universities - how much weight do they put on specific exam boards???

[lilolilmanchester]

A (not always reliably informed) friend tells me that universities favour certain GCSE exam boards over others and that if you go to the school my DD is going to, you stand far less chance of getting into uni vs the school her DD is going to due to GCSE boards. Is this true??? When I applied to uni, they didn't ask about exam boards but that was a zillion years ago. Anyone know whether they ask about this now (am talking GCSE, not A level) and to what extent it affects entrance opportunities. Thanks.

As far as I remember DD & DS's UCAS forms didn't ask which exam boards her GCSE's were with, so unless they track down every candidiate's record individually, I reckon your friend is talking crap misinformed.

I couldn't see it myself Rusty - perhaps for A'level, but def not for GCSE - however, she is adamant.

I'm pretty sure there's at least one mumsnetter who's involved with university selection, so perhaps if you keep this bumped they'll spot it.

thanks rusty. Not megga urgent, nothing I can do to change things for DD, but intrigued. If my friend is wrong, would like to give her the facts before she winds up too many other people!

As a Uni lecturer I can say it wouldn't cross my mind to discriminate on the basis of an exam board! I know that this would stand for the recruitment department too.

I think that's highly unlikely, tbh. DH is a lecturer at a v. good univ and says it's certainly not true for them, and wasn't when he interviewed students at Cambridge. I work in uni admin, but not admissions - but I just can't see how they've have time to even consider exam boards. Will ask our admissions people next week if I get a chance - I suspect they'll just laugh!

thanks - I agree. Unless exam boards need to be specified on the application form, how on earth would universities find the time to investigate?? TBH (and this will sound rude, sorry but is true!) this friend isn't bright enough to realise when she's talking bollocks. But apparently KNOWS this to be the case. Would also be interested to know which exam boards are considered less favourable and why but a big ask for people to comment on that on a forum.

No, I don't think so, not really.
There are certain obscure boards that do obscure subjects that would raise an eyebrow. Our school offers "motor vehicle studies" which is through a Northern Ireland exam board, but it's the subject that would raise the query, not the board.

Personally, I don't know any that are less favourable (IMHO). There may be issues with the subjects but not with the boards.

thanks. Am talking mainstream board here and regular subjects (DF's "reliably sourced info" is that e.g. As in English and Maths from, let's say, exam board "E......" would not be seen as favourably as A from, let's say, exam board "A..". Have dismissed her claims as twaddle but then thought it a bit arrogant so thought I'd consult the oracle!

The exam boards do need to be specified on the UCAS application. At least this was the case when I applied last year. But I can't see how this could be used as a method of discrimination.

ah, thanks roomforthree. What DF is saying is that certain exam boards are recognised by unis as being easier than others. Therefore they look more favourably on the "better" exam boards. Did you have to specify for GCSE as well as A level?

(and must add, I really didn't expect any responses to this - certainly not so many so quickly! MN at its best, thanks all)

No they add the points up according to the grade and type of qualification NOT the boards, I honestly wouldn't worry about this.

Yes, specified for both GCSE & A Level.

I do uni admissions. We do not notice or care.

DH and I have both been involved in admissions at Russell Group unis for some years. I'm pretty sure that roomforthree is right and exam boards are specified for all exams. Neither of us have ever considered putting any weight on the exam board in question and have never come across anyone who has. I guess it's plausible that in a particular subject there may be a potential issue with a board but it's nothing I've ever heard of. The only way I can think of that it might be relevant is if the student is being interviewed and the interviewer is aware that certain boards cover certain topics so the student should be able to answer a question on those topics.

I really wouldn't worry.

thanks again all. Too early re DD for me to be particularly worried just intrigued and want to stop this friend worrying lots of other people. (DS doing GCSEs now but is at the school DF's DD is going to so according to her doing the "best" exam board )

This sounds like the sort gossip that does the rounds in my very MC area, with a lot of excellent state schools vying with the private schools. It's a sort of one upmanship.

Now my older DCs are safely at Russell Group universities I can look back and see it is just total nonsense. No doubt, as others have said, there are one or two totally obscure examining boards in daft subjects but, in the main, most of the examining boards are much of a muchness.

They definitely do ask for examining boards on the UCAS form though.

No idea about others, but I'm admissions person for English at Oxford, and I never even look at the details of boards. We really go more on written work, the new 'test', and interview. I've done admissions at UEA, Reading and Exeter, and they didn't look at boards either. But some might in some subjects - think I hear languages and maths are most variable.

Just been looking on the infamous eleven plus website and it appears there does seem to be a pecking order in Maths exam boards.

thanks for all the extra effort folk. For DS it's too late (his GCSEs have started, but then he's at a school which does "the" board according to DF.)
DD starts high school in Sept, so expect a lot will change before her GCSEs but even if not, hadn;t ever heard that E was considered so much worse than A**. But DF assures me this is the case.

margot, according to whom - Uni admissions officers? That would surely only be relevant for Maths/Science - dh thought the whole idea of looking at exam boards for his subject in his uni was laughable, and they have huge applications and v. high standards.

HRH, it was only according to a poster on that website who appears to know what she/he is talking about from other posts, and usually provides very sensible and even handed advice.

Personally, I am glad that University admission officers don't take any notice. As I said in my other post, I didn't think they did.

I just hope it isn't one of these things that only those 'in the know' are aware of and there are children taking exams in Maths set by boards which are then dismissed by 'good' universities thus denying them a place through no fault of their own. Which is presumably what the OPs 'friend' was hinting at.

When I did O and A Levels a hundred years ago (early 80s), my grammar school banged on that they would only do the Oxford or Oxford and Cambridge Board for exams. They maintained that they were more difficult, and therefore more valued, than exams of other boards. I remember being shown by a teacher the maths O Level paper from another board and the teacher triumphing that it was so much easier than the one we had to do.

It seems unfair if the boards aren't standardised and some children are doing more difficult exams. Conversely it's unfair too if some candidates are preferred because of their 'fortune' in being able to sit a more difficult exam.