Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science Specification First teaching from September 2016 First certification from 2017 Issue 4 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science Specification First teaching September 2016 Issue 4 Edexcel, BTEC and LCCI qualifications Edexcel, BTEC and LCCI qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications that are globally recognised and benchmarked. For further information, please visit our qualifications website at . Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at About Pearson Pearson is the world's leading learning company, with 35,000 employees in more than 70 countries working to help people of all ages to make measurable progress in their lives through learning. We put the learner at the centre of everything we do, because wherever learning flourishes, so do people. Find out more about how we can help you and your learners at This specification is Issue 4. Key changes are sidelined. We will inform centres of any changes to this issue. The latest issue can be found on our website. References to third-party material made in this specification are made in good faith. We do not endorse, approve or accept responsibility for the content of materials, which may be subject to change, or any opinions expressed therein. (Material may include textbooks, journals, magazines and other publications and websites.) ISBN All the material in this publication is copyright © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Welcome With a track record built over 30 years of learner success, BTEC Nationals are widely recognised by industry and higher education as the signature vocational qualification at Level 3. They provide progression to the workplace either directly or via study at a higher level. Proof comes from YouGov research, which shows that 62% of large companies have recruited employees with BTEC qualifications. What’s more, well over 100,000 BTEC students apply to UK universities every year and their BTEC Nationals are accepted by over 150 UK universities and higher education institutes for relevant degree programmes either on their own or in combination with A Levels. Why are BTECs so successful? BTECs embody a fundamentally learner-centred approach to the curriculum, with a flexible, unit-based structure and knowledge applied in project-based assessments. They focus on the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to be able to succeed in employment and higher education. When creating the BTEC Nationals in this suite, we worked with many employers, higher education providers, colleges and schools to ensure that their needs are met. Employers are looking for recruits with a thorough grounding in the latest industry requirements and work-ready skills such as teamwork. Higher education needs students who have experience of research, extended writing and meeting deadlines. We have addressed these requirements with:  a range of BTEC sizes, each with a clear purpose, so there is something to suit each learner’s choice of study programme and progression plans  refreshed content that is closely aligned with employers’ and higher education needs for a skilled future workforce  assessments and projects chosen to help learners progress to the next stage. This means some are set by you to meet local needs, while others are set and marked by Pearson so that there is a core of skills and understanding that is common to all learners. For example, a written test can be used to check that learners are confident in using technical knowledge to carry out a certain job. We are providing a wealth of support, both resources and people, to ensure that learners and their teachers have the best possible experience during their course. See Section 10 for details of the support we offer. A word to learners Today’s BTEC Nationals are demanding, as you would expect of the most respected applied learning qualification in the UK. You will have to choose and complete a range of units, be organised, take some assessments that we will set and mark, and keep a portfolio of your assignments. But you can feel proud to achieve a BTEC because, whatever your plans in life – whether you decide to study further, go on to work or an apprenticeship, or set up your own business – your BTEC National will be your passport to success in the next stage of your life. Good luck, and we hope you enjoy your course. Collaborative development Students completing their BTEC Nationals in Applied Science will be aiming to go on to employment, often via the stepping stone of higher education. It was, therefore, essential that we developed these qualifications in close collaboration with experts from professional bodies, businesses and universities, and with the providers who will be delivering the qualifications. To ensure that the content meets providers’ needs and provides high-quality preparation for progression, we engaged experts. We are very grateful to all the university and further education lecturers, teachers, employers, professional body representatives and other individuals who have generously shared their time and expertise to help us develop these new qualifications. In addition, universities, professional bodies and businesses have provided letters of support confirming that these qualifications meet their entry requirements. These letters