The National Diploma is equivalent to two A levels and therefore occupies two option blocks. BTEC Sport is a modular qualification, and therefore different to A level subjects that can only be delivered in a linear structure. This is advantageous to pupils, as it allows for more diverse and flexible assessment methods, such as allowing external exams to be resat, as well as one 'referral' per piece of coursework to be issued to improve internal assignments. It also provides four assessment windows over the two-year course (January and May in both Years 12 and 13), as opposed to just the Year 13 May exam window that A Level courses provide. This is of further benefit to pupils, as they could sit all their external BTEC exams prior to the summer of Year 13, leaving more time for revision for their other subjects’ exams. For the Diploma, there are six mandatory units and three optional units studied over the two-year course.