Engineering (AAQ) - Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification

Applications Open: 21st November 2025 (9.00am)

Applications Close: 13th February 2026 (4.00pm)

How to apply:

- All INTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Applicaa using this link (coming soon!)

- All EXTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Kent Choices using this link https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login

- All correspondence between learners and the school after an application is made will be via Applicaa.

- All applicants (internal and external) will be invited in for a 1-1 guidance meeting.

- Those who have a successful guidance meeting will be offered a place to study at St John's Sixth Form from September 2026.

Course Details

The Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Applied Science (Extended Certificate) enables students to study the principles and applications of engineering including the fundamental mechanical, electrical/electronic and mathematical principles, the engineering sectors, engineering materials, engineering processes and emerging technologies.

The qualification has four mandatory units covering the following topics:

• Engineering Principles: Engineering data and applying mathematical procedures in mechanical and electrical contexts

• Engineering Applications: Advances in modern technology and how they are reshaping the engineering sector's function; materials and processes to devise sustainable solutions to engineering problems

• Engineering Design: Three-dimensional (3D) models and two-dimensional (2D) detailed drawings using a computer-aided design (CAD) system

• Engineering Project: Project management processes in Engineering products from concept to solution.

Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications in the sector. There are three main forms of assessment that you need to be aware of: external, internal and synoptic.

Externally assessed units

Each external assessment for a BTEC National is linked to a specific unit. All of the units developed for external assessment are of 60, 90 or 120 GLH to allow students to demonstrate breadth and depth of achievement. Each assessment is taken under specified conditions, then marked by Pearson and a grade awarded. Students are permitted to resit the examination twice. This equates to three attempts in total: one inclusive of registration, the remaining two attempts as resits. If students resit an examined unit, the best grade achieved will count towards their overall qualification grade, not necessarily the most recent sitting. External assessments are available twice a year. For detailed information on the external assessments, please see the table in Section 3. For further information on preparing for external assessment, see Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Administrative Support Guide, which is available on our website.

Internally assessed units

Internally assessed units are assessed by a Pearson Set Assignment Brief (PSAB), which is set by Pearson, marked by you and subject to external standards verification. Before you assess you will need to become an approved centre, if you are not one already. You will need to prepare to assess using the guidance in Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Administrative Support Guide, which is available on our website. You will make grading decisions based on the requirements and supporting guidance given in the units. Where a student has not achieved their expected level of performance for an assignment, they may be eligible for one resubmission of improved evidence for each assignment submitted if authorised by the Lead Internal Verifier. To ensure any resubmissions are fairly and consistently implemented for all students, the Lead Internal Verifier can only authorise a resubmission if certain conditions are met. If the Lead Internal Verifier does authorise a resubmission, it must be completed within 15 working days of the student receiving the results of the assessment. Feedback to students can only be given to clarify areas where they have not achieved expected levels of performance. Students cannot receive any specific guidance or instruction about how to improve work to meet assessment criteria or be given solutions to questions or problems in the tasks. If a student has still not achieved the targeted pass criteria following the resubmission of improved evidence for an assignment, the Lead Internal Verifier may authorise, under exceptional circumstances, one retake opportunity to meet the required pass criteria. The retake can be of a task or subset of the Pearson Set Assignment Brief that is of evidence in a new or revised form. The deadline for submission of the retake must fall within the same academic year.

Synoptic assessment

Synoptic assessment requires students to demonstrate that they can identify and use effectively, in an integrated way, an appropriate selection of skills, techniques, concepts, theories and knowledge from across the whole sector as relevant to a key task. Synoptic links between units are flagged within the unit content. Please refer to Unit 3: Engineering Design and Unit 4: Engineering Project for further details.

Exam Board: Pearson

Entry Requirements:

A minimum of 5 subjects at GCSE Grade 4/BTEC Level 2 Pass or higher:

Including

-Grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics

-Grade 4 in GCSE English Language or Literature

- Or BTEC Level 2 Engineering (Merit or higher) or a grade 5 or higher in any GCSE Technology subject

What further learning will this qualification lead to?

This qualification can lead to progression to the following degrees:

· Mechanical Engineering BEng

· Civil Engineering BEng

· General Engineering BEng

· Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng

Students may also progress to HNC, Apprenticeships or Foundation Degrees in Engineering.