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Higher education

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

Original poster

A level Predicted grades disappointing...

127 replies

KittenKong · 06/12/2021 14:32

Any insights into how this plays out?

DS was hoping for some upgrades but the teachers have said no (he was trying for so hard too, poor kid).

Does anyone know how this works in the real world - will his applications be considered? Is he likely to get any offers? What if the exams are cancelled again?

Arghhhh

OP posts:
Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 08:27

He reluctantly chose English as his 4th but then realised that he absolutely loves it. Both parent write for a living, so maybe something rubbed off...

I think we need to just look at where we are, and see what the school says. And be realistic!

OP posts:
Barwell76 · 07/12/2021 09:30

@Revengeofthepangolins

But not very relevant to the question of why his school still hasn’t provided actually Ucas predictions this late in term.
I was wondering this. My ds is in y12 but I assumed he would get his predicted grades at the end of year 12 or start of y13. You can then research and go to open days of unis you have a realistic chance if getting into. You would have a fair idea of what they might get but without predicted grades you could be wasting your time visiting places you have no chance of an offer.
Seeline · 07/12/2021 09:43

Has your DS done anything towards his UCAS application yet - personal statement written, shortlist of unis etc? HE can apply to a couple of unis with a higher standard offer than his predicted grades as aspirational choices, where he might get offers. He just needs to make sure he has the rest with lower requirements, to ensure that he gets some offers that he is confident of achieving.

When is the school's deadline for them receiving the applications - UCAS deadline is 26 January, so he doesn't have much time with Christmas holidays coming up.

Seeline · 07/12/2021 09:47

@Barwell76 My DD is Y13, she was given her predicted grades at the beginning of Y13 based primarily on the end of Y12 mocks. They had the opportunity to take further exams at the beginning of Y13 if their grades weren't quite where they wanted them to be. Personal statements were drafted over the summer holidays. The school wanted to try and get everybody's applications in at around the time of the early application deadline of 15 October, regardless of course/unis applied for. It means that DDS application was out of the way, leaving her time to concentrate on school work.

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 10:12

Yes the personal statement was due this week. He is feeling pretty deflated to be honest.

One of the teachers who didn’t upgrade is the one who told me that he would be a good candidate for the courses he was looking at.

Part of me wonders if the school is concentrating hard on the oxbridge/medical applications (I think their interviews are this week). I remember this time last year the head of year saying how busy they all were managing their applications and managing their expectations (and how it was a lot of work).

I know the predictions aren’t set in stone (can go up or down on the day) but I’m just not sure if it’s even worth applying (will they even look at him?) or hoping for a good exam day and late applications (will they have spaces?) or assume it’s a year out and resits.

He has his heart set on places that are wanting high grades.

OP posts:
titchy · 07/12/2021 11:32

Look he has five slots to fill. Enough with the navel gazing despondency. He's applying for a subject that is not particularly competitive outside of Oxbridge. Even with ABB predictions, he should get offers from AAA standard offer places. But he won't get anything unless the thing gets submitted on time!

Two or three with AAA as their standard offer, one or two with ABB/AAB as standard and one with say BBB, or somewhere that also has a Foundation Year entry point.

There's absolutely no reasons whatsoever that he should be scrabbling about in Clearing. That's madness, and the school is doing him no favours at all suggesting that.

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 11:37

I don’t feel that the school is being particularly helpful. Maybe they are looking at their results (they advertise x% got worst choice etc).

He has gone on today with a load of questions - god help them.

So last Q - if he applies and they say, for example OST going to be ABBB, would somewhere that says AAA even look at the rest of his application? If they turn him down now, would they consider later if he pulls the rabbit out of the hat later and gets AAAB?

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 07/12/2021 11:57

He needs to drop one subject. Why on earth is the school insisting that he continues with 4 subjects when he isn't an A/A* student for all subjects? This is really poor advice from the school.

Seeline · 07/12/2021 12:30

They won't offer on four grades - offers are nearly always 3 grades, even if 4 subjects are taken. As others have said, apply to one or two with AAA as standard offers. Then make sure the others cover AAB/ABB/BBB and/or a Foundation year.

If he does get AAA on the day, he can approach other unis to see if they have a place available. If he has be given a place elsewhere, he would have to decline that before anywhere else could offer - BUT speak to others first before declining.

