Predicted grades lower than entry requirements

Hi, hopefully this post is in the right place? :s-smilie:

I was wondering what happens if your predicted grades for A-level are lower than the standard entry requirements for the university you want to study at.

I would love to go to a uni with entry requirements of AAB, but my predicted grades are looking like A*AC.

Would my application be automatically rejected and not even considered as I have not met the entry requirements? I am confident I can achieve A*AB in my A-Levels, but I am worried that I won't be offered a conditional place of AAB due to the C.

Would the university even look at things like personal statement or reference with predicted grades of A*AC or would they simply filter me out?

Could the A* prediction somehow make up for the C?

Thanks for any responses, I'm getting so stressed about this!! :frown:

Reply 1

dragonkeeper999

17

It would be worth emailing the admissions office/ department of the universities you are interested in to see how they would view your application. Some unis would accept A*AC as being equivalent to ABB, but others do not. Bear in mind that the subjects you are predicted each grade in will probably be important in their decision - for example if your most relevant subject to the degree is your C prediction then you would probably not be in a very good position, whereas if you are predicted an A* in it they may be willing to overlook a poor prediction in a less related subject :smile:

Reply 2

returnmigrant

21

You predicted grades are exactly that - predictions. They are not necessarily what you are going to get.

Ultimately it depends on the University and that particular course. Do they, for instance, want good grades in all three specific subjects or do they place less weight on a third subject so long as the other two are okay. Is it a highly competitive subject or Uni where they can set rigidly high grade requirements because they know they can fill the course without needing to be nice to anyone without exactly these grades? No-one will have the answer to these questions btw. Its something you'll have to weigh-up and work out a 'risk' for yourself.

The usual advice is to spread your choices over a range of grade requirements - one risky (above you predictions), 2 or 3 at your predicted grades and 1 or 2 well lbelow that. However, grade combinations of an A* with a C are always tricky (ie. you'll see AAB as a grade range, but never AAC).

You have some choices - either apply anyway and hope for the best (remember you'll actually have to get a B in that third subject if they do make you an offer - if you know now that you can't, don't waste everyone's time applying), or you could wait until you have your A2 grades and apply this time next year for 2016 entry with known grades and no guesswork. Without the distraction of 'applying for Uni' you could really concentrate on your A levels and get the best grades possible.

Other useful advice here - How to Avoid 5 Rejections : http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/How_to_avoid_getting_5_rejections

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 3

Izzones

OP

4

Original post by dragonkeeper999

It would be worth emailing the admissions office/ department of the universities you are interested in to see how they would view your application. Some unis would accept A*AC as being equivalent to ABB, but others do not. Bear in mind that the subjects you are predicted each grade in will probably be important in their decision - for example if your most relevant subject to the degree is your C prediction then you would probably not be in a very good position, whereas if you are predicted an A* in it they may be willing to overlook a poor prediction in a less related subject :smile:

Thanks a lot for your response! I will definitely email the universities to see what they say. I would like to study biology, and have an A* prediction in that, A in geography and the C is in chemistry. As they are all considered science subjects by the university hopefully the C prediction will be overlooked and I will be offered AAB :smile:

Thanks again!

Reply 4

Izzones

OP

4

Original post by returnmigrant

You predicted grades are exactly that - predictions. They are not necessarily what you are going to get.

Ultimately it depends on the University and that particular course. Do they, for instance, want good grades in all three specific subjects or do they place less weight on a third subject so long as the other two are okay. Is it a highly competitive subject or Uni where they can set rigidly high grade requirements because they know they can fill the course without needing to be nice to anyone without exactly these grades? No-one will have the answer to these questions btw. Its something you'll have to weigh-up and work out a 'risk' for yourself.

The usual advice is to spread your choices over a range of grade requirements - one risky (above you predictions), 2 or 3 at your predicted grades and 1 or 2 well lbelow that. However, grade combinations of an A* with a C are always tricky (ie. you'll see AAB as a grade range, but never AAC).

You have some choices - either apply anyway and hope for the best (remember you'll actually have to get a B in that third subject if they do make you an offer - if you know now that you can't, don't waste everyone's time applying), or you could wait until you have your A2 grades and apply this time next year for 2016 entry with known grades and no guesswork. Without the distraction of 'applying for Uni' you could really concentrate on your A levels and get the best grades possible.

Other useful advice here - How to Avoid 5 Rejections : http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/How_to_avoid_getting_5_rejections

Thanks for your reply, it was very useful! I am confident I can get a B in that subject (Chemistry) and I have communicated this to my teacher, but they have a very strict prediction method, based only on your AS UMS - I was 4 UMS off the B prediction. I am just worried because if it were between me and another applicant of similar standard with AAB prediction they would choose them over A*AC :frown:

And I agree that most unis seem to want consistency in grades, I've only seen one uni with an offer of AAC which puts me in an awkward position because I want to apply to top universities with my A* and A, but the C limits me there.

I am going to try and convince my teacher to give me a B prediction taking other factors into consideration, but it is nice to know I have other options! Thanks again :smile:

Reply 5

emiratesforlife

5

Original post by Izzones

Hi, hopefully this post is in the right place? :s-smilie:

I was wondering what happens if your predicted grades for A-level are lower than the standard entry requirements for the university you want to study at.
I would love to go to a uni with entry requirements of AAB, but my predicted grades are looking like A*AC.
Would my application be automatically rejected and not even considered as I have not met the entry requirements? I am confident I can achieve A*AB in my A-Levels, but I am worried that I won't be offered a conditional place of AAB due to the C.
Would the university even look at things like personal statement or reference with predicted grades of A*AC or would they simply filter me out?
Could the A* prediction somehow make up for the C?
Thanks for any responses, I'm getting so stressed about this!! :frown:

Same problem here --- predicted A*AB when i need A*AA for KCL Intl management, taking A-level math next year (full content, not only AS content) and I am very strong in math ability (680 SAT math section score)

Predicted grades lower than entry requirements

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