1 November 2012 Progression to Higher Education 2013 ... - Fetac

Progression to Higher Education 2013
FETAC has introduced a new awards system known as the Common Awards System, or CAS. All
FETAC awards will be part of CAS from 2014. CAS awards will replace existing linked FETAC
awards.
The Higher Education Links Scheme continues to develop and grow, incorporating the CAS awards
with other FETAC (NCVA) awards. It now provides systematic progression opportunities through the
CAO for FETAC award holders at levels 5 and 6 to first year of higher education programmes.
Learners will continue to apply through CAO using CAS and other linked FETAC awards.
A new scoring system for eligible FETAC applicants
A new scoring system for FETAC awards will apply for entry through CAO to higher education from
2013. This scoring system will apply to all relevant FETAC levels 5 and 6 awards listed on the CAO
and higher education institution website.
This scoring system replaces that of the original higher education links scheme and that of the ‘pilot’
scheme.
Applicants submit their third level applications to CAO by 1 February 2013, (1 May for late
applications, consult CAO handbook). FETAC forwards all relevant results and scores achieved by
applicants to the CAO in July each year.
Rules for eligibility
Progression is on the basis of achieving a Level 5 or level 6 major award, with a minimum
credit value of 120. Component awards, or achievement of less than 120 credits, will not
suffice.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their FETAC registered centre applies to
FETAC for a major award prior to application to CAO.
A major award may be achieved over more than one year. Some institutions require that
an applicant’s major award must be achieved and/or scored in a single sitting i.e. over
one certification year, between 1 August and 31 July. Applicants should refer to the individual
institutions requirements in this regard.
In addition, some programmes in higher education require achievement of specified
component awards, specific grades in individual component awards or additional awards such
as mathematics. Applicants are advised to consult the CAO website www.cao.ie to confirm
specific requirements and with the Admissions Office of the individual higher education
institution.
Scoring Process 2013
This scoring process only applies where all the requirements for the major award are met i.e. when
the specified component awards have been achieved to a minimum of 120 credits.
Each component is given a score based on the credit value of the component and the weighting of the
grade achieved.
Although most component awards have a credit value of 15, credit values of 5, 10, 20 and 30 also
apply.
The following grade weightings will apply to the grades achieved:
3.333333 for a distinction
2.222222 for a merit
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1.111111 for a pass
To calculate a component score, multiply the credit value of the component by the weighting for the
grade achieved. To make it easier to calculate your score, multiply the credit values by 3/2/1 (as
appropriate) then multiply by 10 and divide by 9. See examples below.
Add all of the component scores up to a cumulative credit value of 120. When adding up these scores
begin with distinctions, then merits, then passes.
Components leading to the best 120 credits are scored and applicants are ranked accordingly. The
best 120 credits come from minor awards achieved with the highest grades.
Some applicants will combine components achieved prior to the introduction of CAS with others which
are part of CAS.
FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 and Level 6 Certificate Scoring
FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 and Level 6 Certificates i.e. major awards achieved in 2013 or in previous
years are also scored this way.
FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 and Level 6 components usually have a credit value of 1 for example, L5
component G20001 Communications credit value of 1, multiply by 15 = 15 credits.
L4 components have a value of .5 for example, B10135 Information Technology Skills credit value of
.5 multiply by 15 = 7.5 credits.
FETAC will only score the best 120 credits. The best 120 credits come from minor awards achieved
with the highest grades.
How do I score my award? The following examples may be helpful!
In these examples distinction = D, merit = M, pass = P.
Example 1 – You have 9 Distinctions
All of your components have a credit value of 15. The table below shows the steps required to
calculate the overall score. Begin by listing the components in grade order DDDDDDDDD.
Step
1 Grade D D D D D D D D D
2 Credit Value 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15
3 Cumulative credit
value (max=120)
15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 n/a
4 Credit value for
scoring (max =
120)
15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 0
5 Weighting 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 n/a
6 Weighting x Credit
Value
3x15 3x15 3x15 3x15 3x15 3x15 3x15 3x15 n/a
7 Add the results 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 =360
You have a credit value of 135 and can only score 120 for scoring purposes so, eliminate 15 credits
with the least value i.e. in this instance, eliminate one of the distinctions.
