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Most students' predicted A-level grades are 'wrong'

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AS I was predicted CCC
I got ABC

Now for my A2's I'm predicted ABC. And I don't think that's happening lol.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Pix2015
AS I was predicted CCC
I got ABC

Now for my A2's I'm predicted ABC. And I don't think that's happening lol.

Posted from TSR Mobile


For what subjects?
Original post by Arima
At AS i was predicted BBBB, got ABBB, the A grade being is a subject where one of my teachers was 100% convinced that i'd get a U lol

So at A2 i was predicted AAA, was whole-heartedy expecting BBC, ended up with AAB so its chill

What subjects?
Reply 23
Avatar for Arima
Arima
16
Original post by MajorFader
What subjects?


maths, chemi, bio, + french at AS
Is that Ichigo? :P
not shocked. loads of people in my school are predicted strings of A*s which i doubt they'll achieve, and teachers give in and raise your predicted grades if you ask them enough times. People in my school who got like Bs and Cs in the mocks getting predicted A*s, and people with C, D or Es in the mocks have even been predicted As. IMO you should only be predicted an A* if you got an A* in the mock or like at the very least in the top part of the A grade. (And the same for other predictions, either you should have got that grade in the mock or were at the top of the grade below).
I wonder if this Union thinks academics should have shorter holidays or work longer hours in order to have post-A level admissions?

In 2013 UCAS proposed moving to post A level admissions. Every relevant group was in favour, provided that the others changed their practices and that group didn't have to. Schools couldn't have earlier exams. Exam boards couldn't mark any quicker. Universities couldn't process admission decisions more speedily or during the long vac. The government said that moving the start of the first year would be too disruptive to the economy.


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Overdoing predicted grades on a large scale massively impacts the college itself. If students are known for not meeting the predicted grades that they are given because of overprediction again and again then they can tell that and may less likely accept people from these colleges.
Reply 28
Avatar for DanGG
DanGG
9
My school has noticed that other schools are very optimistic, so does the opposite - it is overly harsh with the predicted grades. A* are too rare, even if you are definitely capable of receiving them. My Spanish teacher says she never gives A* as a predicted grade because exams are so hard. All subjects, especially Biology in my case, have been very conservative with their predicted grades.

I presume this is partly so that everyone hits/exceeds their predicteds and meets the (lower) conditional offers, so most people get into their universities, albeit to worse unis that offer low grades or unconditionals.

I got an A in Biology in AS, yet my teachers put a B in my predicted for A2. It meant I couldn't choose a university like UCL for my course. After some emails, though, it seemed that they reviewed their decision and put an A, thankfully.

In some ways, this motivated me to do more work (and I did do more) for all my subjects that had been harsher in their predicteds.
Reply 29
Avatar for Reue
Reue
20
Original post by sr90
A first come, first served basis would be completely unfair.


Why?
I actually achieved my predicted grades, but in a different order. Only one subject was correct, the other two were the wrong way round.
(edited 6 years ago)
[video="youtube;xYA1g4eitMI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYA1g4eitMI[/video]
Original post by lai812matthew
this prediction system violates the nature of human

So does that use of language

Original post by APersonYo
Someone got a U in maths in my school and got predicted a B Loooool, predicted grades are a joke.


Oi I've got a U in my most recent maths mock and am predicted a B you cheeky bugger fight me irl
My college had the rule of same grade or +1

But I'm not surprised based upon what I've seen here
Original post by Retired_Messiah
So does that use of language



Oi I've got a U in my most recent maths mock and am predicted a B you cheeky bugger fight me irl


true that's the reason i got A* predictions
I didn't do A-levels/GCSE's as I am from the EU and we have a different system for high school exams. I did two Masters after high school.
I have lived in the UK for a decade and decided to apply to uni as a mature applicant. I find this whole predicted grade thing mindblowing for a number of reasons:

- even if you perform really well in GCSE's/AS-levels, nobody can predict how you will do that particaular day in that particular subject. They may have a good idea about one's abilities but this doesn't necessarily reflect what will happen on exam day.
- there is also the factor that we are all humans and the teachers are, too. I had many teachers who didn't particularly like me and would not have even given me a predicted B, and in the actual exam I achieved the best grade with disctinction.
- also, as a mature student needing to do A-levels in chemistry and biology it took me A LOT of effort and money to find a tutor to assess my knowledge and provide me with predicted grades that the unis would then accept. It also meant that my knowledge needed to be A-level level 9 months before the actual exams, because the tutor would not factor in the fact that I still had 9 months to prepare for the actual thing.
- and then of course there are all the issues that are generated by the fact that people don't necessarily achieve the grades they were predicted

When I applied to uni in my last year of high school (it was just after in the stone age :wink: ) I had to take a test in the particular subject and this test was accepted by all the unis that offered the subject. Then I had an interview and based on the written exam and the interview I received my score. The test was brutal and the expectations were way beyond the knowledge you could acquire in high school. The system wasn't perfect but it put us on a much more level playing field.

I hope the UK can find a fairer system for university admissions.
Reply 36
Avatar for SFK537
SFK537
9
Original post by TheYearNiner
If im predicted CDD at AS but im getting A's for mini tests we do can I have AAA predicted at A2?? Im in year 12.


100%! I was predicted CCD at the start of year 12, now predicted AAA in year 13 :smile:
Original post by Reue
Why?


When I applied for what was then called the Solicitors Final Examination course at the College of Law which was to follow my law degree, where applications were first come, first served, I was applicant number 3000 odd.

I had applied in early December of my first year as an undergraduate.

If you have first come, first served, children will still be in nappies applying for the most competitive courses. If you have an opening date, it will be like trying to buy a concert ticket for that year's most popular singer.
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 38
Avatar for Reue
Reue
20
Original post by nulli tertius
When I applied for what was then called the Solicitors Final Examination course at the College of Law which was to follow my law degree, where applications were first come, first served, I was applicant number 3000 odd.

I had applied in early December of my first year as an undergraduate.

If you have first come, first served, children will still be in nappies applying for the most competitive courses. If you have an opening date, it will be like trying to buy a concert ticket for that year's most popular singer.


I still don't see the problem. Have an opening date and those who are organised will get their applications in early enough. I can't believe that you'd have too many all at the same time all with the same grades.
Original post by Reue
I can't believe that you'd have too many all at the same time all with the same grades.


Of course you would. Everyone would have their grades. Everyone would be told and have it drilled in to them that if you want to read Economics at LSE or whatever that you have to apply at 9AM on a particular day or you will have no chance. People will sell automated "bidding" software. Others will use services who claim to be a microsecond or so quicker (city traders already compete to have faster electronic connections).

And of course there will be many more applicants. The UCAS five applications only system deters speculative applications. If you look at US universities, more than 1/3 of applicants apply to more than 7 colleges despite having to pay a fee for every one.

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