Student Advisory Board guest post: predicted grades and gap years

Check upcoming open days and book your place

With the process of filling in UCAS applications in full swing, I was finding myself rather satisfied by the general lack of pressure I felt to complete mine.

However, my situation changed thanks to the set of results I received last summer…

My thoughts on AS-levels

When ex-education secretary Mr Michael Gove decided to phase out the AS-level modular system I was, like everyone I know, unhappy to say the least. It meant that, for most subjects, all the work done throughout two years of college fed into one single set of exams at the end of the second year, and so woe betide you if you didn’t do as well as you liked.

However, when the government implemented this policy I feel there was no consideration of how it would affect the UCAS system. A system, in short, that relied on the AS-level grades so universities could determine who to give those desirable offers to.

In order to compensate for this, sixth forms up and down the country have had to develop their own ways of determining a student’s likely A-level grades. In the main, these boil down to a set of exams written by the institution rather than the exam board.

But in my opinion, tests or exams in the same style as AS exams cannot truly replace the older format. For one thing, they don’t contribute any UCAS points or a portion of your A-level marks.

How it affected me…

As I was in the second year at college I took a set of ‘transfer’ exams. I’ve heard of other sixth forms calling them ‘transition,’ ‘prediction’ or ‘review’ exams, but I’m sure there are far more out there.

These tests had one essential point: to predict what I was likely to see when I opened up that envelope in August and, more importantly, convey those predictions to any universities I apply to.

This is where I hit a snag. One of my results was nowhere near as good as the others. So now on the determination of a few exam questions, I was unable to confidently apply to universities and I was unsure if I’d receive any offers at all. Let me explain…

When we went through the research process at college, the initial idea had been that you chose a group of universities of varying ‘ranks’ in your mind:

• One with a very great likelihood of accepting you (entry requirements below your current performance)
• One that, assuming all was well, would probably accept you (roughly equal in requirement to your grades)
• One that, should you push yourself, you could meet the requirements and have a reasonable chance of getting into;
• One aspirational target for whom you would have to do unexpectedly well for them to accept you
• A fifth from any of these categories

On receiving these grades last summer, I was put into the position of likely gaining entry to only one of these five (well done you, if you can guess which one!). After lots and lots of deliberation with more than a little anxiety I came up with my solution to this problem: don’t apply.

Now, this probably sounds ridiculous: don’t apply to universities when you fully intend on going? I should probably amend it to, ‘don’t apply yet.’

Why I’m taking a gap year

Essentially, I think the current application system is unreliable. If, with a straight A or A* grade profile, you apply to five prestigious universities and, in August, have attained even one grade below those predicted grades you have lost your chance.

So, a way to strengthen your chances of getting into a university that matches your final grades, if your predictions are not ideal, is to wait for your grades to become a reality.

For me this meant a gap year. Not in the ‘travel and tour’ sense (if that interests you it can be very helpful, however) but in order to give me confirmed grades when I applied instead of predicted ones.

Think about it like this: If your predicted grades aren’t as good as you want them to be, you may not want to apply to the universities who would accept those grades. So you wait, not filling in the application, leaving you only with the need to focus on good achievements in the exams.

By the time you get your results, it may be too late to apply for the university you want. Though you could always try and find a course through Clearing. 

I personally decided against Clearing as the course I wished to study was not available through this process. Instead I took a year out.

When it came to applying, I filled out the application with the help of my college who, in my experience, were happy to help one of their students do well, ready for the deadline of the following year. 

With my new and improved grades, the universities were keen to take me on. They looked at my application and see someone they know, rather than just hope, is going to get the grades they say they will.

My advice

In short, if your grades aren’t up to scratch or the 'prediction' exams didn’t go well, it’s okay to consider another strategy. Giving yourself the best chance of getting into the university you love is worth one more year and a little bit of paperwork.

 And a gap year doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank to go and see the world, it could just be some time without work deadlines and enjoying what you love. It could be a time to get a job and save. It could be the time to boost your personal statement with exploration of your subject.

Whatever your plans are, good luck!

This article was originally written by Tom Martland.

NEXT: 

- Join our student advisory board 

- Read more advice about applying to uni