can be viewed on our website. Summary of Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science specification Issue 4 changes Summary of changes made between previous issues and this current issue Page number Wording has been added to the Qualification and unit content section to clarify that references in units to regulation, legislation, policies and regulatory/standards organisations can be adapted and updated to reflect changes and variations within the UK. Page 7 The wording under the synoptic assessment section has been revised to reference synoptic assessment tasks within units. Page 8 A sentence has been added to the External assessment summary table to clarify the percentage of external assessment within the qualification. Page 13 External assessment Unit 1: Duration of written examination now 2 hours (was 1.5 hours). Page 13 Wording has been revised to reference the specific synoptic assessment task/s within units that have been identified for this qualification. Page 13 Unit 1 Summary of assessment The wording under Summary of assessment has changed to ‘the exam will last two hours’. Page 20 The wording under Unit content – B3 Tissue structure and function has changed to ‘interpretation of graphical displays of a nerve impulse and electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings’. Page 23 Wording has been revised in the Links to other units section in Units 1 and 3. Pages 28 and 47 If you need further information on these changes or what they mean, contact us via our website at: Contents Introduction to BTEC National qualifications for the applied science sector 1 Total Qualification Time 2 Qualifications, sizes and purposes at a glance 3 Structures of the qualifications at a glance 5 Qualification and unit content 7 Assessment 7 Grading for units and qualifications 9 UCAS Tariff points 9 1 Qualification purpose 10 2 Structure 12 3 Units 14 Understanding your units 14 Index of units 17 4 Planning your programme 139 5 Assessment structure and external assessment 141 Introduction 141 Internal assessment 141 External assessment 141 6 Internal assessment 143 Principles of internal assessment 143 Setting effective assignments 145 Making valid assessment decisions 147 Planning and record keeping 149 7 Administrative arrangements 150 Introduction 150 Learner registration and entry 150 Access to assessment 150 Administrative arrangements for internal assessment 151 Administrative arrangements for external assessment 152 Dealing with malpractice in assessment 154 Certification and results 156 Additional documents to support centre administration 156 8 Quality assurance 157 9 Understanding the qualification grade 158 10 Resources and support 162 Support for setting up your course and preparing to teach 162 Support for teaching and learning 163 Support for assessment 163 Training and support from Pearson 164 Appendix 1 Links to industry standards 165 Appendix 2 Glossary of terms used for internally-assessed units 166 Introduction to BTEC National qualifications for the applied science sector This specification contains the information you need to deliver the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science. The specification signposts you to additional handbooks and policies. It includes all the units for this qualification. This qualification is part of the suite of Applied Science qualifications offered by Pearson. In the suite there are qualifications that focus on different progression routes, allowing learners to choose the one best suited to their aspirations. All qualifications in the suite share some common units and assessments, allowing learners some flexibility in moving between sizes. The qualification titles are given below. Some BTEC National qualifications provide a broad introduction that gives learners transferable knowledge and skills. These qualifications are for post-16 learners who want to continue their education through applied learning. The qualifications prepare learners for a range of higher education courses and job roles related to a particular sector. They provide progression either by meeting entry requirements in their own right or by being accepted alongside other qualifications at the same level and adding value to them. In the applied science sector these qualifications are: Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Applied Science (180 GLH) 601/7434/1 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science (360 GLH) 601/7436/5 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Applied Science (510 GLH) 601/7438/9 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science (720 GLH) 601/7435/3 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science (1080 GLH) 601/7437/7. This specification signposts all the other essential documents and support that you need as a centre in order to deliver, assess and administer the qualification, including the staff development required. A summary of all essential documents is given in Section 7. Information on how we can support you with this qualification is given in Section 10. The information in this specification is correct at the time of publication. