A BTec – which stand for the Business and Technology Education Council – is a practical qualification.
Courses are assessed through exams, regular coursework and projects – and sometimes, placements.
BTec Firsts are Level 2 qualifications – meaning they’re equivalent to GCSEs. Students often take a mixture of the two.
They can be helpful for people trying to get into further education colleges.
BTec Nationals are Level 3 qualifications, so can be taken alongside or instead of A-levels.
They are studied over one or two years.
Research suggests, external one in four students use them as a route into university, while others gain occupation-specific skills and go straight into employment.