In case useful to anyone.
Some courses might give you a better chance at grade/UCAS points depending on where you are likely to be aiming and what your work ethic is like.
Some kids are better nose to grindstone all year, ability to retake a unit and cumulative. Some are happier with it all being dependent on a final project.
RSL L3 Extended Diploma
You can't get Dstar in an individual module or assignment just the final grade.
You get the grade by dividing your total achieved points/credits across all units by the maximum possible points/credits and working out the percentage.
Distinction star (Dstar): 94% – 100% - 168 UCAS points
Distinction (D): 87% – 93% - 144 UCAS points
Merit (M): 63% – 86% - 96 UCAS points
Pass (P): 50% – 62% - 48 UCAS points
Every module counts towards final grade.
End of first year you get an RSL L3 Subsidiary Diploma - a Dstar is worth 84 UCAS points, D is worth 72 points, M is 48 points, P is 24.
Note: Year 1 and Year 2 are cumulative. So at the very end of Year 2, RSL takes your combined total points from BOTH years and divides it by the total maximum possible points for the whole qualification. If you drop points on a few modules in Year 1, it becomes mathematically impossible to hit the Dstar in Year 2, even if you get straight Distinctions in your final year.
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma:
For UAL there is no Distinction Star (Dstar) grade. Instead, the highest possible grade you can achieve is a straight Distinction (D)
Early Modules (Units 1 to 11 / 12): These modules are completely diagnostic. Tutors will grade them as Pass, Merit, or Distinction to give you feedback, but they do not count toward your final grade.
The Final Module (Unit 12 or 13, depending on pathway): Your final grade for the entire two-year Extended Diploma is determined 100% by your Year 2 Final Major Project.
Distinction (D): 168 UCAS points
Merit (M): 120 UCAS points
Pass (P): 72 UCAS points
End of first year you get a UAL Level 3 Diploma - D is worth 84 points, M is 60 points, P is 36.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma:
Every unit is worth a specific number of Guided Learning Hours (usually 60, 90, or 120 hours). Pearson assigns a point score to the grade you achieve in each module, weighted by its size.
At the end of the 2-year course, all of your unit points are added together. The total maximum possible score is 288 points
Your final grade is shown as a combination of three letters. Each distinct combination converts to a specific number of UCAS Tariff points:
Triple Distinction Star: 272+ points - 168 UCAS points
Double Distinction Star/ D: 262-271 points - 160 UCAS points
Distinction Star/ DD: 252-261 points - 152 UCAS points
DDD: 242-251 points - 144 UCAS points
DDM: 222-241 points - 128 UCAS points
DMM: 202-221 points - 112 UCAS points
MMM: 182-201 points - 96 UCAS points
MMP: 162-181 points - 80 UCAS points
MPP: 142-161 points - 64 UCAS points
PPP: 120-141 points - 48 UCAS points
End of first year you get a BTEC L3 Foundation Diploma: a Dstar is worth 84 UCAS points, D is worth 72 points, M is 48 points, P is 24.
Two extra rules for BTEC:
1: The External Units Rule: You must achieve a minimum grade of a Pass or higher in all mandatory external assessments. If you get an "Unclassified" (U) on a core exam, you cannot get the full Extended Diploma.
2: The Minimum Credits Rule: You must pass modules worth at least 900 out of the 1080 total Guided Learning Hours. You are allowed to fail a small optional unit, but failing too many means you drop down a qualification tier.