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How do some students get 540 UCAS points?
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How do some students get 540 UCAS points? I was checking the average UCAS Points for first year students at Warwick University doing Mathematics and they average out 540 between them. Take note, that this is only the 'average' meaning some people will have scored higher than 540 (unless by 'average' they use the 'mode' and 540 is the most common number, as well as being the highest). On top of that, first year students doing Physics at Durham University average out 555 UCAS points. Introduction out the way, I was wondering if someone could clear this up for me. Are these students, students with no social that study 24/7 or have they taken out more than 2 years to achieve these high scores?
I mean surely they do not achieve this in the typical 2 year span of college? I mean if they included a third year or something to top up their ucas points I could understand that but... 540 UCAS points is like 3 A*'s and an A, if I'm not mistaken.. and 555 would require 4 A*'s 'minimum'
I mean surely they do not achieve this in the typical 2 year span of college? I mean if they included a third year or something to top up their ucas points I could understand that but... 540 UCAS points is like 3 A*'s and an A, if I'm not mistaken.. and 555 would require 4 A*'s 'minimum'
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#3
It will include things like general studies which are generally not accepted by unis, but schools make students take them. So 3 A's at A Level, with an additional A in general studies, and then an A in the AS they dropped is 540. That's not actually that amazing.
Some students will also have taken music exams that are given UCAS points, although again generally aren't accepted by unis. And A* grades exist now.
Some students will also have taken music exams that are given UCAS points, although again generally aren't accepted by unis. And A* grades exist now.
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#6
A lot of people that apply to places like Durham, are getting really high grades, like 3A* and an A! :/
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#7
(Original post by Icycandle)
How do some students get 540 UCAS points? I was checking the average UCAS Points for first year students at Warwick University doing Mathematics and they average out 540 between them. Take note, that this is only the 'average' meaning some people will have scored higher than 540 (unless by 'average' they use the 'mode' and 540 is the most common number, as well as being the highest).
How do some students get 540 UCAS points? I was checking the average UCAS Points for first year students at Warwick University doing Mathematics and they average out 540 between them. Take note, that this is only the 'average' meaning some people will have scored higher than 540 (unless by 'average' they use the 'mode' and 540 is the most common number, as well as being the highest).
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#9
They're just really good at managing time and have excellent organisational skills. It Is perfectly possible to get 540 UCAS points whiles have social life e.g. tea and coffee
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#10
(Original post by Icycandle)
So they actually do manage to pull it off in two years then?
So they actually do manage to pull it off in two years then?
eg. You can get 580 points by getting AAAa*abc done within the two years and I had a decentish social life too
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#13
If you get an A level in (for example) Geography, you get two qualifications. An AS in Geography and an A level in Geography (i.e. getting the full A level doesn't negate the fact that the AS is also a qualification in itself, contrary to what others have been implying), therefore if you got As in all modules you would get:
AS points + full A level point = 60 + 120 = 180
and that is for just one A grade at A level. 3 A levels at A grade is 540 points, plus most people do a fourth subject at AS. Say you get an A, that brings your total to 600 points. Then you have General Studies etc. meaning that you could easilly get 540 points without getting all As or taking any more qualifications than normal.
EDIT:
To anyone confused by this post, I was in fact wrong - the overall A level cancels out the corresponding AS as far as UCAS points are concerned (as long as the points for the overall A level are more than the points for the AS - there are some counterexamples to this in which the AS points cancel out the overall A level points). This leads to loopholes where you can get more points more easily (by sitting more ASs instead of A2s in year 13), so the current system is flawed and they should change it to take into account that A2s are harder.
AS points + full A level point = 60 + 120 = 180
and that is for just one A grade at A level. 3 A levels at A grade is 540 points, plus most people do a fourth subject at AS. Say you get an A, that brings your total to 600 points. Then you have General Studies etc. meaning that you could easilly get 540 points without getting all As or taking any more qualifications than normal.
EDIT:
To anyone confused by this post, I was in fact wrong - the overall A level cancels out the corresponding AS as far as UCAS points are concerned (as long as the points for the overall A level are more than the points for the AS - there are some counterexamples to this in which the AS points cancel out the overall A level points). This leads to loopholes where you can get more points more easily (by sitting more ASs instead of A2s in year 13), so the current system is flawed and they should change it to take into account that A2s are harder.
