There are two main types of qualifications that your child can work towards at school – exam-based subjects like GCSEs and A levels or BTECs that are more vocational in nature. While assessed a little differently, they are essentially equivalent qualifications which can help them to access similar, if not the same opportunities.
They are a great option for children who prefer practical work and are gaining recognition across the country by prestigious universities. To learn a little more about BTECs and how to support children studying them, we have some expert tips from a top private school in London.
How Are BTECs Assessed?
While BTECs are largely coursework based, few have introduced exams. They are also assessed on a different grading scale. The grades that can be awarded are:
- Distinction* (D*) – equivalent to an A*
- Distinction (D) – equivalent to an A.
- Merit (M) – equivalent to a C.
- Pass (P) – equivalent to an E.
- Near pass (N) – available on most BTEC Nationals
As mentioned earlier, universities are beginning to see the value of vocational education and are accepting students that hold BTECs. This has significantly improved the prospects of those studying the courses as they are able to get into higher education.
How to Support Your Child with Their BTECs
Supporting your child starts way before the first day of their course. For success with their BTECs, it’s important that your child picks the right subjects to study as they will be committing to them for the next two years. If they are uninterested and have no desire in pursuing them, it will likely show through in their grades and be a waste of time.
You can help your child with this by exploring where they could lead career-wise. If they are looking to study BTECs at college, you could also visit open days as they will be able to explore courses in depth with tutors and ask any questions they may have.
Staying on Track
Just because there are fewer exams, by no means are BTECs easy. There are coursework commitments for students to meet if they want to successfully complete their course and achieve good grades. This means being on the ball all throughout the year, working closely with teachers and having good attendance. To help your child stay afloat, you can ensure that they make time for their studies by creating a simple study timetable that they can stick to.