74	Distinction	42
Distinction *	90	Distinction *	48

10. Maximising Your Progress

STUDY SKILLS* – Here you can find plenty of great advice on skills development such as:

Digital searching
Note-making and critical reading
Referencing & bibliography
Using AI in academic work
Revision and exams
Well-being
Copyright guidance

*SharePoint pages are not accessible to parents.

11. Our Courses

Course	Course prospectus page
Business	Business BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate
Creative Digital Media	Creative Digital Media Production BTEC Level 3
Criminology	Criminology WJEC Level 3
I.T. (Cybersecurity & Web Development	I.T. (Cybersecurity & Web Development) Pearson AAQ Level 3
Law	Law (Applied) BTEC Level 3
Music	Music Foundation Diploma BTEC Level 3
Performance (Acting)	Performance (Acting) BTEC Level 3
Sport	Sport BTEC
Sport & Exercise Science	Sport and Exercise Science BTEC Level 3
OCR AAQs
Application & Games Development	Application Games Development (Computing) OCR AAQ Extended Certificate
Health & Social Care	Health and Social Care OCR AAQ

12. Policies

Click here to view the college policies page.