AIBU to think Bs at GCSE are ok?

[catwalker]

Some issues with DS and GCSEs/6th form. He didn't get the grades he was predicted (As and As) but then I didn't expect him to as he doesn't put much effort into anything apart from his x box. He got mainly Bs, a couple of As, a couple of Cs and a couple of Ds. I was quite happy until I started reading the secondary education forum where people are tearing their hair out because their dc's didn't get straight As and may have blown their oxbridge chances. I get the impression that anything less than an A just isn't worth the paper it's written on. He could have done loads better but Bs are OK aren't they?

DD has been looking at tables for top unis in her chosen courses and we are confused about the UCAS points, do GCSE's come into the points as top unis like Cambridge say the average student has 595 rating. What does this mean anyone know?

But tyler the whole point of this table is to list all schools relative to one another using the pieces of data thought relevant. It listed all schools.

But as I don't have sight of the table I was just trying to understand roughly what sort of percentages these schools got. Whilst I know it takes more things into consideration than just results I think it's fairly safe to say that there is some sort of correlation. A school which is getting 70% A*-C passes is unlikely to be rated a 4 for example

It's annoying I can't find the table. You're completely right. There was a very clear correlation.

Will be interesting as for instance a school might have a very respectable 70% A-C passes at GCSE but only a 25% pass rate at GCE (A level?) A*-B so will they get a CVA boost?

adamschic that's points for AS/ A2. Unless it says an average student has 595 at GCSE. But that would be more than 10 A*'s....

If your DD is looking at unis at the moment, given that you've described her school a few times (and called it 'abysmal'), does she know about the flagging scheme at Oxford? Might her school be one of those which warrant a flag (it means a guaranteed interview, despite grades). sieglinde has said her experience is that not all colleges use the system but Undergraduate Admissions would be able to tell her more and to help. Some very good unis such as Durham also give special consideration to students from certain local postcodes. If her school has let her down, those may be the sort of antidotes which could help?

A u is different anyway,it is unclassified therefore is as if you never sat it which is why people say it is better to get a u than an E .
Still sure that any grade A to E must be declared

mrsw UCAS stipulates that all certificated exams taken are declared, even if unsuccessful.

Some stats on CVA distribution for KS2-KS4. Special schools get the highest scores.

ragged I can't find the letter from the head, but if my recollection serves me correctly is was slightly up on last year, so around 20% 5 GCSEs A-C.

To be fair, it's the English that let's us down massively. Many of the students don't have English as their first language, many of them live in homes where English is almost never spoken.

And this is in an area of disadvantage. Unemployment is high. The number of students eligible for FSM is extremely high.

I duno, we go round and round in circles trying to improve things...

Yellowstone, that's very interesting, thanks and I will have a look but tbh she is going to have to learn work independently. Her school gets good results in some subjects so it's not all bad.

Should really hold judgment until this years A level results are available but I am worried, suppose there is only so much blame that you can put on teachers .

Interestingly, though our overall score had improved, the number of As and A*s had sadly decreased. I don't know if there's a correlation.

Sorry, Yellowstone, but Central Oxford Admissions is so radically out of step with my Faculty that I never consult them nowadays; they are indeed purveyors of very unhelpful disinformation.

IMHO, most college tutors in my subject more-or-less ignore flags. That's all I meant.

I don't ignore them myself,but the problem is that calling someone for interview does make rejection much more miserable. The last time I called somebody with lots of flags and lowish marks at GCSE, the interview was a complete and upsetting disaster (for the candidate...). However, this was also someone who hadn't done well on the entry tests and who was predicted AAB.

Cambridge now set quite a rigid barrier of 7 A* at GCSE to be pooled.

It is a minefield. We haven't looked at Cambridge entry requirements or Oxford for that matter closely as there is no point, but it should say on the website that you need 7 at GCSE and 3 A at A level if that is what you need.

They then say the reason the students mainly come from indie schools is because state pupils don't apply and it's no wonder. Not many are getting top grade like these.

DD has looked on the student room and the amount of people not meeting their grades and still being offered a place is significant. The whole application process is a minefield to us anyway. Not much advise available etc.

'purveyors of very unhelpful disinformation'! Not great....

