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Qualification  \nBTEC National in  \nApplied Science (Certificate)  \nSpecification  \nFirst teaching from September 2026  \nFirst certification from 2027  \nIssue 5  \nQualification Number: 610/6193/1  \nPearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Applied Science (Certificate)  \nSpecification  \nFirst teaching September 2026  \nFirst certification from 2027  \nIssue 5  \nAbout Pearson  \nWe are the world’s leading learning company operating in countries all around the world. We provide content, assessment and digital services to students, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip students 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.  \nThis specification is Issue 5. We will inform centres of any changes to this issue. The latest issue can be found on our website.  \nReferences 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.  \nVQ000455  \nAll the material in this publication is copyright © Pearson Education Limited 2026  \nWelcome  \nBTEC Nationals are widely recognised by higher education and industry as the vocational qualification of choice at Level 3. They provide students with meaningful and practical learning experiences across a range of career sectors to prepare them to progress to higher education as a route to graduate-level employment.  \nRecent data has shown that one in five adults of working age in the UK has a BTEC qualification. What’s more, well over 90,000 BTEC students apply to UK universities every year and their BTEC Nationals are accepted by over 150 UK universities and other higher education institutions for relevant degree programmes either on their own or in combination with A Levels.  \nWhy are BTECs so successful?  \nBTECs embody a fundamentally student-centred approach to the curriculum, with a flexible, unit-based structure and knowledge applied through a balanced combination of assignments and examinations. They enable the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to succeed in higher education and employment.  \nWhen creating these BTEC Nationals we focused on the skills and personal attributes needed to navigate the future, and have worked with many higher education providers, professional bodies, colleges and schools to ensure that their needs are met. Employers are looking for future employees with a thorough grounding in the latest industry requirements and work-ready skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.  \nHigher education needs students who have experience of research, extended writing and meeting deadlines.  \nWe have addressed these requirements by:  \n• Facilitating and guiding the development of transferable skills through the design and delivery of the qualifications, using a holistic and practical framework which is based on recent research into the most critical skills needed to navigate the future. This Transferable Skills framework has been used to embed transferable skills in the qualifications where they naturally occur and also to signpost opportunities for delivery and development as a part of the wider BTEC learning experience. See page 7 for further information.  \n• Supporting the delivery of Sustainability Education and Digital Skills development naturally through the content design of the qualifications. Mapping is provided for each qualification to identify where the opportunities for teaching and learning exist.  \n• Updating sector-specific cont","cbCaitHJcbhQzxPo","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitHJcbhQzxPo","pdf",2189947,84,"English","# Introduction\n## About Pearson and the qualification\n## Why BTECs are successful\n## A word to students\n## Summary of changes to Issue 5\n# Contents","[{\"question\":\"When does first teaching and first certification start for Issue 5?\",\"answer\":\"First teaching starts from September 2026, and first certification is from 2027.\"},{\"question\":\"What assessment approach does the qualification use?\",\"answer\":\"The document describes a consistent assessment approach using a balanced combination of internal and external assessments.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of BTEC Nationals at Level 3?\",\"answer\":\"They provide meaningful, practical learning experiences and support progression to higher education and graduate-level employment routes.\"}]","Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Applied Science (Certificate) Specification - Issue 5 | PDF",1792465347,212]