Applying to study Maths at Imperial/UCL 2025 but doesn't have Science practical endorsement?

[RockyRoadz]

My son did his A levels this summer but decided to take a year out for personal reasons.
He is planning to apply to study Maths at Imperial/UCL in 2025.
Unfortunately when he did his A levels he didn't complete the Science Practical Endorsement section (he did them but didn't write them up).
We think he can do just the Science Practical Endorsement privately but we're confused as to whether this will constitute a resit of the exam as both Imperial & UCL don't allow resits?
Does anyone know before we try and contact them?

Has he been awarded his A levels without the practical element?
Has he a deferred place at Imperial / UCL confirmed?

I think contacting admissions would just sort the issue out and leave no doubt.

Yes, he got an A* in the two science subjects. It seems most Unis don't require the practical element.

Thanks. You're obviously right and we'll do that asap.

The universities explicitly state in their UCAS offer whether they need the practical endorsement or not.

This. Imperial require it.

@Anotheremptynester @titchy
Yeah I know they require the practical endorsement.
The question is can he do the practical endorsement privately this year and will that suffice?
Or will that count as a resit even though he won't be re-sitting the written exam.

We will email them and try to phone them tomorrow to get clarity as it's probably a niche question.

"If made an offer, applicants studying in England will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer. PLEASE NOTE: The practical endorsement is part of the reformed linear A-levels in England only. There is no practical endorsement for A-levels taken in Wales, nor international versions taken in other countries (e.g. CAIE, Pearson)."

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/chemistry/undergraduate/applying/

Oops. Sorry. Hadn't read the most recent post.

It might be fairly complicated arranging to do the practical component privately. Resits are usually only of the exams, as the non-exam assessments don't have to be repeated if they were passed at the first attempt. I don't know whether it's possible to complete the practical component outside of the full A-Level. Obviously, anywhere you would try to do them would need labs, so crammer colleges might not be well equipped.

I'd have thought they would count it as a resit, but it's best to ask them directly. In any case...

"I have decided to resit an exam (or some exams) - will this affect my application?
We will consider the final grades you achieve without discrimination over those applying who are sitting exams for the first time. Each year we welcome students resitting exams, including students reapplying to us after taking a gap year. You should make it clear on your UCAS application what you are re-sitting. You should do this by detailing your qualifications in the ‘Completed qualification’ section (with your current grade) and the ‘Not yet completed’ qualification section." (same web page as above)

@RockyRoadz could be complete the practical endorsement from his school itself?

@RockyRoadz I know this is an old thread but did you find other if your son required the PAG? Was he able to resit? We have a similar situation starting and I need to be clear with the school.

My son sat the science practical privately as his school wouldn't allow him to sit it there 😡
We spoke to UCL and Imperial and they said they would accept this and he is now attending one of the above unis
Doing it in a private college cost £1,000 so a rather costly mistake!

Thabks very much for answering. I hope he is enjoying his course.