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Original poster

Ucas / Results 2014 (carrying on Ucas Forms Sent.... thread)

630 replies

Littleham · 10/06/2014 11:55

Thought we might need a new thread for the results...

OP posts:
BeckAndCall · 07/08/2014 08:34

shooting - and then the drinking started - and that's just the mums, right? Wink

My update experience so far, was me logging on for DS at 6.30 then going in to tell him he had his firm choice - he turned over and went back to sleep - had never been worried!

And for DD1 we were up at 6 and sitting in front of the screen until we went to school as that was the year that track didn't update until lunchtime! So she went to school not knowing - that was a nerve wracking year for everyone - but just like it used to be before the online system.

This year, I think I'll be alone in front of the screen from midnight as DD has an 18th that night and I guess they'll all be logging on from their phones at 3 or 4 am.

For those who don't know - the unis get the A level results on Sunday and your school/ college gets them on Wednesday. So plenty of time for unis to have made up their mind. The delays often come when the firm hasn't decided on a borderline case so the insurance doesn't get to see them until they've been rejected from the firm.

I've noticed that he DC are managing to keep themselves fully occupied in the run up to next week with parties, work experience, interrailing - leaving us to do the worrying!

littlemissmaths · 07/08/2014 08:45

beckandcall Is it right that Universities can update Track (? right jargon) from midnight on results morning and so often you can see if you have been accepted onto your course or not before you even get your grades? I guess that could save lots of heartache if you have just missed the A* (or whatever) but they have decided to take you anyway...

If it IS true, does anyone know how many and/or which universities update early? (Am particularly interested in Cambridge - or does that very from college to college?).

Also, how on earth did you persuade your DC that you could log on for them????

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 07/08/2014 09:30

We'll be sticking to the log on at 8am and not before plan. Even then I'll have to wake him and insist. He is so laid back about it all and I'm really pleased about that. He had one wobbly night about a month before the exams and no drama since.

secretsquirrels · 07/08/2014 09:40

Littlemiss Cambridge is different from all the others because near misses can go into the summer pool.
Roughly speaking if they are very close to the offer (apart from maths) they can hold on to them for 2 or 3 days for the summer pool.
DS firm offer is Cambridge but, while he's confidant about his A levels he knows he has missed the grade on the maths STEP and so won't be pooled.

Isthiscorrect · 07/08/2014 10:21

Ds is midway thru a 2 week holiday in Cyprus but has been away from home since the beginning of July. I have no idea if he is having/ has had a wobble ;-) he is due back next Wednesday evening. I know I've been nervous and haven't bought anything for him yet (didn't want to tempt fate).

BeckAndCall · 07/08/2014 11:06

OMG secret - I was 100% convinced the summer pool was only for maths and medicine students until I read your link. That puts a whole other gloss on my nerves.

littlemiss the unis will update their part of the UCAS database from Monday onwards, I'm sure - it's just we don't see it until it's all ready to release - which is most likely to be between 6 and 8 that morning if past experience is anything to go by.

And how did I get my DC to let me log on for them? I asked DS for his log on number as I would be up first and he gave it to me. And for DD she said 'Mum! Don't leave me alone!' DD2 will, I suspect, make me wait outside the door or will have done it on her phone before I see her that morning.

TeenyfTroon · 07/08/2014 11:07

secret, did you find the login code? Been thinking of you going cross eyed scrutinising millions of bits of pieces of paper!

Original poster
Littleham · 07/08/2014 11:13

The delays often come when the firm hasn't decided on a borderline case so the insurance doesn't get to see them until they've been rejected from the firm.

That will be us - have a felling we will be on this thread longer than most... Good luck for Cambridge / Oxford people - sounds like more stress.

OP posts:
secretsquirrels · 07/08/2014 11:28

BeckandCall That link was last year's so fine details will of course be different. In fact maths candidates are probably less likely to be pooled as they can score A A A A and still not get the required STEP score.

Timetraveller · 07/08/2014 11:53

Beckandcall There is a thing called autopooling at Cambridge:

With the exception of applicants for Mathematics (with Physics), all applicants who have achieved A*AA grades (excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking) at A Level, who do not meet your conditions, must be pooled

I guess they can also pool anyone they think is a strong candidate if they haven't got space for them. Sorry to add to your nerves!

And this is what they say about the maths STEP results, which may help any maths mums:

Previous experience shows there is little point placing in the Summer Pool an applicant for Mathematics who has scored worse than 1/3 or 2/2 in STEP without clear mitigating circumstances. Recent analysis of five years’ data from STEP and Tripos results has suggested that the better mark of the two STEP papers is a good predictor. Thus a 1/3 or 3/1 may be a better bet than a 2/2. The data suggest that an applicant getting at least 6 marks above the grade 1 boundary on either paper will tend to perform well even if the other mark is quite low.

I'm hoping my DS will be pooled for maths - he knows he hasn't got 1,1.

littlemissmaths · 07/08/2014 12:25

Gosh, I had no idea about the pool, thank you. My DD's friend has a daft A A A offer and is bound to get AAA as a minimum so I see she will be auto-pooled if she misses her offer. She really does deserve a place.

My DD has an AAA offer so there wouldn't be any auto-pooling. I am soooo nervous as my other DD got over 90% for 4 science and maths "A" levels but missed out on any A grades by scoring 89% in every single A2 paper. She was devastated and I now take nothing for granted despite predictions. So much comes down to the day (cripes).

