BTEC National Business: Extended Certificate Level 3 (equivalent to 1 A-Level)

Course Summary

The Level 3 BTEC Business qualification encourages and recognises achievement in students, some of whom may not be getting the most out of ‘traditional’ academic study, by blending different types of assessments to formulate your final grade. Those who enjoy hands-on, practical work with plenty of real-life situations tend to find stimulation and success through L3 BTEC Business qualification. On offer is The Extended Certificate in Business which is equivalent in size and study hours to one A level. This qualification is for students who are interested in learning about the business sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in business-related subjects. This course is ideal for students who are passionate about business and are either planning on starting up their own business or pursuing a career in business. The course will suit you if you prefer coursework to exams and want the chance to carry out a detailed investigation of different businesses. You do need to be able to cope with constant and tight deadlines, so organisation is very important. There is a significant element of reading and writing because of the coursework, but also an expectation that students discuss and question at every opportunity.

The department runs a range of trips including visits to local businesses, Woburn Safari Park and the Bank of England. The department also runs a Young Enterprise Team.

How will it be delivered and assessed?

Level 3 BTEC Business Extended Certificate is a two-year modular course covering four modules (units). Year one focuses on two modules: exploring business and developing a marketing campaign. Year two focuses on two modules: personal and business finance, and recruitment and selection.

Assessment for this course is a blend of external examinations and internally assessed coursework and these are taken over the course of the two years.

External Assessment: The course requires students to complete four units of work, 3 are mandatory and 1 is optional. The course outline and assessment are detailed below:

1. Exploring Business (Mandatory) Internally assessed through coursework assignments

2. Developing a Marketing Campaign (Mandatory) Written external Edexcel examination

3. Personal and Business Finance (Mandatory) Written external Edexcel examination

4. Recruitment and Selection (Optional) Internally assessed through coursework assignments

Internal Assessment: You will be internally assessed throughout your course in a variety of ways including formal assessments that allow us to check your progress and offer tailored support to help you progress. Some of these assessments will be recorded and reported to your parents/carers.

Entry requirements

Students must have achieved at least five strong passes (to at least Grade 5) at GCSE, including English Language and Maths.

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