Is getting a 2:2 a useless grade?

It is also FAR harder to get a 2:1 at a top university than many of the lower ranked ones.

Do you have evidence to support that or is it just wild speculation?

This is based on my observations of work required by people at various universities (particularly Bristol vs UWE).

Let me put it to you that someone does law at the University of Derby and someone else does it at Oxford. Firstly the entry requirements for the latter are much higher which indicate that you have to be a better quality of student to get onto the course. Furthermore you also have to face tougher competition in terms of application ratios. Now that our hypothetical people are on their courses do you really think that given the difference in ability that has already been distinguished the courses are going to be of an equivalent standard. Following on from this if they achieve the same degree classification, 2:1 in this case, surely you are not trying to tell me that they are worth the same. People from *lesser* universities always try and use the argument that their achievement is the same when blatantly it is not, just acdept that peple have different abilities and or work ethic, welcome to the real world where abilities and results count.

Your entire argument is based on an assumption that people always apply to, and indeed get into the best university that their ability affords. This is simply not the case. Although it may not be so apparent from some of the people on this forum, many people choose their university for other reasons than purely because The Times has placed a low number next to it in a table. An entry requirement merely represents the popularity of the course. And just because a particular entry requirement may be CCC at A-level, that does not mean that students that achieve higher grades are not on that course. Therefore your argument is invalid.

I grant you that people may not always apply to the best university they can get into for reasons other than academic ability but I also think these cases are a small minority and cannot be used to mask the general trends. Secondly in terms of ability, what do you mean people didn;t get into the best univeristy they could based on ability if you didn't get in you weren't deemed good enough end of story no excuses. Again I think league tables are self perpetuating in that if they they give universities a higher ranking then this attracts better students who then advance the repuation of the univeristy still further. Also entry requirements, why do you think a course is popular, possibly because it's of a good standard? Of course students may exceed the entry requirements but generally thats because whatever univeristy they are at was the best one they could get into.

Although I forget the name now, there is an independent organisation that evaluates the universities and publishes its report each year. One of the things they assess is the standards of education including course content and the difficultly of assessments set. After a recent disscussion with one of my lecturers at Plymouth, I know for a fact that they are regularly checked, to ensure that standards are kept to a high level. Again, I accept there will always be the odd few exceptions, but on the whole, the level of difficultly will be broadly the same.

Ok please don't tell me that you really think that all courses are of an equal standard regardless of university, that's frankly laughable.

It simply does come down to who the course is catered for.

Ok please don't tell me that you really think that all courses are of an equal standard regardless of university, that's frankly laughable.

It simply does come down to who the course is catered for. At the top universities courses are usually designed for people capable of bbb or higher at a-level: at the lower league universities courses are designed for people with lower grades, hence are easier.
This does not mean that a 2i at a lower university means nothing, many employers (not the top ones) do not assume a difference between universities, so as long as you get a 2i you are generally OK.

Maybe we should just all aim to get a 2:1 instead of worrying about getting a 2:2

Ok please don't tell me that you really think that all courses are of an equal standard regardless of university, that's frankly laughable.

It is also FAR harder to get a 2:1 at a top university than many of the lower ranked ones.

Ok please don't tell me that you really think that all courses are of an equal standard regardless of university, that's frankly laughable.

This has puzzled me for ages...in schools GCSEs and Alevels are awarded by exam board, not the school, otherwise any school could fake a good performance. Are the universities' exams set and marked by exam boards?? if so, how is it easier to get a a 2:1 at at a lower ranked place if the standards for getting one are the same?? or is it the coursework?