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Now multiply 360 by 10 and divide by 9 = 400.
Example 2 – You have 7 Distinctions
Your components have various credit values. The table below shows the steps required to calculate
the overall score. Begin by listing the components in grade order DDDDDDD.
Step
1 Grade D D D D D D D
2 Credit Value 30 30 15 15 15 15 15
3 Cumulative credit
value (max=120)
4 Credit value for
scoring (max =
120)
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30 60 75 90 105 120 n/a
30 30 15 15 15 15 0
5 Weighting 3 3 3 3 3 3 n/a
6 Weighting x
Credit Value
3x30 3x30 3x15 3x15 3x15 3x15 n/a
7 Add the results 90 90 45 45 45 45 =360
You have a credit value of 135 and can only count 120 for scoring purposes so, eliminate 15 credits
with the least value i.e. eliminate one of the distinctions with a credit value of 15.
Now multiply 360 by 10 and divide by 9 = 400.
Example 3 – Various Grades
Your components have various credit values. The table below shows the steps required to calculate
the overall score. Begin by listing the components in grade order DDDDMMPP.
Step
1 Grade D D D D M M P P
2 Credit Value 30 15 15 10 30 15 15 15
3 Cumulative credit
value (max = 120)
4 Credit value for
scoring (max =
120)
30 45 60 70 100 115 130 over
max of 120
30 15 15 10 30 15 5 0
n/a
3

5 Weighting 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 n/a
6 Weighting x Credit
Value
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3x30 3x15 3x15 3x10 2x30 2x15 1x5
7 Add the results 90 45 45 30 60 30 5 =305
You have a credit value of 145 and can only count 120 for scoring purposes so, eliminate 25 credits
with the least value i.e. eliminate one of the passes and calculate a score for 5 credits of the
remaining pass.
Now multiply 305 by 10 and divide by 9 and round the result to the nearest whole digit = 339.
Example 4 – Various Grades
Your components have various credit values. The table below shows the steps required to calculate
the overall score. Begin by listing the components in grade order DDDDMMPPP.
Step
1 Grade D D D D M M P P P
2 Credit Value 15 15 10 10 15 15 15 15 15
3 Cumulative credit
value (max=120)
4 Credit value for
scoring (max =
120)
15 30 40 50 65 80 95 110 125
over
max of
15 15 10 10 15 15 15 15 10
5 Weighting 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1
6 Weighting x
Credit Value
120
3x15 3x15 3x10 3x10 2x15 2x15 1x15 1x15 1x10
7 Add the results 45 45 30 30 30 30 15 15 10 =250
You have a credit value of 125 and can only count 120 for scoring purposes so, eliminate 5 credits
with the least value i.e. calculate a score for 10 credits of the last pass.
Now multiply 250 by 10 and divide by 9 and round the result to the nearest whole digit = 278.
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Example 5 – FETAC (NCVA) Certificate
I have a FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 award that I achieved in 2009. How will I calculate my score?
The first step is to convert your FETAC (NCVA) component credit value. You do this by multiplying the
credit value of the component by 15.
FETAC (NCVA) L5 and L6 components usually have a credit value of 1 for example, L5 component
G20001 Communications credit value of 1, multiply by 15 = 15 credits.
L4 components have a value of .5 for example, B10135 Information Technology Skills credit value of
.5 multiply by 15 = 7.5 credits.
FETAC will only score the best 120 credits. The best 120 credits come from minor awards achieved
with the highest grades.
To calculate your final score follow the examples above.
It is the responsibility of all learners to check the website of the relevant higher education
institution for specific links and or requirements.
Useful Links
To view the list of FETAC (NCVA) awards, please view the leaflet ‘Progression for FETAC Level 5
Certificates and Level 6 Certificates’ on http://www.fetac.ie/fetac/documents/Prog_HEC_2011.pdf
To map FETAC awards to new CAS awards, please view the ‘Level 5 and Level 6 Information Note’
http://www.fetac.ie/fetac/documents/Managing_Transition_to_CAS_L5_L6_Info_Note_June_12.pdf
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