University 2020 :7: Results tombola, roll up, roll up, pick a prize!

[MillicentMartha]

Well, it’s been a crazy few days.

Old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3962422-University-2020-6-The-one-with-the-results-at-the-end?watched=1&msgid=99082625#99082625

I've just had a thought, whilst compiling emails to various ministers...please excuse me if this has already been answered.

So let's say a 2020 A Level student wants to apply for Oxbridge entry 2021, or re-apply and has to do the exams in October, would it surely mean that in practical terms, they would have to wait until 2021 to apply, as the results wouldn't be in, in time for the Oxbridge application deadline in mid October? This means they'd have to take two years out and actually apply in 2021. Have I missed something?

www.gov.uk/government/news/appeals-based-on-mock-exams?utm_source=646a0823-04e2-4636-8b71-327748790b6c

I don’t see evidence of much flexibility by Universities towards those who have missed places as a result of candidates dropping one or two grades.

Nearly all of my son's school friends have been accepted by their first choice uni. My son's course was AAA and it's on clearing as ABC. His best friend had an AAB offer but only got awarded BBB but has still be accepted by his first choice uni.

Uni's need to fill their courses, especially with the reported massive reductions in overseas students coming over. They'd be stupid not to be flexible by a grade or so for their firm choice offer holders.

We are feeling bloody lucky that DS got accepted into his RG university despite dropping a grade. There’s a fair few at his school that weren’t.

@Baileyscoffeeandcampfires

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appeals-based-on-mock-exams?utm_source=646a0823-04e2-4636-8b71-327748790b6c

Thanks for posting this. For anyone who hasn't clicked on the link Ofqual have released the details of what constitutes a valid mock.

There seems to be huge variation in flexibility among the RG Unis. I guess it depends how popular the course is.

DS was turned down by his - offer was AAA, he got AAB.

His friend applying to a different RG uni for a different subject was accepted with exactly the same offer & grades!

@UntamedWisteria

There seems to be huge variation in flexibility among the RG Unis. I guess it depends how popular the course is.

DS was turned down by his - offer was AAA, he got AAB.

His friend applying to a different RG uni for a different subject was accepted with exactly the same offer & grades!

Which will depend on the number of applicants achieving the offer grades compared with the number of places on the course. They offer more offers than they have places in the assumption that some will not get the required grades - they'll base that on prior years. If they fill their course with people achieving the offer grades, then they can't offer places to others anyway. However, if they don't and they have places left to fill, then they have the choice to make, either offer them through clearing, or offer them to applicants who've got lower grades than the offer. Different Unis will have different experience/history of prior years and therefore different numbers of offers being given.

Reading that Document, my question is so what is a 'non-exam assessment mark'?

I'm assuming it's different to the CAG but not sure how????

It seems that every time they put out something new it brings up more questions than answers

@DuckyMcDuck

Reading that Document, my question is so what is a 'non-exam assessment mark'?

I'm assuming it's different to the CAG but not sure how????

It seems that every time they put out something new it brings up more questions than answers

Coursework, I presume.

It seems that every time they put out something new it brings up more questions than answers

That's our brilliant civil service for you. It's been the same for decades. I've been an accountant for nearly 40 years. Every Budget is the same, every tax change is the same, every initiative is the same. The initial guidance/detail is a joke and usually, yes, throws up more questions than answers. I have been despairing for years at the pitiful standard of the civil servants who draft the rules/guidance/laws . As a country, we really deserve better. Even when professional bodies etc point out massive flaws in legislation, it's just brushed aside with the usual "we know best" attitude until it turns into a massive fiasco and then it's the usual "we've listended" crap as they make some half hearted changes.

Re offers vs acceptance

Ds was offered BBC (with a B in Chem or Biology), given BCC on CAG of ABC.. Didn't get the B in science

Ex poly uni accepted him automatically. It was his only interview and offer as his course is medical based with very limited numbers due to placement requirements

Couldn't get onto track as it crashed so found out via congratulations text from uni 10 minutes after the stomach drop of results email
We know he's very fortunate

@DuckyMcDuck

Reading that Document, my question is so what is a 'non-exam assessment mark'?

I'm assuming it's different to the CAG but not sure how????

It seems that every time they put out something new it brings up more questions than answers

A non-exam assessment is a component scheduled by the school, such as the art practical. It does not take place at the same time in every centre.

Dd was accepted by her RG insurance despite dropping two grades.

DD was also accepted by her RG insurance after dropping 2 grades in 2 subjects, but it's still not good enough.

I see the Welsh Government are starting to give way somewhat. Things are moving in the right direction.

Thanks - so assuming it's coursework or art work (or similar), isn't that what the CAGs were based on?

@DuckyMcDuck - yes, NEA performance should have been an element of the CAG.

This NEA decision will really push up grades though, as it's not unusual for students in subjects like music/drama/dance to get almost full marks for the NEA part, but this is then balanced out by the theory paper.

How can a NEA be graded though, since they haven't been externally moderated and no grade boundaries have been published?

Nick Gibb was on Radio 4 Any Questions saying Unis have agreed to hold open places for those who appeal until 7 Sept but Unis don’t seem to be saying this. Plus Unis decided who to accept with lower grades before the mocks announcement so will have worked on basis that few appeals would have been successful. Personally I think Govt will have to allow individual appeals on merit due to legal challenges and why stop at mock or non exam assessment why not allow an appeal based on portfolio of previous work especially where someone had been dropped 2 or 3 grades and it should be obvious work and grade do not match. They will also have to lift the cap if saying all successful appeals will get uni place if meet original offer. He’s also suggesting all appeals be done by 7 Sept. As far as GCSE goes they should have gone for pass / fail model or fail/pass/merit/ distinction as it was never going to be accurate with 9 grades and frankly unnecessary to be that precise when year 12 can sit something more accurate when they are back in school.

[quote Divoc2020]@DuckyMcDuck - yes, NEA performance should have been an element of the CAG.

This NEA decision will really push up grades though, as it's not unusual for students in subjects like music/drama/dance to get almost full marks for the NEA part, but this is then balanced out by the theory paper.

How can a NEA be graded though, since they haven't been externally moderated and no grade boundaries have been published?[/quote]
I think, although am not certain, is that it would have to have been done and dusted before 20th March.

Mock exams haven't been externally moderated either - so if mock exams can be claimed so can NEAs!

NEAs are marked carefully and meticulously because in normal non-Covid years years an external examiner reviews a sample of marked NEAs to determine that they have been marked according to the clear parameters, and any over generous marking will mean the whole cohorts grades will be adjusted downwards. A disincentive to grade inflation

Seedybird - in the situation you describe they are in.the same position as the y13s and are applying with a predicted grade for the subject they are taking

The thing with NEAs is that the majority have to be submitted to the awarding bodies by 15th May (Art is later). Very few school will have completed these assessments before 20th March, when schools closed.

@CraftyGin

The thing with NEAs is that the majority have to be submitted to the awarding bodies by 15th May (Art is later). Very few school will have completed these assessments before 20th March, when schools closed.

Really? Our school had done all of the Drama, Music and DT ones by 20 March?

CraftyGin - my dd's two NEAs (one in Art and the other in Graphics) were required by February and marked in February. It had to be this way to allow sufficient time for the students to put that huge body of work to bed and to start their exam work up and prep. Essentially the exam is an inseparable bundle involving several weeks of research, reflection and evaluation, experiments and mock ups on the piece that the student would ultimately produce in the week long exam consisting of, 15 hours of supervised studio time in exam conditions in May.

Another point - it was made clear that any work undertaken after March 23 is inadmissable

I actually know what I am talking about!