What happens if you get a much higher grade than predicted in a levels

Ik it’s a dumb question, but theoretically, if you were predicted like BCC but then you end up getting A*A*A, can you go to a different uni than the ones you originally applied for?

Reply 1

McGinger

Yes - but realistically you would then need to cancel any place you then had and reapply through UCAS the following year. Courses asking for A* grades are not likely to be in Clearing.

Reply 2

Shehshwh

Original post by McGinger

Yes - but realistically you would then need to cancel any place you then had and reapply through UCAS the following year. Courses asking for A* grades are not likely to be in Clearing.

So you would have to take a gap year?

Reply 3

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Shehshwh

Ik it’s a dumb question, but theoretically, if you were predicted like BCC but then you end up getting A*A*A, can you go to a different uni than the ones you originally applied for?

Your options would be clearing (which requires you to hold no offers - either if you didn't get any offers or as above, you self release into clearing by rejecting all your held offers), or gap year and reapply.

Clearing happens on A-level results day (well technically it opens much before that as IB students get their results earlier as well as some other qualifications, but the majority of courses are made available on A-level results day). Popular and competitive courses, especially at popular and "highly ranking" (for better or worse) universities tend to get filled fast and it's first come first served - so if you're going through clearing it's a good idea to know what kind of courses at what kind of unis you are aiming for, have a shortlist, and get up early to be able to start calling the clearing lines as soon as they open!

Reply 4

swanseajack1

Original post by Shehshwh

Ik it’s a dumb question, but theoretically, if you were predicted like BCC but then you end up getting A*A*A, can you go to a different uni than the ones you originally applied for?

The chances of that happening is extremely unlikely. You will probably have more chance of winning the lottery.

75% of students dont reach their predicted grades and less than 10% exceed them. Those that exceed them do so by a small amount maybe 1 or 2 grades. A jump of 7 grades isnt going to happen. Schools tend to over predict rather than the other way.

Any university making offers that high isnt going to be in clearing so if you did do this you would need to take a gap year and reapply next year. If a university is making offers in this range they are likely to be oversubscribed and will reject many with these grades.