Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

BTEC grades confusion

15 replies

LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 09:26

My son has just started his 2nd year of a BTEC Sports coaching and development.
At the end of last year he was awarded a D* and a B for his EPQ.
We were really pleased as he is applying for a Sport Business degree and needs 112 ucas points (DD**)
However, we've just had his latest review that said his grades for this half term is MMP.
Is it now impossible to get a D/D*?

OP posts:
titchy · 19/10/2025 10:48

What award is he doing - the Extended Diploma? That needs DMM for 112 points. Cant help anymore than that I’m afraid.

Original poster
LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 13:20

Sorry - it's the BTEC national diploma.

OP posts:
Litany202 · 19/10/2025 13:24

He maybe hasn’t started Distinction tasks yet. In my school the BTEC pupils seem to complete tasks for each unit going up in difficulty - ie Pass, then Merit, then Distinction. I realise it’s different for different subjects, but I find it’s not uncommon for pupils to gradually build towards the Distinction grades. Equally, pupils who are doing A Levels rarely get A and B grades in assessments at the start of the course, particularly in essay based subjects.

Original poster
LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 13:43

That's really useful - thank you 👍

OP posts:
titchy · 19/10/2025 13:47

LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 13:20

Sorry - it's the BTEC national diploma.

That also needs DMM for 112 points.

Emyj15 · 19/10/2025 15:39

Diploma is equivalent of 2 A levels with the Extended equivalent of 3 as far as I'm aware.

Each unit is graded and converted to points.

Not sure about the diploma but the extended certificate needs 90 points for a D and for the assignments a D was worth 16 points and the exams a D was 32.

I would suggest finding out from the school what units have been completed the grades obtained and the number of points for each unit.

Also how many units are left.

There is points calculator on the Pearson website.

The diploma should only have 2 grades I think not 3

Navigatinglife100 · 19/10/2025 15:47

Youll need to ask the college how the units are being assessed and how grades fit together.

Both my two ended with triple distinction star having sat each unit, one at a time, gaining D in each as they went. As far as I know they still needed a prediction to apply for UCAS as until every unit was complete the final triple grade was unknown.

Most uni courses didnt require anywhere near that level of result.

My DSs BTEC mentioned just failing one unit would fail the whole thing!

Original poster
LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 17:45

Emyj15 · 19/10/2025 15:39

Diploma is equivalent of 2 A levels with the Extended equivalent of 3 as far as I'm aware.

Each unit is graded and converted to points.

Not sure about the diploma but the extended certificate needs 90 points for a D and for the assignments a D was worth 16 points and the exams a D was 32.

I would suggest finding out from the school what units have been completed the grades obtained and the number of points for each unit.

Also how many units are left.

There is points calculator on the Pearson website.

The diploma should only have 2 grades I think not 3

Thanks - the problem is that we have had next to no information from the college & my son isn't 100% sure.....
Parents evening isn't til next Feb and no answer from my email to his tutor....
I'm looking online but most info is about the Extended diploma.

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 19/10/2025 17:49

The Diploma will be like the extended diploma but with fewer units. You should be able to find the spec on the board website which should explain the scoring criteria. One spec covers all the sizes and you have to find the right page for the qualification your DS is doing.

You will need to know the unit numbers for each mandatory and optional unit, and what grade he got for each unit so far.

Navigatinglife100 · 19/10/2025 17:53

Extended Diploma is the course both of mine did. In their second year they were now applying for UCAS for Uni and my DS for apprenticeships. They both needed predicted final grades and a tutor reference. They used these to see if they met the Uni course criteria.

You should be able to make an appintment to see the tutor if you need information to help with next steps.

Emyj15 · 19/10/2025 18:34

LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 17:45

Thanks - the problem is that we have had next to no information from the college & my son isn't 100% sure.....
Parents evening isn't til next Feb and no answer from my email to his tutor....
I'm looking online but most info is about the Extended diploma.

Show quote history

My son did Sport extended certificate and you could download the specification from the website which covered all of them.

I would search the course in Google and a link should appear for the Pearson website which covers the full course including the diploma.

Which units for each course should be explained.

It will explain if any are exams and which are assignment based and the size of each unit.

Your son will then need to find out from the college which units he has completed and what his grades were for the completed ones plus which ones are outstanding.

Then should be able to use the calculator to work out what further grades are needed to get D/D

Original poster
LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 19:57

TeenToTwenties · 19/10/2025 18:42

It's not that one as that is the Extended diploma - but thank you.

Think I definitely need an appointment with his tutor.

Thanks everyone - I'm a little clearer now 👍

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 19/10/2025 19:59

LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 19:57

It's not that one as that is the Extended diploma - but thank you.

Think I definitely need an appointment with his tutor.

Thanks everyone - I'm a little clearer now 👍

Show quote history

No that covers all the different sizes. There is info early on about the different sizes and which units etc.

Original poster
LizzieBet14 · 19/10/2025 20:45

Thanks 👍

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page