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science – 1 Specification – Issue 4 – October 2017 © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Total Qualification Time For all regulated qualifications, Pearson specifies a total number of hours that it is estimated learners will require to complete and show achievement for the qualification: this is the Total Qualification Time (TQT). Within TQT, Pearson identifies the number of Guided Learning Hours (GLH) that we estimate a centre delivering the qualification might provide. Guided learning means activities, such as lessons, tutorials, online instruction, supervised study and giving feedback on performance, that directly involve teachers and assessors in teaching, supervising and invigilating learners. Guided learning includes the time required for learners to complete external assessment under examination or supervised conditions. In addition to guided learning, other required learning directed by teachers or assessors will include private study, preparation for assessment and undertaking assessment when not under supervision, such as preparatory reading, revision and independent research. BTEC Nationals have been designed around the number of hours of guided learning expected. Each unit in the qualification has a GLH value of 60, 90 or 120. There is then a total GLH value for the qualification. Each qualification has a TQT value. This may vary within sectors and across the suite depending on the nature of the units in each qualification and the expected time for other required learning. The following table shows all the qualifications in this sector and their GLH and TQT values. 2 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science –Specification – Issue 4 – October 2017 © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Qualifications, sizes and purposes at a glance Title Size and structure Summary purpose Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Applied Science 180 GLH (235 TQT) Equivalent in size to 0.5 of an A Level. 2 units of which both are mandatory and 1 is external. Mandatory content (100%). External assessment (50%). An introduction to a vocational sector through applied learning. For learners for whom an element of science would be complementary, the qualification supports progression to higher education when taken as part of a programme of study that includes other vocational or general qualifications. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science 360 GLH (455 TQT) Equivalent in size to one A Level. 4 units of which 3 are mandatory and 2 are external. Mandatory content (83%). External assessment (58%). Designed for learners who are interested in learning about the sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in applied science. To be taken as part of a programme of study that includes other appropriate BTEC Nationals or A Levels. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Applied Science 510 GLH (640 TQT) Equivalent in size to 1.5 A Levels. 6 units of which 4 are mandatory and 2 are external. Mandatory content (76%). External assessment (41%). Designed as a one-year, full-time course of study, or as part of a two-year, full-time study programme for learners who wish to study another area alongside it, which may contrast or complement the Applied Science Foundation Diploma. If taken as part of a programme of study that includes other BTEC Nationals or A Levels, it supports progression to higher education. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science 720 GLH (890 TQT) Equivalent in size to two A Levels. 8 units of which 6 are mandatory and 3 are external. Mandatory content (83%). External assessment (46%). Designed to be the substantive part of a 16–19 study programme for learners who want a strong core of sector study. May be complemented with other BTEC Nationals or A Levels to support progression to higher education courses in applied science. The additional qualification(s) studied allow learners either to give breadth to their study by choosing a contrasting subject, or to give their studies more focus by choosing a complementary subject. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science – 3 Specification – Issue 4 – October 2017 © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Title Size and structure Summary purpose Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science 1080 GLH (1345 TQT) Equivalent in size to three A Levels. 13 units of which 7 are mandatory and 4 are external. Mandatory content (67%). External assessment (42%). Designed as a two-year, full-time course that meets entry requirements in its own right for learners who want to progress to higher education courses in the applied science sector before entering employment. Learners can either choose a pathway which focuses on a particular occupational area, such as biomedical science, analytical and forensic science, physical science; or take a general route for further study in the sector. 