The Department for Education (DfE) describe Applied General qualifications as follows:
Applied General qualifications are rigorous, advanced (Level 3) qualifications that allow 16 to 19 year old students to develop transferable knowledge and skills. They are for students who want to continue their education through applied learning. Applied General qualifications allow entry to a range of higher education courses, either by meeting the entry requirements in their own right or being accepted alongside and adding value to other qualifications at Level 3 such as A levels. Higher education institutions, such as universities, have pledged support for all approved applied general qualifications listed.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma and Applied Extended Diploma in Environmental Science (last awarded in 2021)
The purpose of these qualifications is to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills in scientific principles to enable them to progress to higher education or employment in areas related to environmental science. The qualifications require students to apply biological, chemical, and physical principles to environmental issues, and to provide solutions to environmental problems.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Business
These qualifications are designed to provide learners with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills associated with business activities. It will prompt research, investigation and review of many aspects of business, to promote an awareness of the career opportunities available.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Criminology
These qualifications have been designed to provide students with underpinning knowledge, understanding, and skills to progress to further study and training. The Certificate is designed to complement study in related subjects such as A level sociology, law and psychology, and provide an insight into the subject area with a view to further study or training in related subjects. It offers exciting and interesting experiences that focus learning for 16-19 year old students and adult students through applied learning, i.e. through the acquisition of knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the criminal justice system.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition
These qualifications have been designed to provide students with underpinning knowledge, understanding, and skills to progress to further study and training. Through applied learning, students acquire knowledge and understanding in purposeful contexts linked to the food production industry.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Health and Social Care
These qualifications for England are designed to provide learners with underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills of the health and social care sectors, providing a broad basis for further or higher education or for moving into employment within the sectors.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Medical Science
The purpose of these qualifications is to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills in key scientific principles to support progression, to higher education or employment in areas of medical science, such as job roles in physiological sciences or clinical laboratory services. The qualification covers the key topic areas of health, physiology, and disease, as well as providing the opportunity to study the areas of pharmacology, physiological measurement, clinical testing, and medical research.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice
The qualification is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive framework of knowledge, understanding and promotion of applied skills that this multi-disciplined sector relies upon. Studying this qualification will encourage research, prompt investigation and analysis of the aspects and impacts of the construction disciplines and their interrelationships through collaboration. This will give rise to an understanding of the diverse roles within the construction industry and yield transferable skills.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Statistical Problem Solving using Software (last awarded in 2020)
The purpose of this qualification is to assist the understanding of the problem-solving cycle of planning, collecting, processing, and discussing in meaningful contexts, and to use statistical software to process real data sets. It enables students to use statistics to aid decision-making across numerous disciplines, including humanities, psychology, sociology, sciences, and business at Level 3. It also prepares those students who wish to progress to higher education to study for qualifications which have embedded quantitative / statistical elements.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Tourism
The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills associated with tourism organisations and activities. The qualification will provide a broad basis for further or higher education or for moving into employment.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Extended Certificate in Business (first award from 2024)
These qualifications are designed to provide learners with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills associated with business activities. It will prompt research, investigation and review of many aspects of business, to promote an awareness of the career opportunities available.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Extended Certificate in Sport (first award from 2024)
These qualifications are designed to provide learners with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills associated with business activities. It will prompt research, investigation and review of many aspects of business, to promote an awareness of the career opportunities available.
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Extended Certificate in Tourism (first award from 2024)
These qualifications are designed to provide learners with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills associated with tourism activities. The qualification will provide a broad basis for further or higher education or for moving into employment.
Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction* grades are available for the following qualifications:
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Environmental Science (last awarded in 2021)
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Diploma in Environmental Science (last awarded in 2021)
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Food Science and Nutrition
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Statistical Problem Solving using Software (last awarded in 2020)
A* – E grades are available for the following qualifications:
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Business
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Health and Social Care
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Medical Science
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Tourism
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Certificate in Business (first award 2025)
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Certificate in Sport (first award 2025)
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Certificate in Tourism (first award 2025)
A – E grades are available for the following qualifications:
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Business
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Criminology
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Health and Social Care
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Medical Science
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Business (first award 2024)
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Sport (first award 2024)
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Tourism (first award 2024)
As noted in Education Context, to be classified as an Applied General qualification, the qualification in question must meet certain criteria. This includes:
- A minimum of 40% external assessment
- A minimum of 60% mandatory core content
- An element of synoptic assessment
- There is a single resit opportunity
Internal units
Units are assessed using controlled assessment which follows the JCQ instructions for conducting non-examination assessments. (New GCE & GCSE specifications. 1 September 2018 - 31 August 2019).
There are three stages of assessment:
- Task Setting: WJEC have produced model assignments for each unit. Centres may modify the assignment within specified parameters.
- Task Taking: there are five areas of task taking that are controlled: time, resources, supervision, collaboration, and resubmission.
- Task Marking: all marking of evidence is made against the assessment criteria and performance band statements given in each unit specification.
External units (task-based)
An assignment will be produced each year and will change on an annual basis. Students may not collaborate during times when they are working on assessment tasks. The assessments will set out the resources required by students. Each assessment will cover all learning outcomes for the unit and indicate which assessment criteria are targeted for the assessment. Marking will be according to the performance bands supplied by WJEC.
External units (examination)
The paper is based on the unit content and is also synoptic.
The percentage split between internal and external assessment is as follows:
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Environmental Science – Internal 48% / External 52%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Diploma in Environmental Science – Internal 48% / External 52%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Business – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Business – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Criminology – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Food Science and Nutrition – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Health and Social Care – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Health and Social Care – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Medical Science – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Medical Science – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice – Internal 60% / External 40%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Statistical Problem Solving using Software – Internal 60% / External 40%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Tourism – Internal 50% / External 50%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Business – Internal 60% / External 40%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Certificate in Business – Internal 60% / External 40%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Sport – Internal 60% / External 40%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Certificate in Sport – Internal 60% / External 40%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate in Tourism – Internal 60% / External 40%
- WJEC Level 3 Applied Extended Certificate in Tourism – Internal 60% / External 40%
Applied General qualifications are advanced (Level 3) qualifications, mainly taken by 16-19 year old students who want to develop transferable knowledge and skills.
The popularity of Applied Generals has risen over recent years. The entry rate for applicants holding at least one BTEC (either alone or in combination with A levels) was 6.0 per cent in 2016, up from 5.8 per cent in 2015.
There are a number of key considerations for HEPs when reviewing Applied General qualifications that meet the full DfE criteria from 2018:
- These qualifications are fundamentally different to their predecessors and likely to result in students developing different skills and aptitudes. HEPs should review their understanding of these qualifications to ensure it remains up to date.
- The dual running of the qualification may result in applicants declaring the incorrect version within their application. UCAS will be working to support applicants and advisers in this area.
- The fully-reformed qualifications include both external and synoptic assessment, as well as changes to resit processes. These changes are likely to result in fewer students passing the qualification. Equally, it is likely that grade distributions will change. In light of this, HEPs may wish to review their entry requirements, offer making and decision-making strategies in relation to these qualifications.
- The fully-reformed and interim-reformed qualifications will be delivered by schools and colleges at the same time (see ‘Education context’). Therefore, HEPs may wish to consider their approach to setting and listing entry requirements for the specific qualifications.
- A larger mandatory core means that HEPs who require certain levels of achievement in particular units or ask for specific units to satisfy subject knowledge requirements should familiarise themselves with the new content specifications to ensure that these requirements are still valid. It should be noted that not all students will be able choose their optional units and these may be prescribed by the school or college, therefore HEPs should be cautious if requiring achievement in optional modules as part of their entry requirements, offer making and decision-making strategies.
Further information about these qualifications can be found on the WJEC website by following these links:
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Business
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Criminology
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Health and Social Care
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Diploma in Medical Science
WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Professional Construction Practice
WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Tourism
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Extended Certificate in Business
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Extended Certificate in Sport
WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate and Applied Extended Certificate in Tourism