Unconditional offer?
Its summer holiday right now, and I will be a form 5 (year 12) student from Hong Kong coming September.
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
Reply 1
Original post by acetyl.chloride
Its summer holiday right now, and I will be a form 5 (year 12) student from Hong Kong coming September.
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
Do you have any formal English language qualification?
Reply 2
Original post by Admit-One
Do you have any formal English language qualification?
I have a cambridge B2 qualification which I obtained from taking the cambridge 'FCE' exam I took in form 1 (year 8).
I know IELTS is required for students like me whose first language is not English, and I plan to take it once all my IALs are done and results secured.
Reply 3
Original post by acetyl.chloride
Its summer holiday right now, and I will be a form 5 (year 12) student from Hong Kong coming September.
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
Hey, good luck with your exams!
Usually you get a conditional offer until you satisfy the conditions (predictions ord english requirements) However you will have enough time to upload the results. Do inform yourself about important dates and regulations about finance, english requirements and other enquiries.
Reply 4
Original post by maryvisha24
Hey, good luck with your exams!
Usually you get a conditional offer until you satisfy the conditions (predictions ord english requirements) However you will have enough time to upload the results. Do inform yourself about important dates and regulations about finance, english requirements and other enquiries.
Usually you get a conditional offer until you satisfy the conditions (predictions ord english requirements) However you will have enough time to upload the results. Do inform yourself about important dates and regulations about finance, english requirements and other enquiries.
Does that mean, if I have met english requirements and have done all A-Levels before i apply to unis via UCAS, it would be likely i can secure an unconditional offer, without having to worry about my DSE performance?
Reply 5
Original post by acetyl.chloride
Does that mean, if I have met english requirements and have done all A-Levels before i apply to unis via UCAS, it would be likely i can secure an unconditional offer, without having to worry about my DSE performance?
If you provide them with all results then they are very likley to give you an unconditional offer, however it is still important to keep up with a good performance. Also a conditional offer is not bad, sometimes they want extra documents or refrence letters. Try to plan and make a list of all the documents and requirements they need, also check for visa regulations and important dates.
Reply 6
Original post by acetyl.chloride
Its summer holiday right now, and I will be a form 5 (year 12) student from Hong Kong coming September.
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
This summer, alongside almost a year before it, I have spent to self-study A-Levels. I plan to take Edexcel IALs in Oct 24, Jan 25, and Jun 25, hoping for a 4A* or 3A*1A in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
As I plan to use A-Level grades to apply for UCAS, apparently I will have done all my A-Levels before admission for 2026 entry is available.
Will universities directly give me unconditional offers, or they will still give me a conditional offer, based on my predicted HKDSEE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination) grades, which is the high school leaving examination to be sat by all students attending local school in Hong Kong?
Also I would not have done any GCSEs by the time I fill in my UCAS application, how badly would that play against me, bearing in mind I will have self-studied 4 A-Levels?
In the whole school I am the only one who opted for self-studying A-Levels (because my parents cannot afford international school) and applying to UK unis with them. To me it seems theres a lot of uncertainty ahead and I want to make things clearer so that I know what to do next.
Thanks a lot!
Those grade are. Amazing if you manage to get them that’s great university’s admit a lot of students from other countries and will be well experienced in other qualifications such as the HKDSEE and that will negate the lack of GCSE’s. If you apply with achieved grades then most likely you will get unconditional offers unless your looking at places like Oxbridge which requires an entrance exam also as your coming from HK you might need to do an English exam (nothing too taxing) just to make sure you understand enough English to understand the lectures.
(edited 10 months ago)
Reply 7
Original post by acetyl.chloride
I have a cambridge B2 qualification which I obtained from taking the cambridge 'FCE' exam I took in form 1 (year 8).
I know IELTS is required for students like me whose first language is not English, and I plan to take it once all my IALs are done and results secured.
I know IELTS is required for students like me whose first language is not English, and I plan to take it once all my IALs are done and results secured.
In that case it's likely you'd get a conditional offer, (if successful), pending an English language qualification.
I can't speak for all unis, but I think most would accept your achieved AL results. There might be some cases where they want to stipulate your HKDSE results as well, but I think it's unlikely.
Reply 8
It's worth noting though that you MUST list ALL of your qualifications including the pending HKDSEE on your UCAS application (and your A level results no matter what they are). You can't pick and choose which qualifications you list on UCAS you must list a FULL education history.
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