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Higher education

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

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Original poster

UCAS application

10 replies

repdenz88 · 05/10/2020 10:41

My DC is effectively one of the "year 14s" who is taking A levels as an independent candidate this summer, due to CAG/govt fiasco this summer.

Can anyone advise what grades he puts on UCAS form? The (crap) ones he was given this summer or the ones he hopes/should get in 2021? Also, how does it work not being at school now because they are effectively "his" predicted grades and not the schools? Can he use the predicted grades he had all through the sixth-form (and didn't get on results day)?

Also, any advice about getting a reference ... Thanks.

OP posts:

MarchingFrogs · 05/10/2020 11:04

He puts the CAGs as achieved grades, then enters the resit subject(s) again as 'pending'.

He should approach the head of sixth form or whoever the relevant person is at his school for a referrence, unless he is currently working with a tutor who feels they know him well enough to write one? I'm fairly sure that the predicted grades are entered on 'that' side of the application, not the applicants'.

There is lots of advice for both applicants and advisors / referees (and even parents) on the UCAS site and a UCAS rep will usually answer quite promptly of contacted via a social media link.

Original poster

repdenz88 · 05/10/2020 16:33

Thank you MarchingFrogs

OP posts:

kitnkaboodle · 05/10/2020 16:55

@repdenz88 just touching base because we are possibly in the same situation as you (with added complications!)

I just wanted to say that I think it might be prudent to check that whoever your DS is now studying with will be able to supply him with recognised CAGs should next summer's exams be scrapped also.

My DS (Y14) is possibly looking to resit some subjects next summer - not yet definite and not yet looked for a setting - but it is definitely something I will be enquiring about. I think a lot of independent candidates for 2020 have ended up without any grades at all, as there was nobody to award them CAGs. Forewarned is forearmed I think.

And yes, as far as I understand, predicted grades come as part of the reference, whoever does that. I don't think they are visible to the applicant.

Original poster

repdenz88 · 05/10/2020 18:28

kitnkaboodle thanks and yes the exams being scrapped again in 2021 is another of my concerns! He has a tutor for one (new subject) - do you know if that is a recognisable CAG source or do you mean the exam centre (which i haven't found yet) might be able to provide him with a CAG (when they have no idea who he is or what he's capable of?). He may also take 1 or 2 "re-sits" - I just assumed that if the exams are cancelled again then that's it, again. Argh, this a very unwelcome minefield. Thank you for any advice/input.

OP posts:

Original poster

repdenz88 · 05/10/2020 18:32

And yes, as far as I understand, predicted grades come as part of the reference, whoever does that. I don't think they are visible to the applicant. so if my DC is doing re-sits independently, who does the predicted grades for those? The new tutor subject and the re-sit subjects are totally unrelated so although his tutor might write him a reference (need to ask), he won't be in a position to do one for the re-sit subjects.

The government really didn't think this through did they when they screwed our DC over, did they?!

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kitnkaboodle · 05/10/2020 20:22

So is your DS possibly doing 1 subject off his own bat and 1 with a tutor? He was studying both subjects before at a school? If so I think that might leave him a bit vulnerable to exam cancellations. I'd ask the tutor if s/he could provide nationally recognised CAGs if exams were cancelled. I don't know who can and who can't! I guess there are some online institutions that can, but I don't know about private individuals. That's why I think if my DS goes down that route, I'd be better off registering him with some private institution (for £££££, obviously) who can give him tuition, assessment and CAGs if exams don't happen. I think UCAS reference + predicted grades can be done by any teacher who knows your DS well academically- probably the old school, I'm afraid. If he has been studying since lockdown or at least since results day, he might be able to give them evidence that will convince them to up his predictions. Ask UCAS if you want - they respond v quickly on twitter private messages (bit weird, I know). Lots of us in weird situations this year who have fallen through the cracks.

titchy · 05/10/2020 21:26

He has to put his CAGs on the form.

He should ask his referee whether they would be happy to put down his predicted grades. His old school / college should be approached in the first instance for the reference. Failing that the current tutor.

SeasonFinale · 06/10/2020 20:59

Is he resitting the exams at his old school? If so they will do a reference and give predicted grades possibly. I say possibly as it will depend on whether they will have any input in to his work such as marking some assignments etc.

They will be resits if he is taking them in Summer but would not have shown as resits if he was taking them this month. So his CAGS will always be his first set of grades and will not be replaced by new grades but the new grades will be in addition to his existing grades.

Original poster

repdenz88 · 07/10/2020 09:00

@SeasonFinale

He's not doing the exam at his old school currently (I haven't actually asked but I wouldn't be surprised if they said he can't) and they certainly aren't helping at all. The reason he's not doing the re-sits now is we only heard back from the school with the results of the so called internal investigation (one line) 2 hours before the deadline for applying for the exams in October. We honestly thought it was a mistake because the difference between his predicted grades and his CAGs was so large.

Anyway, it's all gone tits up for him and even though he's taking A levels this summer (if they aren't cancelled), his chances of getting into university seem to recede each day. The system is geared against him so it seems, with no flexibility.

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Annebronte · 07/10/2020 22:31

The online UCAS form has two sections: one that students access and complete, one that their UCAS advisor can access and complete. It’s the advisor who puts the predicted grades, not the student. The student has no access to this part. And it’s the centre (ie school) who actually submit it to UCAS. I don’t know how it works for an independent candidate. I’m a UCAS advisor, and our post A Level applicants just register through us (ie their former school) again and we support the application.

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