BTEC International Level 2 Applied Science

Unit 18: Unit 18 — assessment criteria

BTEC International Level 2 Unit 18 (Unit 18) — 30 Guided Learning Hours.

Internal / Optional30 GLH12 criteria
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Assessment criteria

Reproduced verbatim from the Pearson specification — the same grid the assignment brief carries. A unit grade is the highest band where all criteria in that band (and every band below it) are met.

Pass

4 criteria
A.P1Design, construct, calibrate and test a working hydrometer to accurately measure the concentration of a sugar solution, recording primary data.
B.P2Design, construct, calibrate and test a working polarimeter to accurately measure the concentration of a sugar solution, recording primary data.
C.P3Design, construct and test different working cells, recording primary data.
D.P4Design, construct, calibrate and test a working microbalance, recording primary data.

Merit

4 criteria
A.M1Explain how scientific principles influenced the design considerations of the hydrometer.
B.M2Explain how scientific principles influenced the design considerations of the polarimeter.
C.M3Explain how scientific principles influenced the design considerations of different cells.
D.M4Explain how scientific principles influenced the design considerations of the microbalance.

Distinction

4 criteria
A.D1Evaluate the hydrometer, commenting on its performance and suggesting improvements to the finished product.
B.D2Evaluate the polarimeter, commenting on its performance and suggesting improvements to the finished product.
C.D3Evaluate the cells, commenting on their performance and suggesting improvements to the finished products.
D.D4Evaluate the microbalance, commenting on its performance and suggesting improvements to the finished product.

Command verbs in this unit

The verb decides the depth expected — that is what separates Pass from Merit and Distinction work on the same learning aim.

DesignExplainEvaluate
Pearson's ladder runs Identify → Describe → Explain → Compare / Analyse → Evaluate / Justify / Assess. A Merit or Distinction criterion on the same aim always implies the Pass beneath it: an “evaluate” answer that never first “explains” fails, however polished it reads. Hover a verb for what it demands.

How checkb.tech checks this unit

Upload a learner's submission and checkb.tech reads it against exactly these criteria, reporting each one as met, partly met, or not met — with the evidence that informed the verdict cited, so every call is auditable.

The check runs against the official Pearson documents for this unit, and identical evidence always produces an identical result — the same script gets the same verdict every time.

It never awards a grade. You stay the assessor: confirm, dismiss, or act on every criterion before your assessment decision is final.

Verification & Quality Tools for Unit 18

Free Lead IV and assessor utilities configured for Pearson BTEC International specifications.

More Level 2 Applied Science units

Criteria and aim text reproduced for teacher reference from the official Pearson qualification documentation (Pearson BTEC International Level 2 Qualifications). BTEC is a registered trademark of Pearson Education Limited. checkb.tech is an independent tool — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Pearson. It never awards a grade; the teacher stays the assessor.