BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Information Technology

Applications Open – 4th November 2025 @ 9am

Applications Close – 1st June 2026 @ 5pm

Entry Requirements – Specific to the Subject

How to Apply – Please apply via KentChoices

This qualification is designed for learners who are interested in an introduction to the study of creating IT systems to manage and share information, alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in IT. It is equivalent in size to one A level.

You will develop a common core of IT knowledge and study areas such as the relationship between hardware and software that form an IT system, managing and processing data to support business and using IT to communicate and share information.

Information technology systems is an examined unit that explores the relationships between hardware and software that form an IT system, and the way that systems work individually and together, as well as the relationship between the user and the system. You will examine issues related to the use of IT systems and the impact that they have on organisations and individuals.

Creating systems to manage information explores the use of relational databases as a means of storing data. You will examine the structure of data and its origins, and how an efficient data design follows through to an effective and useful database. You will examine a given scenario and develop an effective design solution to produce a database system, which you will then test to ensure it works correctly. This unit is externally assessed.

Using social media in business allows you to explore different social media platforms, the ways in which they can be used and the potential pitfalls when using them for business purposes. You will develop a plan to use social media strategies for business purposes, achieving specific aims and objectives. You will then implement the plan, developing and posting content and interacting with others. Finally, you will collect data on the business use of social media and review the effectiveness of your efforts.

The qualification consists of four units, three of which are mandatory units; Information Technology Systems, Creating Systems to Manage Information and Using Social Media in Business. For the optional unit, there is a choice of two; Data Modelling or Website Development.

Unit 1 External written examination – 2hrs 33.3%

Unit 2 Externally set task sat under

controlled conditions 25%

Unit 3 Internally assessed task 25%

Optional Unit Internally assessed task 16.6%

5 Grade 4 and above at GCSE including English and Mathematics. Grade 6 or higher in BTEC Digital IT is advised

Higher Education and Career Opportunities: The qualification is aimed at progression to Higher Education but also enables leaners to develop knowledge and skills needed for entry-level roles related to IT, including vocational apprenticeship roles and trainee/entry-level roles such as a social media specialist, web/content developer, or business analyst.