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Do you have to get the uni application grades at AS level?

Say your AS grades came out at ABB/BBB and you were applying for a course a few grades higher like AAB or something, would that be reasonable? Or do the grades you apply with have to match the grades they expect you to get at A level

Reply 1

Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Charx0

It's common.

As long as there's a reasonable expectation and/or your predictions are at the level of a course's standard offer conditions then it is worth applying (also assuming you meet any other entry requirements).

Reply 2

sydneybridge

UCAS asks your referee for PREDICTED grades for your A2s. Most schools base this firmly on your AS results - but will usually make allowances if there was an obvious reason like illness for why you messed up. Some Unis 'score' your AS grades as part of their assessment of your application - some just look at your GCSE results and A2 predictions.

To answer your main question - it depends. For all Unis if your AS grades and/or A2 predictions are wildly off their required grades you wont get an offer. For most top Unis, if your predictions don't exactly match/better their required grades you won't get an offer. However, for 'difficult to recruit' courses at top Unis (ie. unusual joint subject courses, and obscure subjects) and most courses at lower Unis, they will be more lenient and make what are called 'aspirational offers' for courses where you present with predicted grades just below their required grades in the expectation that with some effort you could get the grades they want.

Therefore if you are applying for a popular subject like History, English or Law at a Russell Group Uni, make sure you have the predicted grades that match/better what they are asking for - they can afford to be choosy. But if you are applying for something like 'Biology and German' that wont be overwhelmed with applications, you could chance it if you are a grade below. For lower Unis, they will be FAR more lenient in most subjects.

The usual advice is to use your 5 UCAS choices like this :
1 risky choice (you are unlikely to get an offer but hey, its worth a shot)
2 or 3 choices at your predicted grades (unless your PS is rubbish, you'll get an offer)
1 or 2 choices well below your predicted grades (so that whatever happens with the other choices, you are likely to have at least 1 offer!)

Lots of advice here on amking sensible choices and 'How to avoid 5 Rejections' - read it all, its valuable stuff - http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/How_to_Avoid_Getting_5_Rejections