gcse results for university

[morpurgoo]

To ask what a strong set of GCSE results would be to get into a Russell Group university? Obviously a string of 9s would be great but would a mix of 7s, 8s and a couple of 9s be sufficient? DD is going into Y11 and wondering and things have changed since my day in University

Unconditional offers:

https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/62570c00-ffeb-4e4c-ac7b-6c620a1ad679/damian-hinds-ofs-supplementary-guidance.pdf

Obviously we now have a new minister, but there's no indication Jo Johnson would do anything other than support the above.

Actually worth pointing out that only applies to England...!

A lot of courses will want five GCSES at A*-C.
Some are non-negotiable for English Language and Maths.
I used to work in admissions at a university.

Yes, but a number of universities have said they will continue to offer them. Some even going so far as to seek legal advice, ready to resist a government curb on them. How long will places like Nottingham stick to their decision to not make unconditional offers if they lose numbers to other places that carry on?

The universities are arguing that any government action to stop unconditional offers would breach the Higher Education and Research Act. If that’s true then it would require an Act of Parliament to curb the practice. I can’t see that happening in the midst of Brexit. It’s just not a priority. I hope the number drops, but I fear that those universities who have agreed to stop them next year might go back to them the following year as they’ve found themselves somewhat out on a limb.

I remember when we looked at gcse grades, the number taken in one sitting and predicted a level grades. But unless the grades predicted fell within the number of ucas points, then the applicant would be rejected. If the predicted grades were borderline or close, the GCSEs would be the deciding factor on whether a prospective student was interviewed

My dis wants to take 4 Alevels at 6th form. He will have to drop one if he doesn't get the grades needed. If he only passes maths and English, he won't even get through.

I think it depends how difficult the course is. My little sister applied for medicine (though this was in about 2012) and they were told As and A*s were expected across the board at GCSE. Some courses get hundreds of applicants with all As at A level so they need to distinguish somehow.

I think it depends how difficult the course is.

Or how competitive the entry. Med/vet and Oxford aren't representative of 'Russell group universities' in general, which is what the OP asked.

The Hotel Russell has a lot to answer for. Imagine if the founder members has met instead somewhere more geographically convenient for all of them, say somewhere on the M6. The Sandbach Services (Northbound) Group doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

A good set of GCSEs are not going to be a hindrance, however an obsession with a self selecting group of universities may be. Lets not forget neither St Andrews nor Loughborough are part of it, and it is not that long really since Durham, Exeter and York joined it. Perish the thought that any MNers DC should end up at one of those. :)

Hello! I went to Nottingham university to study Law and only narrowly got in with AAA in my A Levels and all AAAAAABBB at GCSE. I had to get a B at GCSE in English and Maths to get in to Nottingham and I think all my choices were the same, so GCSEs do matter! I got declined from 3 other Russel Groups with these grades (Edinburgh, Durham and Warwick). Hope this helps!

The Hotel Russell has a lot to answer for. Imagine if the founder members has met instead somewhere more geographically convenient for all of them, say somewhere on the M6. The Sandbach Services (Northbound) Group doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Surely it's highly unlikely that someone could fail the majority of their GCSEs and then actually be allowed to progress to do A Levels. It's also unlikely they could do extremely well at A Level if they weren't capable at GCSE level. It can be a big jump in many subjects.

I can only imagine this kind of thing applying to someone who returns to education and as a mature student would surely be viewed slightly differently anyway.

Doyoumind- that’s just it isn’t it. If you’re a university and you’ve got a school predicting A*AA at A Level to someone that got a handful of 5s, 4s and 3s at GCSE without any significant mitigating circumstances mentioned in the reference to explain the huge jump in performance then you’re likely to assume that the school’s predictions are bullshit.
We’ve had a parent this year threaten us with legal action because we wouldn’t predict AAA for a student whose GCSE grades, and performance at A Level for the first year, suggested they were on track for roughly C/D in most subjects. We’d predicted CCC and had even nudged up to BCC after they came and begged. We refused to go higher than that. The student is lovely but is never going to get AAA.
In the end we didn’t hear from their lawyer.

We’ve had a parent this year threaten us with legal action because we wouldn’t predict AAA for a student whose GCSE grades, and performance at A Level for the first year, suggested they were on track for roughly C/D in most subjects. We’d predicted CCC and had even nudged up to BCC after they came and begged. We refused to go higher than that. The student is lovely but is never going to get AAA.

Jesus, I have heard it all now.

SabineSchmetterling

I was just giving my personal experience which a) did include serious mitigating circumstances and b) would not have been equivalent to 6 grade 4’s anyway.

I didn’t comment on whether that still held true now because I don’t know whether it does but at the time, as long as you got your required grades for sixth form, A levels were what mattered.

For example, a friend recently visited a Russell Group university where that particular subject department gave predicted A-level grades and GCSE grades a 80:20 weighting. I'm afraid I can't remember which university or even which subject, but that's not relevant as they all have their own individual way of using grades to select applicants.

I have a spreadsheet and I think this is Nottingham. Furthermore they point score and any GCSE’s below 7 get 0 points.

My son is likely not to do well in his GCSE’s but he wants to study a practical based subject and will do a Btec in that subject. Most/alluniversities audition and he is likely to get very high grades in a Btec plus accompanying related qualifications. However with a potential GCSE profile of mostly 4/5/6 except for maths & music which are likely to be 7/8 we think some universities will not be open to him.

I actually have a question on behalf of a friend. Due to bullying and mental health issues she is home schooled. She has a maths and English tutor and is a phenomenally talented singer. (I don’t say this lightly, she’s remarkable). She will only be sitting two GCSE’s in maths and music. If she is able to persuade a local specialist performing arts college to accept her onto a Btec will her lack of GCSE’s hinder degree applications when the time comes.

I have a spreadsheet and I think this is Nottingham. Furthermore they point score and any GCSE’s below 7 get 0 points.

Really? Is this indicated on their website entry requirements and is this for ALL subjects? Do you know the minimum 7s they accept?

Well-remembered Comefromaway
DS has been to admissions talks at half a dozen universities within the last year and friends and their DCs have visited a couple of dozen more. It's difficult keeping track of the different selection processes so I think you might have the right idea with that spreadsheet.

Haven't RTFT but it's not just unies. For example in Law, many firms look at GCSE results too.

Shiny, the 80:20 is on the website but the point scoring for GCSE’s was a talk a friend attended on an open day. I’m sorry I can’t remember which subjects it covered.

I think it was out of a maximum 14 points 8/9 scored 2 points and 7 scored 1 point.

Or It could have been Sheffield. Both those universities use GCSE grades attained.

It's only medicine that Nottingham requires 7 x GCSEs at grade 7+.

A home schooled kid, with a reference that clearly states their non standard education, should be fine with a very small number of GCSEs - although they may well be interviewed or have alternative tests. However I'd strongly recommend they do English as well as Maths and Music - a performing career can be perilous, and if they wanted some stability of employment somewhere along the line, a lack of English GCSE will be problematic.

TItch - I’m going loopy. She will be doing English & maths GCSE,not music. She has a music tutor but can’t sit it due to the nature of the performance/composition components.

Most sixth forms in my area only admit pupils with a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at level 5 or above which must include maths & English, some schools only allow pupils to do A level if they have attained level 6 or higher at GCSE in the same subject.