I done the btec NDF many moons ago and I do think that everyone has to pass it. There was one girl who just couldnt do the assignment work, although she did try, the tutors had meetings with her and her parents a few times to try and get her to drop down to the certificate instead. Eventually she did do this because they just told her that there isnt any way she would pass and her time in college would have been for nothing if she didnt drop down.