Budapestdreams · 07/12/2021 14:22

Where does he have his heart set on going? Someone on here might have experience of that university that could help your DS.

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 14:24

ICL imperial or Kings

OP posts:
Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 14:27

Sorry UCL

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InTheLabyrinth · 07/12/2021 14:36

Back before 4 AS levels became the fashion for a while (yes, im that old), I did 4 Alevels. All of my offers were for 3 grades. Some specified which subjects they had to come from.

If he has his heart set of those 3 unis, get him to look at 2 (3? Not sure if it's 5 or 6 choices) other unis that are at or just below his predicted grades.
If he doesn't get the offers he wants, and doesn't succeed through clearing he can always take a year out and try again.

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 14:39

That’s what I was thinking - he is keen on these ones...

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Budapestdreams · 07/12/2021 14:58

So Imperial looks very competitive. Their minimum requirements are AAA but most students actually get higher offers of either AAA or AA*A. That sounds like it may be out of reach or you may need to see if he can get those grades and apply next year with the grades in hand.
UCL offer AAA but do have some contextual offers. Did he qualify for lower contextual offers at all?

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 15:36

No contextual offers sadly!

OP posts:
senua · 07/12/2021 15:47

I would be tempted to suggest that he speak to each of the subject teachers. Tell them that mum is putting pressure on him to drop an A Level so that he only does three. Tell them mum is putting pressure on to drop the lowest predicted grade. See if any teacher does a re-think ...

You're now going to tell us that the B prediction is Chemistry, aren't you.Grin

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 16:01

Sadly it is! His teacher is the one who told me at the beginning of the year that he would be fine getting into these courses.

OP posts:
senua · 07/12/2021 16:03

Noooooooooooooo!Shock

Is it time to get a tutor?

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 16:25

I’m thinking so... but he spoke to his other chemistry teacher (the has 2) and he says he is working hard, loads of effort and some of his work has been at D2 level.

I’m just going to bang my head in the table for a bit, finish my management report (which will be full or accurate projections and have full project details) then make A Plan Of Action...

OP posts:
titchy · 07/12/2021 17:01

Kings want AAB, not AAA....

Budapestdreams · 07/12/2021 17:25

Is it those particular universities he wants or is it London he has his heart set on?

Revengeofthepangolins · 07/12/2021 18:52

Sorry - I just can’t understand how any school could at this point still not have given final, non-split predictions. How on earth can that work? How can the children choose their targets ? Surely getting this pinned down has to be a priority?

And when is you end of term - if his PS is only now going in to school, the whole process is going to end up dragging well into January. What a distractions and waste of time.

Predictions don’t “go up or down on the day”. They should have been clear all term.

If sound PreUs, he is presumably at an independent - I can’t understand why the process is so poorly run. And no, they aren’t busy with medics and Oxbridge - that will all have been over back in early October

On whether one can get eg a AAA offer with a ABB predictions, it really depends who is making the AAA offer. I would be surprised if UCL would, and certain imperial wouldn’t.

titchy · 07/12/2021 18:56

@Revengeofthepangolins

Sorry - I just can’t understand how any school could at this point still not have given final, non-split predictions. How on earth can that work? How can the children choose their targets ? Surely getting this pinned down has to be a priority?

And when is you end of term - if his PS is only now going in to school, the whole process is going to end up dragging well into January. What a distractions and waste of time.

Predictions don’t “go up or down on the day”. They should have been clear all term.

If sound PreUs, he is presumably at an independent - I can’t understand why the process is so poorly run. And no, they aren’t busy with medics and Oxbridge - that will all have been over back in early October

On whether one can get eg a AAA offer with a ABB predictions, it really depends who is making the AAA offer. I would be surprised if UCL would, and certain imperial wouldn’t.

This a billion times. His school has been shocking. I do hope you're not paying for it...

As to offers, I'd agree with the above also, Imperial I'd say would be a waste of a slot, UCL possibly worth a punt, KCL almost certain to be made an offer.

For the love of god though get the actual predicted grades, submit the thing IN TIME and drop one subject.

titchy · 07/12/2021 18:57

Another thought - as I find it so surprising that the school is being so poor (and assuming it's private because it did pre-U) - is there something your ds isn't telling you...?

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