I see from the link that the non auto pool is for candidates who have "failed to achieve the required conditions but who ought, in all fairness, to receive an offer if a place can be found in another College". If my DD only got AAA then I don't suppose she would "in all fairness" deserve a place :-( so I think it is straight in or nowhere (all her other offers were A*AA too as hers is a very popular subject so there is no real insurance).

STEP sounds tough (although secretly I would love to take it!)

Timetraveller · 07/08/2014 12:53

littlemissmaths That must have been awful for your DD just missing the grades like that. Did you get any papers remarked?
STEP is really tough but my DS was doing well in his practise papers. Then when he sat the exam he just found it so much harder, probably because it was the 'real thing'. Yes, so much comes down to on the day.

secretsquirrels · 07/08/2014 13:44

DS was doing well in his practise papers. Then when he sat the exam he just found it so much harder
Exactly the same here. The pressure of knowing that however well the A levels went, everything was riding on this exam, was too much. Nerves won on the day.
He has come to terms with it though. It's just that everything is riding on his insurance place now which has only a slightly lower offer.

BeckAndCall · 07/08/2014 13:48

We need a gigantic Gantt chart to cover all of these eventualities!

My DD likewise has an AAA offer so with that helpful explanation from timetraveller* she wouldn't be autopooled - straight in or not at all.

I feel sorry for your elder DD littlemiss. - 89% is a tough score. But tell us the upside - she's now happy doing what she's doing ?

Meanest score I know is my DDs degree final score this year -69.5! Still, she still gets to do the PG course she wanted. But 1/2 %!!!!

lismore · 07/08/2014 15:06

Just checking back now that it's so close to results day.
littlemissmaths you just described my DS's worst nightmare - that he gets 89% in each of his A2 papers and misses his A*AA offer, even though he averaged 95%+ in his AS exams.
I reassured him that it would never happen, but looks like you've proved me wrong- did you get any papers remarked or was your DC happy to go with the results on the day?

AmazingDisgrace · 07/08/2014 22:06

Good luck to all your DCs! We're waiting on AS results next week which will determine her likely predictions and what Unis she applies to.
We're also trying to figure out the logistics of a family holiday a few days after results next year. If she has to go into clearing even thinking about it is insanity yes?

Original poster
Littleham · 07/08/2014 22:27

I wouldn't book a holiday just after results day (just in case).

This article quoting ofqual does not reassure me. Sad

www.theguardian.com/education/2014/aug/07/a-level-and-gcse-exam-grades-will-not-be-fiddled-ofqual

OP posts:
Original poster
Littleham · 07/08/2014 22:33

Also found this, which is better...

ofqual.gov.uk/blog/waiting-results/

OP posts:
traceyinrosso70 · 07/08/2014 22:44

I am actually starting to feel physically sick now - am just so anxious that my hard working daughter gets the grades she deserves and not be disadvantaged by all the tinkering of the exam system !

zizza · 08/08/2014 00:26

Had to book the bloomin' dog in for an operation on results day - "Can you drop him off between 8 and 9?" Aggghhhhh

Timetraveller · 08/08/2014 10:51

Littleham We are going on holiday on the 14th! It seemed a good day at the time, as we have to be back for the 21st (GCSEs). Now I've told DH I'll probably be joining him a day or two later Sad

zizza That's annoying - exactly the wrong time!

littlemissmaths · 08/08/2014 11:27

beckandcall DD1 couldn't be happier now! She is reading Medicine at a more traditional medical school (not Oxbridge) which actually might be better for her as she is adoring the clinical side whilst coming second in the year in her first year exams (which she would never have done at Cambridge).

Yes, we went for remarks :-( Someone told me that where candidates were borderline before 3 years ago, the examiners would trawl through looking for an extra mark or two to get them up, whereas now it is the opposite: they go through trying to get kids just below the grade boundaries as they have to explain themselves formally to the govt (I understand) if the number of candidates getting top grades goes up.

lismore Yes, DD1 averaged over 95% in her AS exams too :-( TBH I think it will rankle with her (just a little bit) for the rest of her life. She will wonder whether she should have only taken 3 subjects and got that extra mark in one of them. On the plus side, it has stopped her taking anything for granted.

timetraveller Poor kids have so very much pressure these days :-(

Original poster
Littleham · 08/08/2014 14:07

That's a shame Timetraveller, but hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones & not need clearing.

There is so much pressure. Even our summer holidays are being planned around AS year daughter & personal statements. It is relentless.

OP posts:
Timetraveller · 08/08/2014 14:18

Thank you Littleham. He won't need clearing as he should get his insurance, but he may be put in the pool for Cambridge, and we may have to wait a few days to find out if he has a place.
Like you, our whole summer has been planned around results

littlemissmaths Borderline marks are so unfair. Apparently when students do music grades, examiners are told to never give a mark one below the boundary. It has to be a few marks below so that the student doesn't think 'if only I'd got one more mark I'd have got a distinction.'
It seems sensible to me.

AmazingDisgrace · 08/08/2014 18:47

Would a week/10days after results be ok do you think for booking a holiday. We have to be here a week after A Level results for DS's GCSE results anyway next year