BTEC A levels

[Nikki]

My cousin is in year 11 now and we were talking about A levels and he has the option of doing BTEC courses at A level, he is really interested in doing PE as a BTEC option, but do universities accept that BTEC courses are equivalent to A levels, or are they more likely to take people who have A levels rather than BTECS?

I never had the option to BTECs so I know little about them, we've tried looking online but couldnt find anything helpful, but any advice or websites would really help :)

[Neversoft]

Most universities do accept BTECs as an equivalent to A Levels, even though some don't state so on their websites and such. A Levels are however more desirable, but if your cousin wants to go on to study something smiliar to his BTEC subject at university level then I would assume he'd get in no problem, granted he has the grades. I did BTEC Media Production and got offers from four out of five of my university choices for doing creative writing, which is pretty much unrelated to what I did at college, so I wouldn't worry. It seems as long as you have enough UCAS points and your personal statement and reference are good then all is right with the world.

[Deak]

I've taken BTEC qualifications in ICT and they ARE equivalent to A Levels.... So someone who has BTEC Quals shouldnt be overlooked to people who have A Levels due to them being the same equivalent.

[Charlottay!]

Make sure that the Btec is a Level 3 course. that is the only BTEC that is equivelent to Alevels. All the sport btech students at my college found easy places in universities with these courses so it should be fine :)

[Catzsy]

Most universities do accept BTECs as an equivalent to A Levels, even though some don't state so on their websites and such. A Levels are however more desirable, but if your cousin wants to go on to study something smiliar to his BTEC subject at university level then I would assume he'd get in no problem, granted he has the grades. I did BTEC Media Production and got offers from four out of five of my university choices for doing creative writing, which is pretty much unrelated to what I did at college, so I wouldn't worry. It seems as long as you have enough UCAS points and your personal statement and reference are good then all is right with the world.

I am not sure if A levels are more desirable these days BTEC seems to becoming the way forward.

[redtom]

The more academic A Levels are often more desirable then BTECs, but in the same way a uni would prefer Maths over business studies. It really depends on the subject your interested in taking than anything.

[Hecktix]

I am not sure if A levels are more desirable these days BTEC seems to becoming the way forward.

Most top 20 or so Uni's don't tend to give offers on points, they still give offers on specific-grades and ask for the maximum BTEC grade if they are to accept BTECs, for instance I looked at BTEC requirements for courses here and where the A level grade is AAB the BTEC grade is 3 distinctions which are apparently equivalent to 3 As at A level, this seems to be the case for a lot of other unis that offer grade offers rather than points offers, unis who give points offers are equal on the points balance as the points are equivalent. I personally think it's unfair that the "top" universities discriminate against BTECs.

[ifuseekamy]

Depends what course and uni you want to go to. You have to understand that A Levels are essentially 2 year entry exams for university whereas BTECs were originally created as specialised vocational qualifications for those who didn't want to got university.

[redtom]

Depends what course and uni you want to go to. You have to understand that A Levels are essentially 2 year entry exams for university whereas BTECs were originally created as specialised vocational qualifications for those who didn't want to got university.

That's pretty much it.
BTECs are often easier as their more about the effort you put in than your overall skill level, I seen people who would struggle to get D's in the easiest A Levels come out with triple Distinctions.