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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Will A* A* D not cut it if uni is asking for AAB?

44 replies

SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2016 23:26

DS bombed in Maths (D) but got A in Psychology and A in Sociology.

He has a confirmed (offer BBB) for 2017.

He's thinking he might decline the confirmed place and reapply, including some unis who are asking for ABB or AAB. I'm thinking the D in Maths will mean he won't get offers, even though he has enough UCAS points.

Any advice?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 20/08/2016 23:27

I think he should phone some university admissions offices before doing anything rash.

goingmadinthecountry · 20/08/2016 23:30

Was about to post to say the same. Don't decline anything yet! Well done to him on those A*s. What is he going to study?

Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2016 23:31

Psychology. He loves it!

OP posts:
HariboBrenshnio · 20/08/2016 23:40

It will be totally up to each university. They might want him to have a higher grade in Maths to study psychology. He's best calling admissions to ask before applying. How many UCAS points are they asking for? Does he have enough?

meowli · 20/08/2016 23:42

If he has a confirmed offer for next year, why is he thinking of declining it?
Also, has he considered a re-mark of Maths?

Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2016 23:44

They aren't quoting entry requirements in terms of UCAS points, just grades. But he has more than enough if you do the calculation.

He said he thought the level of difficulty of the maths in A level Psychology was around GCSE level, if that. He got a B in the statistics unit of A level Maths.

OP posts:
MooPointCowsOpinion · 20/08/2016 23:44

If the D is just AS maths I wouldn't worry too much, ring the University admissions to double check, but usually students do terribly in AS Maths because the jump is so high. They tend to pull it together for A2.

Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2016 23:46

It was A2. He didn't manage to pull it together - he just found the core papers really hard!

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 20/08/2016 23:46

It will depend partly on how much maths is in the course. If there is a lot he may have problems getting accepted with a D. Like others suggest, he should ask.

noblegiraffe · 20/08/2016 23:47

Psychology departments will probably be happy that he's done any maths.

Berthatydfil · 20/08/2016 23:51

Is the 2017 offer unconditional ?
If so why would he reject it unless it's for s course or uni he no longer likes.
I would do a lot of homework before rejecting an offer as a dip in 2 grades on an oversubscribed course may not result in an offer.

Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2016 23:51

I'm so glad I posted on here - I'll get him to phone the unis on Monday and get some idea of his chances. Thanks, everyone Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 20/08/2016 23:54

Yes, the 2017 offer is unconditional. He applied based on his predicted grades and did better than he expected to, so wants to re-apply for Psychology rather than Psychology and Crimimology, which is the confirmed offer.

He will definitely think long and hard before declining though. He knows what's at stake.

OP posts:
Coffeewith1sugar · 21/08/2016 00:06

My DD is studying a psychology degree. It's true they will be happy that he has done some maths. Those who hadn't done it at A level on dd course did struggle with the maths part. As there's quite a bit, abeit statistics. Since he can show he can handle statistic side with his B grade in that module it might be looked on favourably too. I would play on this as a strength. If he is having a gap year could he just retake C3 and C4? But well done on him getting 2A*'s. I guess the D is frustrating for him. I think the stars will show he is highly capable, the D just looks like he had a bad day at the office.

Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 21/08/2016 00:13

That's a really encouraging post, coffee.

I don't think he could face resitting C3 and C4, though that would be a solution. He did past papers till they were coming out of his ears but the papers on the day were harder than anything he'd seen before. Definitely a very bad day at the office and really disappointing in view of the other grades.

OP posts:
Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 21/08/2016 00:34

Sorry, meowli, I didn't reply to you. He knows he did badly in two of the Maths papers so remarking probably wouldn't change anything - in Maths it's either right or it's wrong!

OP posts:
Decorhate · 21/08/2016 06:53

I think the D will count against him - this is the one downside to applying with achieved grades, there is nowhere to hide it! But no harm in asking. I suspect they will say he should resit & it would be an offer conditional on getting a better grade.

Coconutty · 21/08/2016 08:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

errorofjudgement · 21/08/2016 08:14

Is it worth asking his current unconditional offer university if he could switch to straight psychology in view of his achieved grades? Especially if he can show the achieved S1 & S2 module grades.

meowli · 21/08/2016 08:33

Yes, I suppose that's right with the Maths! Hadn't thought of that Blush
It's just that ds was successful with a re-mark a couple of years ago, but that was for History.

Good idea to approach current offer university and ask to change courses, if he's still happy to go there. With 2 A* (well done!), hopefully they'll regard the Maths as a blip, and he'll get what he really wants!

haybott · 21/08/2016 08:44

The D will count against him for some courses at some universities - a low grade in one subject is correlated with poorer performance at degree level. Some courses will not take even Bs or Cs i.e. although AAA is points equivalent to A star A B or A star A star C courses won't accept the two latter.

Original poster
SuburbanRhonda · 21/08/2016 09:18

Thanks for all your useful advice, everyone. He will definitely be phoning round as in the end, it's down to the individual university whether they'll take him with these grades. He's been encouraged by his cousin getting in to an RG uni to do Maths with ACC after being offered AAB.

He will also be asking his current unconditional offer uni if he can switch.

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 21/08/2016 09:45

A friends DD got into Manchester with ABC for psychology. Maybe worth trying there if he likes the uni?

HariboBrenshnio · 21/08/2016 09:53

Another option is going to the uni, starting the course and then transferring courses. It's easier to do this once at the uni and it's fine up the first month I think. I had friends who transferred from media to law and all sorts and his transfer isn't as big. Or just call the uni he got the offer at and ask to drop the criminology part and to just do the full psychology. Courses aren't as full with tuition fees so high so I reckon they'l help him that way.

hellsbells99 · 21/08/2016 09:55

Liverpool university is another one worth trying.
Could he do a different fast track A level in a year if he doesn't want to resit maths? Has he got an AS level in a 4th subject that he could complete the A2 in (although may have to redo all the exams with the new linear format).
DD's friend has just re-sat maths and unfortunately her grade didn't change but I think if she had had a 1-to-1 tutor she might have got a higher grade.