Then and now grades needed for entry to top universities

What kinds of grades did you need to get onto degrees at top unis like Newcastle, UCL, Durham etc in the 70s, 80s, 90s, when A levels were still hard?

Reply 1

suirrel

Entry requirements are higher than ever because of the huge increase in people applying for university places.

Reply 2

Hollywood Hogan

Original post by suirrel

Entry requirements are higher than ever because of the huge increase in people applying for university places.

Don't kid yourself, A levels were miles harder decades ago.

Reply 3

suirrel

Original post by Hollywood Hogan

Don't kid yourself, A levels were miles harder decades ago.

Of course they were. :smile:

Reply 4

Hollywood Hogan

Original post by suirrel

Of course they were. :smile:

Lancaster was letting in students with grades BCE for Physics in 2002. Now they ask for A*AA/AAA!

Reply 5

Compost

Original post by Hollywood Hogan

What kinds of grades did you need to get onto degrees at top unis like Newcastle, UCL, Durham etc in the 70s, 80s, 90s, when A levels were still hard?

I took my A levels in 1982. Several of my contemporaries got medicine offers of CCC, with BBB being about the highest. Only Vet Science seemed to require nearly straight As. (There were no A*s, they only came in in 2010). Equally, one of my class got a place at Oxford (based on her performance in the old 7th term entrance papers) having achieved CCD at A level. Engineering at Nottingham needed BBC.

Reply 6

Hollywood Hogan

Original post by Compost

How did you prepare for A levels back then, considering how they tested your innate ability much more than just what info you have revised?

Reply 7

Sandtrooper

Volunteer Team

Whoa.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 8

Compost

Original post by Hollywood Hogan

How did you prepare for A levels back then, considering how they tested your innate ability much more than just what info you have revised?

The exam were all at the end of 2 years (and there was no coursework). There was also much less focus on how to answer the exam technique and more on knowing about the subject. The exams were mostly 3 hours long and were spread over 2-3 weeks so the exam period was much more intense. I do remember having 15 hours of exams in 3 days.

I can't honestly remember how we prepped other than the usual stuff - making notes, doing practice questions.