Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) e.g BTecs, etc.
What are Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs).?
Level 3 Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) e.g BTECs, Cambridge Technicals, etc. are equivalent to A levels. They
are for students 16 - 19 who want to continue their education through applying their learning to a general job area.
In a 6th Form they are usually delivered alongside A Levels. In a college, most vocational courses will now be called T Levels - if there is a T Level qualification available in that job area.
Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) allow entry to a range of higher education courses, either by meeting the entry requirements in their own right or being accepted alongside other qualifications at Level 3 such as A levels.
Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) are endorsed by employers and professional or trade bodies.
Who are they for?
Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) are for students 16 - 19 years olds wishing to undertake a broad study of a specific vocational area.
What Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) are available?
You might know them as BTECs and OCR Cambridge Technicals, these will now be called Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs).
There will be lots of changes to Level 3 vocational courses. Some BTECs, Cambridge Technicals are going because they will be replaced by T Levels, however, there will continue to be courses available in many subject areas to be taken alongside or as alternatives to A levels. These will be known as Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs).
If you are interested in a vocational qualification, check with your school or college to see what Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs) they will be offering and also what T Levels will be available.
Using vocational qualifications as a route to university level study
When you look at the entry requirements for a particular university course this can be shown in terms of the grades needed and/or the UCAS tariff points required. Alternative Academic qualifications (AAQs). earn points for university just like A Levels.
You can find out what UCAS tariff points you will get for different qualifications.
If you have a degree subject in mind, you can check out the entry requirements required for different universities.
If you are interested in a higher education course next or in the future, check out the Careerpilot section HE at 18 or later.
