what is a conditional offer?

hello! i don't really understand what a conditional offer entails. my predicted grades are slightly below the entry requirements for 2 of my 5 university choices, so im wondering whether i should still apply in the hopes of getting a conditional offer? for example, would a conditional offer state "if you were to achieve A* instead of A for XYZ subject for your exams, you will receive a place at our university"?

No a conditional offer will say ‘on terms you you achieving A* in maths A* in physics and A in chemistry’ obviously that’s just an example, generally a conditional offer will say what is stated on the entry requirements on the website.
It won’t reference your predicted etc, it could be lower than on the website but I don’t think it’s ever higher.
Sometimes for certain courses it will also include stipulations like health forms etc

This happened to an applicant to Cambridge in the 2021 application cycle for 2022 entry. So probably Oxford and Cambridge are the exceptions.

Oh really that’s crazy, I didn’t even know they were even allowed to do that tbh! But I suppose it could happen particularly for very competitive universities like oxbridge

hello! i don't really understand what a conditional offer entails. my predicted grades are slightly below the entry requirements for 2 of my 5 university choices, so im wondering whether i should still apply in the hopes of getting a conditional offer? for example, would a conditional offer state "if you were to achieve A* instead of A for XYZ subject for your exams, you will receive a place at our university"?

hello! i don't really understand what a conditional offer entails. my predicted grades are slightly below the entry requirements for 2 of my 5 university choices, so im wondering whether i should still apply in the hopes of getting a conditional offer? for example, would a conditional offer state "if you were to achieve A* instead of A for XYZ subject for your exams, you will receive a place at our university"?

A conditional offer is just that- an offer with a certain set of conditions. What those conditions are depends on the course you've applied for. If you meet the conditions with your achieved grades, congrats, you're in! If not, you'll need to contact the uni to see if they can make an adjustment (especially if you missed it narrowly) or you'll have to pick another uni.

This info is wrong there is no adjustment. Universities receive grades about a week before you do. They will have made a decision. Ringing them isnt going to change tings and is only going to prevent others getting through. Do not ring universities if you have been rejected. You just have to accept you were rejected and look elsewhere during clearing.