Do universities look at GCSE results?

[bendmeoverbackwards]

Dd didn’t do brilliantly at GCSE - 666665543

She hasn’t started A level study yet but is worried that even with good A level results, her GCSEs might be a problem. She wants a Russell group (I know, I know…. have tried to persuade her to keep an open mind).

How much do GCSE grades matter?

OP - don’t argue with her about what Uni she’ll be applying to.

It’s all up to her. And if she pulls herself together and do well (as well as she can) on the actual A-levels.

Tell her - of course she can aim for RG. And she needs to get herself to do actual A-levels.
Is there a plan to get her back to education? As atm - all conversations are pointless, until she starts doing the work.

Would she not consider Lecister or Reading not RG uni but not ex polys or 60s campuses.

Some ex polys have better courses in some subjects.

TBH I'd wait till some exam data comes in - see what grades she looking at - try and narrow her down on subjects in meantime - then look down some course tables and see where the intersection of marks are for her - and go from there - go to open days and have a look round.

Some uni departments look at GCSE some don't - some seem uninterested even in AS grades - some read personnal statments and do interviews -some it's all grades. Some course drop a lot from what they say they want as well.

Many unis offer to everyone who has the required A Level predicted grades, as they also have the minimum Maths and English grades. This is the majority of courses at majority of unis.

The most popular courses at the most popular unis won’t be able to offer to everyone who has the required predicted grades. They will have to reject lots of applicants. There won’t necessarily be formal GCSE requirements but candidates will be rejected for weaker GCSEs, not having better A level predictions (despite meeting standard offer…because many far exceed that) it for weaker personal statement.

So the answer is it depends where they want to apply and what to do. Lower ranked RG unis might offer for less popular courses as long as the grades predicted for A level (usually given at end of yr12) are good enough. But the more popular and competitive courses probably couldn’t offer as they have too many stronger applicants already.

It will depend on the subject. For the most part, you may need certain GCSEs to get on an A level course and so, they only care about your A levels. But certain subjects at certain unis may require a particular GCSE. DDs friend wanted to do Psychology at uni. Some courses at RG unis said she needed to have a 6 in Maths and she only had a 5. She retook it (a whole separate story), and got a 5 again so she did not get offers from at least one of her choices. However, she did get on a Psychology course elsewhere so it wasn’t a disaster. However, you may find choice is restricted.
Dont understand the fuss about RG. I know post 16 settings were measured on how many went onto Rags so they pushed it and continue to push it. Explain to your daughter that RG unis are self selecting, there are no standards to meet. There are plenty who aren’t in the club which are really good unis eg Bath, Lancaster and Loughborough and certain unis are world leaders in very specific subjects but not RG.