4 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science –Specification – Issue 4 – October 2017 © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Structures of the qualifications at a glance This table shows all the units and the qualifications to which they contribute. The full structure for this Pearson BTEC Level 3 National in Applied Science is shown in Section 2. You must refer to the full structure to select units and plan your programme. Key Unit assessed externally Mandatory units Optional units Biomedical Science Analytical and Forensic Science Physical Science Unit (number and title) Unit size (GLH) Certificate (180 GLH) Extended Certificate (360 GLH) Foundation Diploma (510 GLH) Diploma (720 GLH) Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) BS AFS PS 1 Principles and Applications of Science I 90 M M M M M M M M 2 Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques 90 M M M M M M M M 3 Science Investigation Skills 120 M M M M M M M 4 Laboratory Techniques and their Application 90 M M M M M M 5 Principles and Applications of Science II 120 M M M M M 6 Investigative Project 90 M M M M M 7 Contemporary Issues in Science 120 M M M M 8 Physiology of Human Body Systems 60 O O O O O O O 9 Human Regulation and Reproduction 60 O O O O O O O 10 Biological Molecules and Metabolic Pathways 60 O O O O O O O 11 Genetics and Genetic Engineering 60 O O O O O O O 12 Diseases and Infections 60 O O O O O O O 13 Applications of Inorganic Chemistry 60 O O O O O O O 14 Applications of Organic Chemistry 60 O O O O O O O 15 Electrical Circuits and their Application 60 O O O O O O O 16 Astronomy and Space Science 60 O O O O O O O 17 Microbiology and Microbiological Techniques 60 O O O O O O continued overleaf Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science – 5 Specification – Issue 4 – October 2017 © Pearson Education Limited 2015 BS AFS PS M O Unit (number and title) Unit size (GLH) Certificate (180 GLH) Extended Certificate (360 GLH) Foundation Diploma (510 GLH) Diploma (720 GLH) Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) Extended Diploma (1080 GLH) BS AFS PS 18 Industrial Chemical Reactions 60 O O O O O O 19 Practical Chemical Analysis 60 O O O O O O 20 Biomedical Science 60 O O O O O 21 Medical Physics Applications 60 O O O O O 22 Materials Science 60 O O O O O 23 Forensic Evidence, Collection and Analysis 60 O O O O O 24 Cryogenics and Vacuum Technology 60 O O O O 25 Forensic Fire Investigation 60 O O O O 26 Forensic Traffic Collision Investigation 60 O O O O 6 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied Science –Specification – Issue 4 – October 2017 © Pearson Education Limited 2015 Qualification and unit content Pearson has developed the content of the new BTEC Nationals in collaboration with employers and representatives from higher education and relevant professional bodies. In this way, we have ensured that content is up to date and that it includes the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes required in the sector. Each qualification in the suite has its own purpose. The mandatory and optional content provides a balance of breadth and depth, while retaining a degree of choice for individual learners to study content relevant to their own interests and progression choices. Also, the content may be applied during delivery in a way that is relevant to local employment needs. The proportion of mandatory content ensures that all learners are following a coherent programme of study and acquiring the knowledge, understanding and skills that will be recognised and valued. Learners are expected to show achievement across mandatory units as detailed in Section 2. BTEC Nationals have always required applied learning that brings together knowledge and understanding (the cognitive domain) with practical and technical skills (the psychomotor domain). This is achieved through learners performing vocational tasks that encourage the development of appropriate vocational behaviours (the affective domain) and transferable skills. Transferable skills are those such as communication, teamwork, research and analysis, which are valued in both higher education and the workplace. Our approach provides rigour and balance, and promotes the ability to apply learning immediately in new contexts. Further details can be found in Section 2. Centres should ensure that delivery of content is kept up to date. In particular units may include reference to regulation, legislation, policies and regulatory/standards organisations. This is designed to provide guidance on breadth and depth of coverage and may be adjusted to update content and to reflect variations within the UK. Assessment Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications in the sector. There are three main forms of assessment that you need to be aware of: external, internal and synoptic. Externally-assessed units Each external assessment for a BTEC National is linked to a specific unit. All of the units developed for external assessment are of 90 or 120 GLH to allow learners to demonstrate breadth and depth of achievement. Each assessment is taken under specified conditions, then marked by Pearson and a grade awarded. Learners must achieve all external units at pass grade or above. Learners are permitted to resit any external assessment only once during their programme. The styles of external assessment used for qualifications in the Applied Science suite are:  examinations – all learners take the same assessment at the same time, normally with a written outcome  set tasks – learners take the assessment during a defined window and demonstrate understanding through completion of a vocational task. Some external assessments include a period of preparation using set information. External assessments are available twice a year. For detailed information on the external assessments please see the table in Section 2. For further information on preparing for external assessment...