Uni Entry requirements confusion

[HigherUp]

I keep seeing this sort of statement regarding entry requirements - this is from Edinburgh:

• SQA Highers: AAAA (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.

It’s the 3 Bs bit that confuses me. Does it mean you need to take 7 Highers over your S4-S6 years and get 4 As and 3 Bs? What if you get 5 As at Higher in S5? Or 4 As and 1 B at Higher by end of S5.

I should know this as I’ve got one in 2nd year at Uni but they got 5 As at Higher and then 3 As at AH so I didn’t look at the small print as much as I’m doing for my current student.

As I understand it it means that either in S4, S5 or S6 the candidate must have taken at least 3 higher and got at least BBB on these. Otherwise in theory they could take just one in S4 and get and A; just two Highers in S5 and get 2 As; and 1 in S6 and get an A in that making a total of AAAA, which wouldn't be as challenging as achieving AAAA in one year

Prefer you to have AAAA - preferably passed in S5

BBB - all to have been passed in a single year rather than over a series of years

So it’s a range? 3 Bs - 4 As. It’s all pretty meaningless when so many students with 5 x Band 1 A Highers didn’t get places at St A, Edinburgh or Glasgow these past couple of years.

Would be interested in seeing stats for how many Scottish 5A1 students who didn't get any of St A/ Edinburgh/ Glasgow for subjects that don't interview/further test. Mumsnet is always going on about them but I've never heard of any in real life. I can understand StA as its small and there are lots of good students.

I do know someone (not sure all Band 1s) who didn't get Edinburgh for law a couple of years ago but got Glasgow/ Strathclyde/Dundee/Aberdeen so not exactly a disaster.

In my experience (my 3, their friends, my nieces/nephews) offers haven't just gone to those with the highest grades possible. Admissions at some unis quite good at sniffing out really interesting students.

So if you meet the minimum worth a punt for a few choices.

That’s good to hear Sandy 🙂

Not a range. They are looking for 4As. They would prefer 4As by the end of S5. But they want 4As by the end of S6 and they want the candidate to have achieved at least 3 Highers in one year, but accept grades that may need to be improved on to get an offer. It’s about being able to show ability to manage workload.

Do many offer based on A1 or A2 or have I misunderstood? Mine has 5As but not all A1 (he has some, but some A2 as well). I thought only Oxbridge offered based on A1 and A2 at advanced higher?

As for OP I take that as being that they need the AAAA by the time they are going to be going to Uni and at the very least must have got BBB in one sitting. So eg if they got AABBB in s5, then they will meet the requirements if they get AA in s6. I think!

I've heard of that with St A and also Edi for law only seem to make offers to contextual Scottish students. My son is waiting to hear from Glasgow but everyone he knows with AAAAA (not sure if all A1) has had an unconditional from Glasgow, and if eg AAABB or AAAAB a conditional. I expect if he gets an offer he might get a conditional as it's CS and maths which (esp CS) is competitive but he's got an unconditional from Strathclyde so he's happy