Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc) The Skills Challenge Certificate: Overview and Structure Syllabus

The Skills Challenge Certificate: Overview and Structure syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for The Skills Challenge Certificate: Overview and Structure in Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Purpose, Levels and Award Structure

   4 topics

   • What the Welsh Baccalaureate is
     • Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC) plus Supporting Qualifications model
     • How the Welsh Bacc differs from a single GCSE or A-Level
     • Recognition by universities, employers and UCAS tariff points
   • Levels of the qualification
     • Foundation (Level 1) and National (Level 2) at Key Stage 4
     • Advanced (Level 3) at Key Stage 5
     • Grading scales: pass/merit/distinction and A*-E at Advanced
   • The four components of the SCC
     • Individual Project
     • Enterprise and Employability Challenge
     • Global Citizenship Challenge
     • Community Challenge
   • Supporting Qualifications requirement
     • GCSE/A-Level combinations that count
     • Vocational and applied qualification options
2. 2

   The Skills Framework

   7 topics

   • Literacy skills across the qualification
   • Numeracy skills across the qualification
   • Digital Literacy skills
     • Using technology responsibly and effectively
     • Evaluating digital sources
   • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
     • Analysis, evaluation and synthesis
     • Decision-making under constraints
   • Planning and Organisation
     • Setting objectives and milestones
     • Time and resource management
   • Creativity and Innovation
   • Personal Effectiveness
     • Self-awareness and resilience
     • Adapting to feedback
3. 3

   Assessment and Evidence

   4 topics

   • Internal assessment and moderation
   • External assessment of challenges
     • WJEC-set tasks and briefs
     • Controlled conditions
   • Building an evidence portfolio
     • Logbooks, action plans and reflective records
     • Witness statements and authentication
   • Referencing and avoiding malpractice
     • Harvard referencing basics
     • Plagiarism and academic integrity

The Skills Challenge Certificate: Overview and Structure flashcards for Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc)

19 of 50 cards from the The Skills Challenge Certificate: Overview and Structure deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc)?

   A wraparound qualification taken in Wales that combines a core component (the Skills Challenge Certificate) with a set of Supporting Qualifications (such as GCSEs or A levels) to develop skills, knowledge and personal effectiveness for learning, work and life.

2. What is the core, graded part of the Welsh Baccalaureate called?

   The Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC) — it is the assessed component that carries the grade, while the Supporting Qualifications make up the rest of the overall award.

3. At which levels is the Welsh Baccalaureate / Skills Challenge Certificate offered?

   Foundation (Level 1), National (Level 2), and Advanced (Level 3); there is also a Skills Challenge Certificate at the lower secondary phase, but the three main awards are Foundation, National and Advanced.

4. Which Welsh Baccalaureate level is broadly equivalent to A levels and taken post-16?

   The Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate (Level 3), with the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate graded A*–E.

5. How is the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate graded?

   On an A* to E scale (with U as ungraded), aligning it with A level grading.

6. How are the Foundation and National Welsh Baccalaureate qualifications graded?

   Pass*, Pass, or fail (ungraded) — they are not graded on the A*–E scale; the National is at Level 2 (GCSE-equivalent) and Foundation at Level 1.

7. What are the four components (challenges) of the Skills Challenge Certificate?

   1) The Individual Project, 2) the Enterprise and Employability Challenge, 3) the Global Citizenship Challenge, and 4) the Community Challenge.

8. Which of the four SCC components is the largest and worth the most marks at Advanced level?

   The Individual Project, a self-directed research project worth 50% of the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

9. What is the purpose of the Enterprise and Employability Challenge?

   To develop enterprise, financial and employability skills by responding to a brief, often working as a team to develop a product, service or business idea for a real or simulated client.

10. What is the focus of the Global Citizenship Challenge?

    To investigate a global issue (social, economic, political or environmental), evaluate evidence and viewpoints, and propose a reasoned response or course of action as a global citizen.

11. What is the aim of the Community Challenge?

    To identify a community need and plan, carry out and evaluate an activity that benefits the community, developing skills such as planning, organisation and personal effectiveness.

12. What is the Individual Project in the Skills Challenge Certificate?

    A learner-chosen, self-directed piece of research (written report or artefact with supporting evidence) that develops independent study, research and critical thinking skills.

13. What are Supporting Qualifications in the Welsh Baccalaureate?

    The additional qualifications (e.g. GCSEs, A levels or vocational qualifications) that a learner must achieve alongside the Skills Challenge Certificate for the overall Welsh Baccalaureate to be awarded.

14. Why must Supporting Qualifications be achieved for the Welsh Baccalaureate to be awarded?

    Because the overall Welsh Baccalaureate is only awarded when a learner achieves both the Skills Challenge Certificate AND the required Supporting Qualifications; passing the SCC alone is not enough.

15. How many Supporting Qualifications are typically required at Advanced level?

    Generally a minimum of two A levels (or equivalent Level 3 qualifications) plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate, though exact requirements depend on the centre and pathway.

16. Name the six skills the Welsh Baccalaureate is designed to develop.

    Literacy, Numeracy, Digital Literacy, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Planning and Organisation, Creativity and Innovation, and Personal Effectiveness — the integral skills assessed across the challenges.

17. What does the Literacy skill cover in the Welsh Baccalaureate?

    Reading and understanding information, communicating clearly in writing and speech, organising ideas coherently, and using accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar across the challenges.

18. What does the Numeracy skill cover in the Welsh Baccalaureate?

    Selecting and applying mathematical information, carrying out calculations, and interpreting and presenting numerical data (e.g. tables, charts and statistics) to support arguments and decisions.

19. What does the Digital Literacy skill involve?

    Using digital technology safely and effectively to find, evaluate, create and communicate information — including responsible use of online sources and producing digital outputs.

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