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ICT Double

Course Overview 

The objective of this qualification is to give students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in IT. Students investigate the relationship between hardware and software, managing and communicating information and data, and the principles of designing and developing digital technologies and processes to support organisations.  IT Project Management and IT Cyber Security and Incident Management are also studied as part of the double award. This qualification also includes a choice of optional units, covering areas such as data modelling and analytics, app and games development, mobile internet technologies, creative technologies and enterprise for IT. This will allow progression to a variety of degrees when combined with other suitable Level 3 qualifications.

Examination Board:

Pearson

Entry Requirements:

Vocational level 3 courses are advanced courses, we require five grade 9-4 passes (or equivalent) including English language or maths.

Course Level:

BTEC – Level 3

Assessment Objectives

Unit 1: Information Technology Systems 

This is a mandatory unit that is externally assessed by a written examination. You will study the role of computer systems and the implications of their use in personal and professional situations. This unit will give you a fundamental and synoptic understanding of all areas of IT, supporting your progression to an IT-related higher education course.

Unit 2: Creating Systems to Manage Information 

This is a mandatory unit that is externally assessed under supervised conditions. You will study the design, creation, testing and evaluation of a relational database system to manage information. 

Unit 3: Social Media in Business 

This is an internally assessed unit through which you will explore how businesses use social media to promote their products and services. Students also implement social media activities in a business to meet requirements.

Unit 4: Programming

This is an internally assessed unit through which you study the underpinning concepts and implications of programming languages to design, develop and test computer programs.

Unit 6: Website Development

This is an internally assessed unit through which you investigate website development principles. They will design and develop a website using scripting languages.

Unit 9: IT Project Management 

This is an internally assessed unit through which you investigate a range of project management principles and methodologies and undertake the management of a ‘live’ or ‘simulated’ IT project from start to finish.

Unit 11: Cyber Security and Incident Management

This is a mandatory unit that is externally assessed under supervised conditions. In this unit, you will examine the many different types of cyber security attacks, the vulnerabilities that exist in networked systems and the techniques that can be used to defend an organisation’s networked systems. You will investigate the techniques used to assess risks and ways of planning to deal with the results of a cyber-security incident and recover systems following an incident. You will examine scenarios, carry out risk assessments and prepare protection plans before protecting networked systems. You will also examine evidence from cyber security incidents and relevant security documentation, using the evidence to make recommendations for improvement. To complete the assessment tasks within this unit, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme. 

You will also choose to study one of the internal optional units below:

  • Data Modelling
  • Mobile Apps Development
  • Computer Games Development
  • Big Data and Business Analytics
  • IT Technical Support and Management
  • Software Testing
  • Customising and Integrating Applications
  • Cloud Storage and Collaboration Tools
  • Digital 2D and 3D Graphics
  • Digital Animation and Effects
  • The Internet of Things
  • Enterprise in IT
  • Business Process Modelling Tools

How will I be assessed?

You will study 8 units in total, 3 units are externally assessed and 5 are internally assessed portfolios of work.   

Internal – 55%

External – 45%




Progression Routes

In addition to the IT sector-specific content outlined above, the requirements of the qualification enable students to develop the transferable and higher-order skills that are highly regarded by higher education providers and employers. For example, the study of IT particularly encourages development of research and analysis skills, project management and prioritising, effective communications, the synthesis skills of adapting and integrating, and the evaluation skills of assessing, interpreting and validating. 

This qualification is equivalent in size to two A Levels and meets the requirements for progression to some degree programmes in IT or related study such as an HNC or HND in Computer Science, IT, Engineering and Business Management.