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Higher education

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

What GCSE grades needed for Bristol?

35 replies

Fabfabfab · 17/03/2025 17:26

Any idea what GCSE grades are needed for history at Bristol? The website says: Applications are scored and ranked based on their academic record, according to their achieved or predicted results with the following weightings:
GCSE 30% | A-Level 70%

Similarly, what GCSE grades might be needed for other Universities like Exeter, York and Warwick? My daughter had 5x8s, 2x7 and 2x6. Hoping that's good enough (with good a-level results hopefully). Not contextual as she has been through private school

OP posts:
kkneat · 20/03/2025 06:40

I’d iit helps my DD predicted grades were A* A B. Didn’t qualify for a contextual offer but did go to a comprehensive if that makes a difference..

WombatChocolate · 20/03/2025 16:31

kkneat · 20/03/2025 06:40

I’d iit helps my DD predicted grades were A* A B. Didn’t qualify for a contextual offer but did go to a comprehensive if that makes a difference..

Was the A star prediction in the subject she was applying to study? Was the B in something much less relevant?

Those predicted grades are the same as AAA on term of points, but most RG don’t use points.

So she might have got her offer from Bristol because she had an A star prediction in the chosen course. Of course if she then achieved AAA and that was the standard offer she would have been taken as she’d achieved the offer. If she’d achieved her predicted grades, they could have chosen not to take her. Even if the. Star was in the chosen subject, they could do that and would if huge numbers achieved their offer. However, in reality if someone gets A*AB for a subject which isn’t quite so competitive such as History and if the A star is in the chosen subject they are likely to be taken, even though technically not achieving their offer.

So if you’re able to say if the A star prediction was subject applied for, and if B less related, that throws further light on the situation.

For Op, having an A star prediction on the subject applied for, even if the standard offer will be A, makes you more likely to get an offer if the course is v competitive. You have more ‘slack’ to drop a grade and still meet the offer. Someone predicted the minimum offer grade, has no slack to drop a grade and meet the offer.

When unis are looking at which (if any) near miss turned offer holder to take on results day, one who has achieved the highest grade in the subject to be studied, might well be more preferable than others.

WombatChocolate · 20/03/2025 16:49

Given Kkneat’s DC had a B in her predictions, which was lower than the standard offer, I think it’s highly likely the A star prediction was in the chosen subject.

But what is also tells us is Bristol History is not hyper competitive - as would be expected with History. Someone with a B prediction in their mix did get an offer. It probably suggests to that people predicted the standard offer of exactly AAA would get offers - ie it’s not usually necessary to have predictions in excess of that.

The fact Kkneat’s DC actually achieved AAA (so did better than predicted in one subject and worse in another) is irrelevant, as when offering, the unis only knew the predicted grades.

It’s useful stuff for those in yr12 about to apply. It indicates you can apply to Bristol as an aspirational choice and don’t need way in excess of standard offer to have chance of an offer. It also suggests that having the A star in one subject - presumably the subject being applied for in case of History, gives you a little scope to get an offer even with one grade below the standard offer in terms of predictions.

This wouldn’t be the case everywhere. Some places won’t be able to offer to anyone with a grade predicted below the standard offer. A few won’t be able to offer unless predictions are higher than standard offer. There won’t be many like that for History but a few.

Interestingly, Oxford has a standard offer of AAA. People often wonder if those with those predictions get interviews or offers. The fact is, Ixford also have their entrance tests as well as A level predictions to help shortlist for interview. Most who do well enough in the HAT will have higher predictions, but some won’t - and the HAT allows them to show potential their Alevel predictions haven’t for whatever reason. Likewise when deciding who to offer to, they also have the interview which counts for a lot. Again there is a high correlation with higher predicted grades and doing well at the interview…but some who ‘only’ had AAA will perform extremely well on interview after strong HAT performance and get an offer. But most offer holders will be predicted higher than AAA. Oxford offer AAA rather than higher because they are confident their in depth application assessment process can spot those who have great potential. They don’t want any of those to lose out by a freak exam performance and possibly iffy essay marking where they only get an A instead of A star. So the A level requirement is lower for humanities so Oxford humanities offer holders have a really high chance of meeting their offer. There will be the odd person predicted AAA who got an offer and only achieved AAA and of course were taken, but most are predicted more and most achieve more.

Fabfabfab · 20/03/2025 17:56

WombatChocolate · 20/03/2025 16:49

Given Kkneat’s DC had a B in her predictions, which was lower than the standard offer, I think it’s highly likely the A star prediction was in the chosen subject.

But what is also tells us is Bristol History is not hyper competitive - as would be expected with History. Someone with a B prediction in their mix did get an offer. It probably suggests to that people predicted the standard offer of exactly AAA would get offers - ie it’s not usually necessary to have predictions in excess of that.

The fact Kkneat’s DC actually achieved AAA (so did better than predicted in one subject and worse in another) is irrelevant, as when offering, the unis only knew the predicted grades.

It’s useful stuff for those in yr12 about to apply. It indicates you can apply to Bristol as an aspirational choice and don’t need way in excess of standard offer to have chance of an offer. It also suggests that having the A star in one subject - presumably the subject being applied for in case of History, gives you a little scope to get an offer even with one grade below the standard offer in terms of predictions.

