How does this work for UCAS.

[lindaandrews]

Hi.

I am currently on a gap year retaking my A-levels privately.

My former school has said they are happy to help with UCAS.

I asked them about references/predicted grades. One teacher said that they may be able to use the same reference/predicted grades from last year.

My question is: how could this work because that would mean they had a record of all the data they submitted for references/predicted grades last year? Would they actually have access to such data or would they not?

Speaking for the college I work for as UCAS Coordinator, we write a reference for every student at the end of Y12/ beginning of Y13, which we use for UCAS, whether they apply whilst at the college or after they've left. We save them elsewhere not just on the UCAS platform. The only difference in the application process for us is that we don't link former students to the college via the buzzword, so we just receive a reference request from UCAS and use the same reference, possibly tweaking to include things the student has done since.

Most colleges are happy to do similar to help former students with their application if they take a year or two out before applying for uni. In fact I just had one last week for a student who left in 2021. Had to do a bit of digging to find that reference! 😆

Are you also happy to give former students predicted grades if they aren’t studying at the college anymore but are privately retaking their A-levels?

They will have their previous references on file somewhere.

I would be (very) surprised if they would be willing to predict you A / A-star grades on self studied resits when you got BBB first time around.

Can you confirm whether anyone has actually assessed you for the exam concessions you think you are going to get this time yet?

They’ll have last years data.
what they won’t do is submit predicted grades they’ve got no evidence for - which is what you’re asking

You will have to enter your actual grades and ask them to include pg in the reference if they are willing and explain why you did not achieve them. Whether any uni iis happy to make an offer on that basis will vary.

I’ve asked a teacher that I get on well with about this. Surely she could independently give me predicted grades.

They have evidence from mocks/homework/classwork.

No I doubt she can, she is a representative of the school. Have you asked whoever handles uni applications ?

But they also have evidence from the actual exams you took this year.

Do you have it in writing you now definitely qualify for extra time, or are you just guessing you will get it?

Those assessments must be a year old, while you were receiving tuition and not all under exam conditions. Having achieved lower it will be difficult to demonstrate you can consistently do better.

Access arrangements are normally only accepted with evidence of need, such as a mock where you show what is written within standard time and what is added, and as a normal way of working. Has the exams officer agreed to apply for it? Are you including at least one course for which you already have entry grades on your UCAS form?

But she’s got nothing to predict on. You did the exams. You got good grades. You’re not studying with them, so they’re not seeing any evidence to suggest they could predict differently.

Schools are not going to put their integrity at risk just because you want a different outcome.

You have a great set of grades - focus on moving forward, applying for places with those grades and cracking on with your life.

They should easily be able to provide a school reference (they're bound to have saved the one from last year, or should be willing to write one based on what's in your file) and they might top up if there is anything they know themselves about your actual outcomes on last years exams eg extenuating circumstances, or that it was surprising that they were low because that does not match the evidence of your overall performance whilst at the school.

They cannot make new grade predictions, as they are not teaching you. That would be for the current tutor to do. I don't see any reason why, if your current tutor/s wrote to the school with your predicted grades, the school could not add a line saying that they have a statement from (named tutor) giving predictions of XYZ.

Or you could just ask current tutor to provide the academic reference based on your current performance (if you're at a college/crammer they should be able to do this)

Yes, that is the teacher I’m talking about.

Who is the teacher you are talking about?

An old teacher can give a reference maybe, but they can't give you predicted grades for 3 subjects they aren't teaching you, surely?

Have you got something in your hand yet saying you definitely qualify for extra time?