Predicted grades AAC, applying for courses that ask for ABB

[13lucky]

My DD has been predicted AAC in A levels Music, Psychology and Maths respectively. She wants to apply for Psychology at a couple of Unis where the normal grade offer is ABB. I'm wondering how likely it is that she might get an offer or whether this is unlikely. Thank you for any advice you may be able to offer.

With Surrey and politics the lecturers seemed accessible and a small department. The course seemed interesting and student ambassadors really engaged with talking about placement years, the course itself and their futures after university. Also, political Think Tanks students get involved with.
I was surprised in the end when he chose Bath. It was the logical choice on grade requirements but guess we will never know if correct choice to firm.

Having done maths a level twice way back in the mists of time (getting a C the first time and an A the second time) I agree that this approach would be a good investment of time. The intial C didn’t stop me getting my preferred course at uni so it was a few years later when I when I retook purely because I wanted to try again. A different teacher and a more confident state of mind changed my grade. Maths is a tricky A level and it is one where guidance on how to revise etc is key. I would see if you can find a good tutor.

Pay for a tutor or an intensive revision course for the Maths. Probably job done 👍

I agree with PPs that a great tutor and very hard work can often result in the gain of a grade. In that sense the info about what has worked for PPs’ DC is useful and interesting.

However at this point what OP’s DD needs is offers. Ideally from Surrey. OP, if she is willing (as a back up plan) to take a gap year and apply with grades in hand, and to really set her mind to the goal of a B in Maths, with the support of a great tutor and online resources that would be a feasible goal for many. But it should be discussed with DD’s Maths teacher. And this does not address the immediate problem. (For anyone wondering, a discussion of tutoring/intent to raise the Maths grade is not at all appropriate for a PS)

I agree my sons state college teachers were very approachable and understanding and helped my son achieve his goals of getting into a medical degree. Even if her mocks say a C if you talk to your daughters teachers and commit to a plan they can upgrade her predicted grades. It worked out for my son.

I think he should go for Surrey. Looking at Discover uni for psychology they accepted a range of ucas points on actual students on course. Obviously don't know if that was from application or clearing.

Thanks poetryandwine...indeed this is the issue. We could throw everything at it and try and raise the C to a B between now and June but the issue right now is securing offers with AAC as predicted grades as that is where we are now and trying to work out the possibility of getting offers at places whose typical offer is ABB. Head of Maths has said he can see where she is working at in the next couple of months but school has set an internal deadline for UCAS forms of 1 November....aaaggghhh!

That is frustrating, OP. It is even contradictory - I don’t understand what HoM means when he says ‘he can see where she is working at in the next couple of months’ unless he is hinting that he is willing to delay DD’s PG until just before Christmas.

Of course that would mean delaying their input to her UCAS form. I would think that if this is a school where relatively few pupils are prepared to put in serious work to try raising their PGs at this point, they might be willing to do that. But I am going partly on the fact that I can’t imagine why else HoM would have made his remark. What do you think? Tough call.

Yes I think he is willing to delay predicted grade until Christmas or even Jan mocks...but Head of Sixth Form is insisting UCAS forms are in by 1 Nov so doesn't give us that option unless we ignore the 1 November deadline. It's a Grammar but has recently had a 'requires improvement' Ofsted grading and there's not a lot of joined up working happening at the moment unfortunately.

Can DD delay her application? She won’t be at a disadvantage. The school can’t do their part with her application if that application doesn’t exist.

I know that’s drastic. More realistically, perhaps HoM could intercede for her? As this is his idea

Ignore the November date and get her a maths tutor to help her get her maths grade up. Medical students had to have their UCAS in by October 15th I don’t believe these deadlines exist for other degrees apart for maybe Oxford and Cambridge I’m not sure.

All I can tell you is that my son was so thankful we spent money on a Maths A level revision course. It was 4 intensive days but he feels it made all the difference in him achieving the A grade he needed.