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#14
(Original post by When you see it...)
If you get an A level in (for example) Geography, you get two qualifications. An AS in Geography and an A level in Geography (i.e. getting the full A level doesn't negate the fact that the AS is also a qualification in itself, contrary to what others have been implying), therefore if you got As in all modules you would get:
AS points + full A level point = 60 + 120 = 180
and that is for just one A grade at A level. 3 A levels at A grade is 540 points, plus most people do a fourth subject at AS. Say you get an A, that brings your total to 600 points. Then you have General Studies etc. meaning that you could easilly get 540 points without getting all As or taking any more qualifications than normal.
If you get an A level in (for example) Geography, you get two qualifications. An AS in Geography and an A level in Geography (i.e. getting the full A level doesn't negate the fact that the AS is also a qualification in itself, contrary to what others have been implying), therefore if you got As in all modules you would get:
AS points + full A level point = 60 + 120 = 180
and that is for just one A grade at A level. 3 A levels at A grade is 540 points, plus most people do a fourth subject at AS. Say you get an A, that brings your total to 600 points. Then you have General Studies etc. meaning that you could easilly get 540 points without getting all As or taking any more qualifications than normal.
However you could have 4 full A levels along with 5th AS you dropped, which if you got AAAAa would give you 540 points. Then some music and other extra curricular qualifications count etc.
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#15
Maybe some of them are international students? I have 960 UCAS points, and that is around the average score most other international students would have
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#16
(Original post by StacFace)
The UCAS website states specifically that you can't do this, as it would be counting the qualification twice.
However you could have 4 full A levels along with 5th AS you dropped, which if you got AAAAa would give you 540 points. Then some music and other extra curricular qualifications count etc.
The UCAS website states specifically that you can't do this, as it would be counting the qualification twice.
However you could have 4 full A levels along with 5th AS you dropped, which if you got AAAAa would give you 540 points. Then some music and other extra curricular qualifications count etc.
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#17
(Original post by When you see it...)
Really? Where does it say that? I suppose it is counting the same thing twice though.
Really? Where does it say that? I suppose it is counting the same thing twice though.
http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/how
There is no double counting. Certain qualifications within the Tariff build on qualifications in the same subject. In these cases only the qualification with the higher Tariff score will be counted. This principle applies to:
BTEC National Award, Certificate and Diploma (NQF)
BTEC National Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma and Extended Diploma (QCF)
CACHE Award, Certificate and Diploma in Child Care and Education
Essential Skills Wales at levels 2 and 3
GCE Advanced Subsidiary level and GCE Advanced level
OCR iMedia level 3 Certificate and Diploma
Irish Leaving Certificate at Ordinary and Higher levels
OCR iPRO Certificate and Diploma
Key Skills at level 2, 3 and 4
OCR National Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma
Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
Speech, drama and music awards at grades 6, 7 and 8.
BTEC National Award, Certificate and Diploma (NQF)
BTEC National Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma and Extended Diploma (QCF)
CACHE Award, Certificate and Diploma in Child Care and Education
Essential Skills Wales at levels 2 and 3
GCE Advanced Subsidiary level and GCE Advanced level
OCR iMedia level 3 Certificate and Diploma
Irish Leaving Certificate at Ordinary and Higher levels
OCR iPRO Certificate and Diploma
Key Skills at level 2, 3 and 4
OCR National Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma
Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
Speech, drama and music awards at grades 6, 7 and 8.
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#18
I have 240 UCAS points, a 1st class honors degree and really good international job.... Don't worry about UCAS points, I spent too much time having fun in school :P
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#19
Yeah the international students skew it. I got over 540 UCAS points just this year. So it definitely seems to be inflated by us AP/IB people.
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#20
Taking lots of ASs and including music qualifications and general studies counts for most of it.
Clearly an exceptional case but, one person in my uni course had 10As at A-level plus AEAs and some music qualifications - must be over 1400 points? All done in 2 years
Clearly an exceptional case but, one person in my uni course had 10As at A-level plus AEAs and some music qualifications - must be over 1400 points? All done in 2 years
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