Isn't the 7A thing for Cambridge about the automatic pool though sieglinde*? I'd thought that that was what the figure was for?

adams, ucas points... My recollection is that it is just A and AS results (not GCSEs) but can also include associated board music exams grade 6 7 and 8 too although for good universities I would imagine they are looking at your As and possibly Bs in good subjects at full proper A levels rather than allowing you to scratch around for UCAS points among your music exams. I only know because one of my children earlier this year had to get out all their grade 6 or higher music exam certs to clock up the UCAS points for a graduate job.

Also as someone said above we are in a huge period of change. By the time my youngest apply things might be quite different. It will be interesting to see (a) if application numbers are lower this year because of the new fees and (b) if because of the funding students who meet the minimum requirement for tht university AAB ot whatever it is will be allowed into that university - I think there is a suggestion that univerisites can exceed their quota which restricts the number of places, to those who meet minimum requirements. I can't remember all the details.

Well I never. Did that used to be the case in the late eighties do you know, Xenia? My parents stopped my piano lessons at eleven when I was grade 5 associated board so that I could concentrate on grammar school homework.

Then again why would they have had a clue? They also turned down a music scholarship at an even better school on my behalf

I am thick now though so it probably turned out for the best

Xenia - yes universities can, from 2012, recruit any number of students with at least AAB (or equivalent - this is important - as is the fact that the AAB can come from any subject). There are expected to be 65,000 places available to be offered to AAB applicants.

Unfortunately the Government has reduced the number of places to non-AAB students by, guess how many? Yep, 65,000! So the overall number of students will remain the same.

Just to be clear - 7 A is only for POOLING at Cambridge. This happens after the main admissions round for those who didn't get a place therein, so you could still get a nice offer with less, paradoxically. HENCE Cambridge is still worth trying even if you don't have 7 A.

xenia et al, not all unis regard music exams in this light. One UCL tutor said he thought Grade 8 cello just meant you had a pushy mother... Overall, most top unis aren't terribly interested in the Whole Person. I myself am not remotely interested in hobbies or social activities or DofE or the like. but at the next tier down it can apparently make a lot of difference.

So in that case I can't quite work out whether it helps or not. If you ahve a child who might well get AAB they will find it easier to get in because 65,000 pupils with lower grades are less likely to get in. It probably means places like Bristol, Durham etc which expect higher grades will have more money and places where you might get in with CCB ex polys etc will have fewer places and that perhaps makes sense.

Arya,. not sure. I had grade 8s and I don't remember those couting towards university. My older daughter applied about 9 years ago and they did count hers - one grade 8, one or two grade 7s but just technically count it. The offers would be A level grades and music exams fairly irrelevant. I think ti's more for places where you haven't really got very good A levels so then they start to count other things.

On the music things if you have decent A levels no univesrity is going to need to be looking at your music exams. If you have done pretty badly and are grappling around for UCAS points put in the music exam and the reason it is grade 6 and over is taht you have to pass grade 5 theory which is a bit like half a GCSE before you can do grade 6 and over. You get more UCAS points if you get distrinction than merit than pass etc. It's one reason I did 6 and 7 singing exams with both my boys this year, not that I hope they will need the UCAS points.

PS you don't count ucas points for your AS levels which become A levels. in other words it's your 3 final A level results and the result of the 4th one you just did to AS level or whatever it is now called that counts.

I just did an internet search. Here's an employer
"In addition to your degree, you will also need a minimum of 300 UCAS points ..."

Her'es another one
"application deadlines usually fall in June/July. Applicants toxxx should have a minimum of 2.1 at degree and 320 UCAS points (ABB) at A Level."

Here's another
"320 (26) UCAS points at Alevel or equivalent and minimum requirement: 320(26) UCAS, 2:1 degree "

Agree, xenia. Throw in the kitchen sink on the spreadsheet bit, but don't take up your personal statement with anything other than academicals. As for the 'new' places, the IDEA is to benefit those with better grades...

Thanks for the reply, Xenia.

I think even the 12 A* types are wise to pitch their PS with a nod to the second tier. This may be particularly the case for the arrogant I-Love-Me ones who may not go down a storm with tutors looking for students with whom to engage. A few lines at the end, a glancing reference to the Olympic medal, the Head Prefectship and the clutch of Grade 8s; just enough.

There's a trend for Durham and places to do whatever Oxford and Cambridge do, but better. So there they also now say that it's academics and academics only which count. I think the other stuff still counts at the next mezzanine down.

Light years away from my day....