Ucas - if you are predicted a B in a subject..

[Plessis]

Is it worth applying somewhere that says they want an A in it?

Entry requirements are AAB and dd predicted ABB.

Anyone more knowledgeable than me?

It will depend on the university.

We were advised to have one “stretch”, 4 at the level you are predicted, and one easy.

Look at the website unistats - that might give you a clue.

I'm trying to work a similar question out for my DS. It depends on subjects, universities and the rest of the country!

I just wondered if your application would be rejected immediately? If not then I think she'll just give it a go.

So this would be her stretch, then she has three reasonable choices. Just got to choose the last, easy one. Or might wait for clearing!

Totally depends on the course and the university. You can always phone the Admissions Team for guidance as to the likelihood of getting an offer. And obvs if you do get an offer it would be for AAB. While you're on the phone, ask them if they would make an offer, what the likelihood would be of them accepting ABB at Confirmation. Not all uni's will be able to tell you this early in the cycle but some may have a good idea, based on previous cycles. It's no guarantee but at least it would give you an idea of how flexible, or not, they are likely to be.

OK I just wasnt sure if you were even "allowed" to apply if you didn't have the entry requirements predicted.

You're "allowed" to apply for any course. It's whether or not you'll get an offer!

YOU are allowed, but it would help your case if have any valid excuses
....of which the most likely to be useful is if you are from a poor background, in a poorly performing school and the first in your family to go to university. Being of none white background may also be worth emphasising

Note that in many cases, if you can’t achieve the required grades, you will struggle on the chosen course.

People from disadvantaged areas who get lower grade standards however often do well when sourounded with motivated students and good teaching, if they can cope with the social change, which most do

Also some unis (eg. Southampton and Bath) will allow a slightly lower grade for one subject if the student gets an A or A* on an EPQ. would that apply in this case?

Also some unis (eg. Southampton and Bath) will allow a slightly lower grade for one subject if the student gets an A or A on an EPQ. would that apply in this case? Yes it is the case. She's predicted an a for her epq

midgebabe I take what you say on board, but I don't think the difference between AAB and ABB means that she will struggle particularly.

YOU are allowed, but it would help your case if have any valid excuses....of which the most likely to be useful is if you are from a poor background, in a poorly performing school and the first in your family to go to university. Being of none white background may also be worth emphasising

Gosh please don't put any of that in the personal statement. Really - '...I would have been predicted an A but I'm black...' Just no. If applicants qualify for a contextual offer it will be flagged automatically.

In answer to OP's question - definitely include it. For the vast majority of courses the AAB standard offer will be made to applicants with ABB predicted. (Caveat - not all, and without knowing course or university it's not possible to say that with a large degree of certainty.)

Thanks. Her PS is mainly about why she wants to study the subject and what's she's learnt from relevant volunteering. I'm sure all the contextual info is clear in the box ticking

I'm no expert but having just been through this with my DS I can say that the whole thing is a bit of a gamble. There are so many anomalies when universities make their final choice that its impossible to know for sure whether it will be 'worth it' as nobody knows how all the other applicants are going to do until the results are in.
For what it's worth I would agree with Teenytinyvoice, that was the criteria we used and the school he was at supported. He ended up putting the 'stretch' (AAA) as his firm and one of the predicted level offers (AAB) as his insurance. In the event he under achieved i.e. he missed even his predicted level but was still offered the 'stretch'! I guess he just got lucky.
In terms of struggling on the chosen course if you miss the grades, it's too early to say but so far so good. For a lot of students the style of learning and being examined at University is so different to what they are used to that whilst A levels might be an indicator it's certainly not a foregone conclusion that this will be the case.

I think some of the universities are starting to realise that with the new linear exams, the days of many students getting all As is diminishing and although they don’t want to drop their typical advertised grades, they are giving offers to students with lower predicted grades. I’ve had many of my Year 13s be successful getting offers below what was advertised. Hope this gives you hope!
Remember though, that on results day, you can call up the institution directly and enquire about availability, which is often successful.

What subject is she applying for? If it’s not all that competitive, she could be in luck. She could contact the admissions department to ask.

I have the same problem, predicted ABC with the A in the subject to study but the course requirements are BBB. Is he wasting a choice if he puts one of those courses down? Even if he gets a BBB offer it would be a huge gap between that as an aspirational first choice and a more easily achieved offer as the insurance. No middle ground choice IYSWIM?

Thanks this is all really helpful. I don't think her course is particularly competitive except there are three unis that are particularly strong in it.

She's having a massive wobble atm anyway as two choices are a long way from home :-(

My son was predicted ABB and his firm and insurance offers were both AAB. He got his first choice, a highly respected RG uni for the course, despite getting BBB in the end. We had a talk at school from someone from UCAS before they applied and she said it is very much a buyers market these days. Definitely worth a go!

Thanks! She's going to have a go - plus another high ranking one - its very near home and it would be amazing if she got a place - but if she doesnt at least she's given it a go.

Her thinking is - apply for two that might be a bit out of reach, one safe one and two good ones that are a long way from home (which she doesnt want to do really)

Might as well apply to the aspirational ones through UCAS then go through clearing for the less aspirational if it comes to it.

Really good luck to her.

What’s the subject she’s predicted a B in? Could you consider a tutor?

Yes I am trying to find one plus I have booked her into an easter revision course

Cardiff & Liverpool have also said they will reduce their standard offer by a grade with an A or A* at EPQ.

She's predicted an a* in her epq. It's really good actually so hoping it will help her.