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Original poster

If your dc did BTECs, do you say they have A levels?

219 replies

Milsonophonia · 26/08/2024 19:07

My nephew did a BTEC in Media and a BTEC in Music production. He passed them all, which is fab. But my BIL keeps telling everyone he got 4 x A levels. My dd got 3 x A levels and I'm starting to feel a bit fed up with him saying dn got 4 x A levels. We were at a bbq yesterday and someone was congratulating dd and he interrupted and said well, dn got 4 A levels!

I think he may have got the equivalent of 4 A levels, so a great achievement whatever, but its beginning to annoy me. I know I'm being petty. But ds1 did BTECs a few years ago and did really well in them and ended up at uni but I am pretty sure I always told people he'd done BTECS!

OP posts:
x2boys · 26/08/2024 22:16

Octavia64 · 26/08/2024 20:33

People don't know what BTECs are.

I think he is probably trying to give an equivalent.

I agree that the equivalent is misleading - most schools don't let students do 4 a levels any more as it is considered too much work and so if they are really equivalent he's done better than most people doing a levels which I suspect is not actually the case.

That's their problem then isn't it ,I'm 50 and Btechs,were around when I was at college they are hardly new qualifications.

Lilyno · 26/08/2024 22:09

But BTEC only go to level 3. NVQ can go higher.
My DD did A level’s and double BTEC. Level 3 and the BTEC was hard work and she achieved Distinction star(double) but obviously reading this thread makes me sad.

pinkducky · 26/08/2024 22:09

I think you're being overly competitive here. Be happy that your daughter and nephew did so well.

Foxesandsquirrels · 26/08/2024 22:05

Octavia64 · 26/08/2024 20:33

People don't know what BTECs are.

I think he is probably trying to give an equivalent.

I agree that the equivalent is misleading - most schools don't let students do 4 a levels any more as it is considered too much work and so if they are really equivalent he's done better than most people doing a levels which I suspect is not actually the case.

Most schools also don't allow the equivalent of 4 A levels in BTECs :S the most is 3. Usually made up of a Extended Diploma or a double award plus 1 a level

x2boys · 26/08/2024 22:03

I thought all this sneering about Alevels being the gold mark had died out in the 90,s I did Alevels BTW.

HÆLTHEPAIN · 26/08/2024 22:02

Lilyno · 26/08/2024 22:00

It’s only Level 3 BTEC that are the same level as A levels.

That’s what my daughter did…BTEC Level 3 National 540 Diploma

x2boys · 26/08/2024 22:02

Does it matter ?
Both qualifications at the relevant level get a person into university.

worcesterpear · 26/08/2024 22:00

Not in your nephew's case, but I think some people say it when they are doing a mixture of A levels and BTECs (the type of BTEC that are equivalent to one A level). It doesn't bother me, but I can see why it would with my experience of schools touting their students in the local press with 4 As, then you look more closely and one is an EPQ, which is only half an A level. Not important, but misleading.

Lilyno · 26/08/2024 22:00

It’s only Level 3 BTEC that are the same level as A levels.

Eyeballpaula · 26/08/2024 22:00

I did a Btec & A level. They are two different things.

The Btec was so much more suited to the uni course I went to do (health care profession) and the work experience element helped me rule out what I did and didn't want to work as.

I haven't thought about it in 20years+ though. It was a stepping stone to university for me, as A levels would have been.

HelloDaisy · 26/08/2024 21:56

socks1107 · 26/08/2024 21:36

I haven't corrected people if they've asked did she pass her a levels.
Tbh does it matter? My daughter passed, gained her first choice of university and is very happy and we are proud.
Maybe people like me don't correct others because of the snobbery that is evident. A qualification is an achievement no matter what and if the yp can move into their next steps surely that's what is important?

Exactly this!

Foxesandsquirrels · 26/08/2024 21:51

Anonym00se · 26/08/2024 20:10

Maybe not if you don’t know the subject but when the subject is in an area that you’ve been working in for years, then I assure you that you can. Because I did. It was a Level 3 BTech in Management and it was much easier than a GCSE. There was no written work involved, just multi-choice tests.

Show quote history

I doubt you did the extended diploma that's worth 3 a levels.
There's 3 levels of BTEC within each level. So you can do:
Level 3 Certificate
Level 3 Diploma
Level 3 Extended Diploma

You probably did the certificate

HÆLTHEPAIN · 26/08/2024 21:50

My daughter did 2 A levels and a BTEC. She got a Distinction Star in the BTEC which gives her the equivalent UCAS points as an A Star. Her A levels were A and B.

So you’re telling me that her BTEC Distinction Star is not as good? Or is it just snobbery?

Holllyaxe · 26/08/2024 21:41

What a non event. DS did 2 BTECs and 1 A Level and got all As. When I told others I just referred to them as A levels as easier. Most people aren’t interested in the details anyway. DS got into the university he wanted to go to which is all that matters and all people need to know. You sound really mean OP.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 26/08/2024 21:41

It probably is petty and irrational but would annoy me too, not so much saying he has A levels but then undermining your DD

FloralGums · 26/08/2024 21:40

No. I always say Btec and use it as an opportunity to evangelise about how great they are c

TahitianGardenia · 26/08/2024 21:38

The unis and course that my dc is applying to won't take BTECS or T levels as acceptable qualifications, has to be A levels, IB or the Scottish/Welsh equivalents. So they definitely aren't thought of the same.

socks1107 · 26/08/2024 21:36

I haven't corrected people if they've asked did she pass her a levels.
Tbh does it matter? My daughter passed, gained her first choice of university and is very happy and we are proud.
Maybe people like me don't correct others because of the snobbery that is evident. A qualification is an achievement no matter what and if the yp can move into their next steps surely that's what is important?

MereDintofPandiculation · 26/08/2024 21:33

Littletreefrog · 26/08/2024 20:31

Then he should say his DS got 2 BTecs which is equivalent to 4 A levels and he should not interrupt someone talking to his DN about her results to do so.

Show quote history

Yes, I'd agree with that. Even if his DS had got 5 A* A-levels, he shouldn't have interrupted that moment. But he might have just got fed up of explaining.

Longma · 26/08/2024 21:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Cantbelievethatimafoolagain · 26/08/2024 21:23

Family friend kept telling everyone their daughter got 3Astars at a level. She did Btec and I did a levels. It really pissed me off. I know they are equivalent but they're really not the same.

DramaLlamaBangBang · 26/08/2024 21:23

Does he just not understand what his DS has done? A full time L3Btec is equivalent to 3x A Levels, not 4. A full time L2 Btec is equivalent to 4 x gcse's. Maybe his DS did a L2 Btec but he doesn't have a clue about qualifications.
Anyway, I'm sad as Btecs are a great qualification but the previous government defunded a lot of them, replacing them with unpopular T Levels

Longma · 26/08/2024 21:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

RufustheFactualReindeer · 26/08/2024 21:19

Yanbu

dd is an academic child but we felt that drama btec was better for her than the A level

she did 2 A levels and one btec and thats what we told people

Starlingexpress · 26/08/2024 21:19

YANBU OP.

It’s weird how celebrating the achievements of an academic child is frowned upon in case it upsets anybody.