Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals 540 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice - Issue 3

Oct 20, 2026

Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals 540 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice specification, Issue 3, sets out the qualification purpose, structure, assessment approach, grading, and delivery guidance for the creative media sector. It defines modules and assessment units, including planning and administrative arrangements such as learner registration, access to assessment, and dealing with malpractice. The document also covers quality assurance, understanding qualification grades, resources and support, plus appendices with learning and teaching glossaries and assessment criteria, along with a summary of changes from the previous issue.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages92

Reading Time3 h 52 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction to BTEC National qualifications for the creative media sector

1 Qualification purpose

2 Structure

Assessment

Grading in these qualifications

Understanding your learning and teaching modules and assessment units

Module A: Exploring and developing creative media skills

Module B: Advancing creative practice

Optional level 4 assessment unit: Critical self-appraisal

3 Planning your programme

4 Assessment structure

5 Administrative arrangements

6 Quality assurance

7 Understanding the qualification grade

8 Resources and support

Appendix 1: Glossary of terms

Appendix 2: Large format assessment criteria

Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals 540 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice Specification First teaching: September 2019 Issue 3 NO EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS 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 qualifications. pearson. com. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page at [qualifications.pearson.com/contactus](qualifications.pearson.com/contactus) About Pearson Pearson is the world’s leading learning company, with 25,000 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 qualifications.pearson.com](people. Find out more about how we can help you and your learners at qualifications.pearson.com) Acknowledgements [Shutterstock.com:](Shutterstock.com: guruXOX)[ guruXOX](Shutterstock.com: guruXOX), PrinceOfLove, gnepphoto, SFIO CRACHO, Ruslan Grumble, Gorodenkoff, smolaw, FrameStockFootages, faboi, Nejron Photo, FERNANDO MACIAS ROMO, Roman Zaiets, Alp Eren Erbay, baranq, sezer66 This specification is Issue 3. 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 en-dorse, approve or accept responsibility for the content of materials, which maybe subject to change, or any opinions expressed therein. (Material may include textbooks, journals, magazines and other publications and websites.) ISBN 978 1 446 95870 4 All the material in this publication is copyright © Pearson Education Limited 2021 CONTENTS Introduction to BTEC National qualifications for the creative media sector 1 1 Qualification purpose 6 2 Structure 11 Assessment 12 Total qualification time 13 Grading in these qualifications 13 Understanding your learning and teaching modules and assessment units 14 Module A: Exploring and developing creative media skills 18 Module B: Advancing creative practice 29 Optional level 4 assessment unit: Critical self-appraisal 41 Assessment criteria and amplification for decisions 44 3 Planning your programme 47 4 Assessment structure 52 Assessment units 53 Making valid assessment decisions 53 5 Administrative arrangements 57 Learner registration and entry 57 Access to assessment 58 Administrative arrangements for assessment 59 Dealing with malpractice 60 Additional documents to support centre administration 61 6 Quality assurance 63 7 Understanding the qualification grade 66 8 Resources and support 79 Support for setting up your course and preparing to teach 79 Support for assessment 81 Training and support from pearson 82 Appendix 1: Glossary of terms used for internally-assessed learning and teaching modules 84 Appendix 2: Large format assessment criteria 86 Summary of Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals 540 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice specification Issue 3 changes | Summary of changes made between the previous issue and this current issue | Page number | | --- | --- | | Addition of progression routes to BTEC Higher Nationals | Pages 7 and 9 | If you need further information on these changes or what they mean, contact us via our website [at: qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html](at: qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/contact-us.html). INTRODUCTION TO BTEC NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE CREATIVE MEDIA SECTOR Welcome to your new specification for the Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Creative Media Practice. Th

FAQs

What is the qualification and who is it for?

It is the Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals 540 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice for learners developing creative media skills within the creative media sector.

How are assessments delivered and verified?

Assessments are 100% internally set and assessed by the centre, with verification by Pearson, supported by a Pearson support visit to help centres deliver teaching, assessment, and verification confidently.

What teaching and assessment components structure the programme?

The specification uses two teaching modules with skills developed through teaching and learning modules and then synthesised through projects to produce assessment outcomes. It also includes four assessment units across the qualification and provides guidance for planning and administrative arrangements.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Aria Callaghan