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Btec results day 2024: what to expect

Find out when Btec results day 2024 is, and what you can expect to happen on the day.

When is Btec results day 2024?

Btec National results are usually released to students on or just before A-level results day, which is Thursday 15 August 2024. 

Your school or college normally receive Btec results the day before A-level results come out, but students may only be given them on the same day as A-levels. 

Btec students will also already know some individual unit grades from completed units. 

Your school or college should be able to let you know when and how you’ll be able to pick up your Btec results. You might have to get them in person, or they could be sent to you in the post or by email. 

What are the different Btec grades?

The pass grades for Btec Nationals are:
  • Distinction* (D*) – equivalent in the Ucas tariff to an A* at A-level
  • Distinction (D) – equivalent to an A 
  • Merit (M) – equivalent to a C
  • Pass (P) – equivalent to an E
  • Near pass (N) – this grade is available on most Btec Nationals. It means that you may still be able to pass the overall course without having passed every individual unit.

Depending on the type of Btec National you’re studying you’ll receive one, two or even three grades.
  • Extended Diploma – three grades
  • Diploma – two grades 
  • Extended Certificate – one grade

How are the grades worked out?

Students are given points for each unit they’ve completed. As you’ll have been taking units throughout the course, you should already know how many points you have in some of the units.

Once you’ve finished all your units, all the points are added together and you’re awarded a final grade. 

Can I get into university with a Btec?

The short answer is yes – most UK universities accept Btecs, including those in the Russell Group, and the number of students starting with a Btec is increasing; more than 100,000 Btec students apply to uni each year.

For the full lowdown, read our article on getting into university if you're studying Btecs.

All Btec Nationals are worth Ucas points – you can see how many Ucas points each grade is worth here and in the table below.

How many Ucas points are my Btec National grades worth?

 
National Extended Certificate National Diploma National Extended Diploma
D*     56  D*D*     112  D*D*D*     168 
D       48  D*D       104  D*D*D       160 
M      32  DD          96  D*DD         152 
P       16  DM          80  DDD           144 
  MM         64  DDM           128 
  MP          48  DMM          112 
  PP           32  MMM           96 
    MMP            80 
    MPP             64 
    PPP              48  


What do the codes on my results mean?

Your Btec results might not look as straightforward as the table above, which can be confusing. Depending on the software used to process your results, you might see your grade expressed as a letter followed by a number.

We've translated these codes for you in the table below. Look carefully at this because the codes have different meanings for different diplomas.
 

National Diploma Extended Diploma
D*D* = D1 D*D*D* = D1
D*D = D2 D*D*D = D2
  D*DD = D3
  DDD = D4
  DDM = D5
  DMM = D6
  MMM = M1
  MMP = M2
  MPP = M3
  PPP = P1

Where a qualification has not been issued a Q (pending) will be shown. 

What should I do if I’m unhappy with my Btec results?

If you’re unhappy with your Btec results, you have a couple of options.

If you think you should have received a higher grade, you could get your marks reviewed. To go down this route, you’ll need to let your school or college know that you would like a review as soon as possible after receiving your results.

You can find out more about the process of getting your Btec reviewed for each subject on the Pearson website here.

If you think you could have done better, you might be able to repeat the assessment. If it was an external assessment, you would have to wait until the next scheduled exam sitting. Internal assessments can also be taken twice.

You’d need to speak to your school or college to arrange any retakes.

How does Clearing work for Btec students? 

If you miss your university offer - or decide to decline your place - Clearing can provide another way to find yourself a place on a university course. Clearing opens at the beginning of July, and you can apply as soon as you've received all your results (including any A-level results you might be waiting for).

For lots of students, Clearing is a 'uni application plan B'. And, even if you're feeling really confident about your results, it's always going to be sensible to have one of those. This article explains how Clearing works, and how you can use it to make your back-up plan.

Got a course in mind? Search for it here to browse all entry requirements.

Stand out as a Btec student in Clearing

There are a few ways Btec students can use their qualification to their advantage when speaking to a university in Clearing.

Scott Isaacs, director of higher level learning at West Herts College, offered the following tips:

  • Btec students often take GCSE/functional skills maths and/or English alongside their main qualification. If you've done this, balancing the two demonstrates good time management and planning skills.
     
  • Similarly, most Btec students combine part-time or full-time work with study, which also shows good time-management skills.
     
  • Level 3 students have focused on one specific subject (compared with A-level students who split their attention across three or more) and may benefit from having explored wider topics and themes within that field.
     
  • Btec students are likely to have gained relevant work experience as part of their course. For example, you may have worked on live briefs with employers. You can use any tasks or responsibilites to show the insights you've gained and how you've engaged with a subject.
     
  • Similarly, as a Btec student, you're likely to have developed vocational skills as part of your course. Btec assessments are more varied as everything is coursework-based. This can include group work, presenting and using technology or equipment that schools typically wouldn't have available to A-level students. 
     
  • Btecs are a great indicator of commitment and motivation. Opting for a new vocational route after GCSEs – often moving from school to a local college in the process – is invariably a bigger step than staying on in the sixth form. It shows a maturity and focus which is often reflected in achievement on the Btec course.
     
  • Don't underestimate the workload you've completed to obtain your Btec qualification, even if you haven't got the grades you were hoping for. Not only are Btec students assessed through a wide variety of methods, but the amount of assignments in those two years is significant. On average, Btec students study eight or more units each year, with three or more assessments per unit.
     
  • If you studied at college, you can reflect on how the learning environment is similar to that of university (compared with your A-level counterparts who remained in a school setting).​


Want more advice on how to stand out in Clearing? Check out our video for expert advice.

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