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Can I get into a good uni if I take a gap year?

Hey everyone, so in my y12 mocks I kinda flopped and got BCC but I sorted myself out by revising 2 weeks before my y13 mocks and took that to an AAB. If I get smth like A*AB in the real exams will I be better off taking a gap year then reapplying or do I have a chance to get into something like Law or Politics at Kings or Birmingham etc.

Appreciate the help in advice :smile:

Reply 1

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by dekal300

Hi @dekal300,

Hey! First off, well done on turning things around for your Y13 mocks—that’s a huge improvement in a short time, so it shows you’ve got the ability to push your grades even higher for the real exams!

If you achieve A*AB or better, taking a gap year and reapplying could open up stronger universities, especially if your predicted grades were lower when you originally applied. Many top Law and Politics courses (like KCL, Birmingham, Bristol, etc.) are competitive, so applying with achieved grades might give you an advantage. Pros of a gap year: You apply with confirmed grades, which can make you a stronger candidate. More time to build your personal statement—you could gain relevant work experience or read more around your subject.

If you’re happy with your uni choices and get offers, you might not need a gap year. But if you think you could secure a place at a more competitive university by applying with achieved grades, then a gap year could be worth considering!

Ultimately, it depends on whether you’re happy with your current choices or if you want to aim higher. Either way, you’ve already made huge progress, and with focused revision, you could push for even stronger grades in the real exams.

Hope this helps,
Danish
BCU Student Rep