This wouldn’t be the case everywhere. Some places won’t be able to offer to anyone with a grade predicted below the standard offer. A few won’t be able to offer unless predictions are higher than standard offer. There won’t be many like that for History but a few.

Interestingly, Oxford has a standard offer of AAA. People often wonder if those with those predictions get interviews or offers. The fact is, Ixford also have their entrance tests as well as A level predictions to help shortlist for interview. Most who do well enough in the HAT will have higher predictions, but some won’t - and the HAT allows them to show potential their Alevel predictions haven’t for whatever reason. Likewise when deciding who to offer to, they also have the interview which counts for a lot. Again there is a high correlation with higher predicted grades and doing well at the interview…but some who ‘only’ had AAA will perform extremely well on interview after strong HAT performance and get an offer. But most offer holders will be predicted higher than AAA. Oxford offer AAA rather than higher because they are confident their in depth application assessment process can spot those who have great potential. They don’t want any of those to lose out by a freak exam performance and possibly iffy essay marking where they only get an A instead of A star. So the A level requirement is lower for humanities so Oxford humanities offer holders have a really high chance of meeting their offer. There will be the odd person predicted AAA who got an offer and only achieved AAA and of course were taken, but most are predicted more and most achieve more.

That's really useful. So do you mean that if you are predicted A and get an offer at a course like Bristol which 'only' requires A, and then get A rather than A you still get a place as long as you got the 3 As?

OP posts:
Fabfabfab · 20/03/2025 18:00

Just realised my computer didn't add in the star so previous post wouldn't have made any sense! Meant to say: So do you mean that if you are predicted A star and get an offer at a course like Bristol which 'only' requires A, and then get A rather than A star you still get a place as long as you got the 3 As?*

OP posts:
WombatChocolate · 20/03/2025 18:12

Sorry, A star as typed with the symbol don’t show up.

Applicants are given an offer - usually the course standard offer which shows on their website. (Unless they are contextual candidate). If they firm or insure their offer (their 2 choices from their 5 after all rejections and offers received) then the uni forms a contract with them. As long as they meet the offer they are assured of the place. This is regardless of how the offer differs to their predicted grades.

So if you’re ffee is AAA and student was predicted Astar AA gets AAA or above they are in.
If they get AstarAB then they haven’t met the offer because of the B. The firm uni will decide if to take them regardless (more likely on less popular courses or if A star is in subject to be studied) or to reject.if rejected tye the insurance place then confirms them if they’ve met their offer (which is usually chosen as insurance because lower offer) or again decides if to reject or accept if they’ve met their offer offer.
A few courses specify part of the offer is in a certain subject - ie A star in Maths. History tends not to do this for higher ranking unis where As are the offer anyway.

Last year I knew some Humanities (not History) applicants who missed their offer to Durham or Bristol but were taken anyway. In the 3 cases, they had A star in the subject they were going to study and had dropped a grade in the less relevant subject. The more popular the course is (ie more applicants per place and the higher the predicted grades in relation to standard offer across cohort) the less likely they will take people who miss their offer. They always have to over offer as not everyone will firm etc or meet offers, but some places will get higher acceptance it meeting offer candidates.

Jamfirstthencream1 · 20/03/2025 19:01

The HAT admissions test mentioned above (Oxford) is actually being got rid of for next year. The website doesn’t say yet how they will short list for interview. They will presumably use the written work submitted, as well as predicted grades, and gcse grades? So predictions will be even more important-maybe?

Fabfabfab · 20/03/2025 19:29

WombatChocolate · 20/03/2025 18:12

Sorry, A star as typed with the symbol don’t show up.

Applicants are given an offer - usually the course standard offer which shows on their website. (Unless they are contextual candidate). If they firm or insure their offer (their 2 choices from their 5 after all rejections and offers received) then the uni forms a contract with them. As long as they meet the offer they are assured of the place. This is regardless of how the offer differs to their predicted grades.

So if you’re ffee is AAA and student was predicted Astar AA gets AAA or above they are in.
If they get AstarAB then they haven’t met the offer because of the B. The firm uni will decide if to take them regardless (more likely on less popular courses or if A star is in subject to be studied) or to reject.if rejected tye the insurance place then confirms them if they’ve met their offer (which is usually chosen as insurance because lower offer) or again decides if to reject or accept if they’ve met their offer offer.
A few courses specify part of the offer is in a certain subject - ie A star in Maths. History tends not to do this for higher ranking unis where As are the offer anyway.

Last year I knew some Humanities (not History) applicants who missed their offer to Durham or Bristol but were taken anyway. In the 3 cases, they had A star in the subject they were going to study and had dropped a grade in the less relevant subject. The more popular the course is (ie more applicants per place and the higher the predicted grades in relation to standard offer across cohort) the less likely they will take people who miss their offer. They always have to over offer as not everyone will firm etc or meet offers, but some places will get higher acceptance it meeting offer candidates.

Thank you, that's really well explained! Feel I'm learning a lot here! Will tell my DD to study hard and aim for A star, in fact her tutor said today she thinks this is likely to be her predicted grade in history so fingers crossed

OP posts:
Pinkissmart · 21/03/2025 20:32

Entry requirements are on UCAS.
OP, I would recommend that your child learn how to look up entry criteria

Rollofrockandsand · 21/03/2025 20:42

DD had a Bristol offer for psychology on 7x7 and 2x6

she was not eligible for a contextual offer. She was at a leafy comp for GCSE and private 6th form

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