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Higher education

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

Original poster

Do universities only look at your top 8 GCSEs?

36 replies

Juliadoesyoga · 05/02/2023 23:45

DS was advised that most uni admissions officers run algorithms which average your ‘top’ 8 GCSEs, ignoring the rest. Is this true? We hoping so as he took 11 and did brilliantly in 8 (all grades 7-9) but got three 5s (in the sciences). He’d be applying for French and History (9s in both).

OP posts:
stardust40 · 05/02/2023 23:53

The only thing dd uni was interested in was English/maths/science at GCSE..... the rest was A-levels! It taught me not to stress out so much with younger dd who is currently year10!

Original poster
Juliadoesyoga · 05/02/2023 23:57

aaagh - surely they won’t care about his science GCSEs (3x grade 5) though if he is applying for French and History? Agreed, A level predictions more imp

OP posts:
Boosterquery · 06/02/2023 00:05

Where is your DS planning to apply? Because of the ever diminishing numbers of students taking modern languages, there's less competition for MFL degree places compared to many other subjects, which is good news for your son.

converseandjeans · 06/02/2023 00:10

I think medicine possibly do this for all subjects to filter out the most academic - but for French & History I would be surprised if they looked at sciences. He would need passes in maths & English.

French isn't the most popular course & also it's harder to get high grade in MFL. So decent unis often accept a B in the language. Also not loads of males do MFL. So I don't think you should worry about his science grades too much.

converseandjeans · 06/02/2023 00:12

www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2023/modern-languages/ba-modern-languages/#entry-requirements

So Bristol for example want ABB but don't specify that this A needs to be in the language.

Original poster
Juliadoesyoga · 06/02/2023 00:22

Is that right @Boosterquery that languages not so popular (I thought Spanish was)? He wanted to do French and Spanish but his school suggested French and History (not sure why - will ask him). He likes the idea of going north (we are SE England) - so thinking of Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester etc

OP posts:
Original poster
Juliadoesyoga · 06/02/2023 00:25

Thank you @converseandjeans - will get him to focus on specific requirements (to be fair to him, he’s only had an initial look as not applying until autumn - for 2024 entry)

OP posts:
Quitelikeacatslife · 06/02/2023 07:16

Is he's got English and maths pass then concentrate on a levels , there isn't anything you can do about it so see what offers they get

Gloooooo · 06/02/2023 07:25

Universities barely look at GCSEs. the focus is very much on predicted A-levels. You can have fab GCSEs and slightly less fab predicted A-levels and you will be overlook in favour of someone with mediocre GCSEs and stellar A-level predictions.

journeyofinsanity · 06/02/2023 07:35

stardust40 · 05/02/2023 23:53

The only thing dd uni was interested in was English/maths/science at GCSE..... the rest was A-levels! It taught me not to stress out so much with younger dd who is currently year10!

But how can they only look at a levels when applications take place before a-levels. The only grades they have that are actual and not made up predictions are GCSEs

Greatly · 06/02/2023 07:39

Re French AND Spanish A level -The only teens I know who DIDN'T get their predicted top grades at A level did languages. They seem really hard to get As and A stars in.

Greatly · 06/02/2023 07:41

journeyofinsanity · 06/02/2023 07:35

But how can they only look at a levels when applications take place before a-levels. The only grades they have that are actual and not made up predictions are GCSEs

Show quote history

By "made up predictions" do you mean predictions 🤔

And yes that's what they go on. Some specify 6s in maths and English.

RampantIvy · 06/02/2023 08:03

Juliadoesyoga · 06/02/2023 00:22

Is that right @Boosterquery that languages not so popular (I thought Spanish was)? He wanted to do French and Spanish but his school suggested French and History (not sure why - will ask him). He likes the idea of going north (we are SE England) - so thinking of Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester etc

Newcastle has a good language's department and is in the top 10 for French.

titchy · 06/02/2023 11:13

Algorithms! As if! Other than a few medicine courses, no admissions officers look at GCSEs other than M and E. Sp and Fr will be less competitive than Sp and Hist btw...

KittyMcKitty · 06/02/2023 13:55

At the Durham open day last September they said they didn’t look at GCSEs.

Littlemissprosecco · 06/02/2023 14:03

Some will have minimum grade requirements in specific subjects. Eg, my son has 6s in both English papers, so can’t apply for certain courses at LSE as minimum English requirement is a level 7. Do check, it will save a wasted application.

TizerorFizz · 06/02/2023 16:53

@Juliadoesyoga With two languages at Bristol one A level in your chosen language is required. Obviously 2 is a bonus.

History at a top university such as Bristol or Warwick is more competitive than doing joint honours MFL. Putting a language with History can make him very competitive though. They want linguists.

Does he prefer History or not? What does he envisage doing with his degree? DD is a barrister with joint MFL degree. A colleague has History and French from Warwick. So both degrees are competitive in the workplace.

Some posters are simply wrong about GCSEs not being taken into account. The BA in MFL at Bristol does. See attached! That doesn’t mean he would be discarded though.

Do universities only look at your top 8 GCSEs?
Greensleevevssnotnose · 06/02/2023 16:56

No they don't look at GCSE

TizerorFizz · 06/02/2023 16:57

@Juliadoesyoga
History and French is the same split. I would look at the CUG for History and MFL bearing possible grad jobs in mind. Some universities are better than others for some areas of employment.

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 06/02/2023 17:36

By "made up predictions" do you mean predictions 🤔

Predictions are made-up. Schools all do them differently, so they are meaningless. It doesn't matter how rigorously you tell us your school does them: universities aren't just looking at applicants from your school. Sadly, predicted A-Level grades are the main thing that universities base decisions on for most courses.

Greatly · 06/02/2023 17:39

Well, exactly. They are the most important thing.

titchy · 06/02/2023 17:42

Sadly, predicted A-Level grades are the main thing that universities base decisions on for most courses

No. Achieved grades are what entry is based on. People often think the predicted grade is the determiner of everything - it isn't. Most of the time unis will offer to pretty much everyone who applies.

Pinkdafodils · 06/02/2023 18:38

Sadly, predicted A-Level grades are the main thing that universities base decisions on for most courses

Competitive unis/courses also use interviews and assessments to find the most suitable candidates.

Greatly · 06/02/2023 18:44

Pinkdafodils · 06/02/2023 18:38

Sadly, predicted A-Level grades are the main thing that universities base decisions on for most courses

Competitive unis/courses also use interviews and assessments to find the most suitable candidates.

Do they? Dd applied to top RG and no-one interviewed or assessed anyone!

Pinkdafodils · 06/02/2023 19:00

My dc had assessments and interviews at Imperial, Manchester and Cambridge (to study Engineering)

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