There are 3 mandatory units covering the key concepts of business:
| Unit | Topic |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Exploring Business |
| Unit 2 | Developing a Marketing Campaign |
| Unit 3 | Personal and Business Finance |
| Additional Units | Recruitment & Selection or Creative Product Promotion. |
All topic areas are studied in the context of real-life business situations. The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Businesses is equivalent to 1 A level. Students who complete the first year of this course will achieve a BTEC Level 3 Certificate which is equivalent to 1 AS level.
A minimum of five GCSE subjects at grade 4 or above including an English GCSE at grade 4 or above and a Maths GCSE at grade 5 or above.
Your GCSE subject profile is likely to include some subjects that have required you to research from books and articles and to write reports and give presentations.
Some of you will have done GCSE or BTEC in Business, but many will not. It is not necessary to have done it and we teach as if you are all starting from scratch. If you have done the GCSE you will probably be more confident with the terminology and some of the concepts, but don’t think you know it all!
| Assessment | Moderation | % |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam & tasks | External moderation | 60% |
| Coursework | Internal moderation | 40% |
There are 4 units of work that comprise a written exam, 2 written tasks assessed by the exam board and 2 units of coursework which are assessed by us and moderated by the board.
At the end of the course, you will achieve an overall grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction which equates to E, C or A at A level.
You will be given guidance on what you need to do to support your class-work but you can help your progress and understanding to give yourself a better chance of a high grade if you get into good habits and do some background work.
A good deal can be achieved by reading newspapers, magazines and watching the News. You don’t need great detail, but you will find articles every week about takeovers, new products, competition in markets, Europe and other issues which affect businesses. Read headlines and skim through articles to get a feel for what is going on. Look at adverts wherever they appear, look at packaging in the shops, look at product design and new products being sold.
Ask yourself how it all relates to the business involved and why they might be doing it. Get a ‘feel’ for what is going on in the business world so that it all fits together when you come to look at it in the classroom.
The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business will provide the opportunity to develop your skills in numeracy, communication and IT as well as improving your study, presentation and research skills.
You will encounter a wide variety of approaches, tasks and exercises. You will get your basic knowledge and understanding through combinations of class notes, articles, newspaper research, videos, T.V. and practical exercises.
Housed in modern classrooms and offices with fully equipped computer suites, the working environment is as good as you will find anywhere in the college. Enthusiastic staff in this Grade One department will help you enjoy your learning and progression.
Business BTEC students achieve excellent grades and progress to a wide range of university destinations. The teaching is undertaken using a variety of approaches designed to suit different abilities and learning styles. We pride ourselves on the work we do with individual students enabling them to manage their own learning and develop strategies to overcome any difficulties they may have, as well as stretching those with high academic ability.
Visits trips and speakers are built into the course and we run activities such as share games to give you the opportunity to consider real business situations. We work hard with you and enjoy what we do and we hope that you will too.
The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business is widely accepted and accredited by the great majority of universities as an excellent foundation for degree study. Business Studies is one of the fastest-growing university subjects and one of the largest. You will be able to go on to a wide variety of degree courses in Business, Management and many related subjects or you can use your BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business to access the professional world when you leave College.
The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business will prepare you particularly for a career in Business, Management, Administration, Marketing, Human Resources etc., but wherever you end up working, it is likely to be in a business.
"I struggled in school and was never an 'A grade' student there. I left school with a C in Business and 3 years later left Godalming with a Distinction*. The support I got from the teachers was incredible: they pushed and supported me all the way through. Having such support helped me gain motivation and determination to finish with a grade I deserved. It is now one year after leaving Godalming and I've almost finished my first year studying 'Accounting and Finance BSc.' at Southampton University. I have found my first year at university very enjoyable and that is down to my teachers at Godalming - the modules I am currently doing are expanding and recapping information I learned at college, which has allowed me to reach top grades in assessments. I now want to pursue a career in Finance and my motivation and determination remain strong." ~ Tilly Doran, University of Southampton.