Pearson BTEC International Level 3 in Information Technology Specification - Issue 4 - First teaching April 2020 - Course specification overview

Oct 20, 2026

Pearson BTEC International Level 3 in Information Technology Specification, Issue 4, sets out qualification purpose, progression routes, and unit structures delivered through a flexible, unit-based approach. It explains assessment approaches, grading for units and qualifications, and internal assessment principles including how valid decisions are made and how assignments are planned and recorded. The specification also summarizes key changes from the previous issue, including updated terminology and IT terminology/practice, added progression routes, and sustainable elements aligned to SDGs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages404

Reading Time16 h 58 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction to the BTEC International Level 3 qualifications for the information technology sector

Microsoft Collaboration

Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications

Microsoft Computer Science Curriculum

Qualifications, sizes and purposes at a glance

Structures of the qualifications at a glance

Qualification and unit content

Assessment

Grading for units and qualifications

1 Qualification purpose and progression

2 Structure

3 Units

Understanding your units

Index of units

4 Planning your programme

5 Assessment structure

Introduction

Internal assessment

Pearson Set Assignment units

6 Internal assessment

Principles of internal assessment (applies to all units)

Making valid assessment decisions

Planning and record keeping

Setting effective assignments (applies to all units without Pearson Set Assignments)

Pearson BTEC International Level 3 in Information Technology Specification First teaching from April 2020 Issue 4 L3 Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Qualifications in Information Technology Specification First teaching April 2020 Issue 4 About Pearson We are the world’s leading learning company operating in countries all around the world. We provide content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. This specification is Issue 4. We will inform centres of any changes to this issue. The latest issue can be found on our website. References to third party materials made in this specification are made in good faith. Pearson does not endorse, approve or accept responsibility for the content of materials, which may be subject to change, or any opinions expressed therein. (Materials may include textbooks, journals, magazines and other publications and websites.) All information in this specification is correct at time of publication. ISBN 978 1 446 96092 9 All the material in this publication is copyright © Pearson Education Limited 2024 Welcome With a track record built over 40 years of learner success, our BTEC International Level 3 qualifications are recognised internationally by governments, industry and higher education. BTEC International Level 3 qualifications allow learners to progress to the workplace – either directly or via study at a higher level. Over 100,000 BTEC learners apply to university every year. Their Level 3 BTECs, either on their own or in combination with A Levels, are accepted by UK and international universities, and higher-education institutes for entry to relevant degree programmes. Career-ready education BTECs enable a learner-centred approach to education, with a flexible, unit-based structure and knowledge applied to project-based assessments. BTECs focus on the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to be successful in employment and higher education. When creating the BTEC International Level 3 qualifications in this suite, we worked with many employers, higher-education providers, colleges and schools to ensure that we met their needs. Employers are looking for recruits who have a thorough grounding in the latest industry requirements and work-ready skills, for example teamwork. Learners who progress to higher education need experience of research, extended writing and meeting deadlines. BTEC qualifications provide the breadth and depth of learning to give learners this experience. BTEC qualifications address these needs by offering: • a range of BTEC qualification sizes, each with a clear purpose, so that thereis something to suit each learner’s choice of study programme and progression plans • internationally relevant content, which is closely aligned with employer and higher-education needs • assessments and projects chosen to help learners progress; this means that some assessments and projects are set by you to meet local needs, while others are set by Pearson, ensuring a core of skills and understanding common to all learners. We provide a full range of support, both resources and people, to ensure that learners and teachers have the best possible experience during their course. See Section 10 resources and support, for details of the support we offer. Summary of Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Qualifications in Information Technology specification Issue 4 changes | Summary of changes made between the previous issue and this current issue | Page number | | --- | --- | | Other job descriptions added | Page 10 | | HN progression routes added | Page 10 | | Sustainable elements added to align with S

FAQs

What is the key focus of the BTEC International Level 3 in Information Technology qualification specification?

It defines qualification purpose, progression, unit structure, and assessment approach using a flexible, unit-based model with project-based assessments and applied knowledge.

What does Issue 4 change compared with the previous issue?

The specification lists changes such as added job descriptions and HN progression routes, added sustainable elements aligned to SDGs, updated terminology and IT terminology/practice, and corrections to errors in the specification.

How does the specification describe internal assessment and assignment planning?

It sets principles for internal assessment, explains how to make valid assessment decisions, and provides guidance on planning and record keeping, including setting effective assignments for units without Pearson Set Assignments.

Oct 20, 2026

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