Can somebody please help me to decode my offer?
Here's my offer:
This offer is subject to you obtaining
International Baccalaureate Diploma with 38 points overall, and a combined score of 18 achieved in three higher level subjects, with no HL score lower than 5, including 6 in both Biology and Chemistry. Plus pass an English Language test approved by UCL at Level 4 (see https://tinyurl.com/y4rthuw6), or provide evidence that you have already done so.
So I did my IB exams in May 2024 (last year) and got 38 points overall. My Higher level so far is sitting at 6 in chemistry, 6 in geography, and 4 in maths.
This year I'm doing a year 14 at my school with higher level biology, predicted a 7.
I've also signed up for a maths retake, however, I absolutely won't have time to revise for it and will probably end up with a 2.
Now, I don't understand whether 'no HL score lower than 5' means out of my 3 best higher levels (in this case, chemistry, biology, and geography), or out of all 4 of my higher levels including maths.
Also, the english language test they're talking about, what exactly is that? Do I need to prepare for it or anything? Also I might need to defer my entry because I need to get my residence permit next year and that requires me to stay at my country of origin for another year. Do I have to pass this english test in the next 2 months or so or can I wait till next year to do it? Thanks!
This offer is subject to you obtaining
International Baccalaureate Diploma with 38 points overall, and a combined score of 18 achieved in three higher level subjects, with no HL score lower than 5, including 6 in both Biology and Chemistry. Plus pass an English Language test approved by UCL at Level 4 (see https://tinyurl.com/y4rthuw6), or provide evidence that you have already done so.
So I did my IB exams in May 2024 (last year) and got 38 points overall. My Higher level so far is sitting at 6 in chemistry, 6 in geography, and 4 in maths.
This year I'm doing a year 14 at my school with higher level biology, predicted a 7.
I've also signed up for a maths retake, however, I absolutely won't have time to revise for it and will probably end up with a 2.
Now, I don't understand whether 'no HL score lower than 5' means out of my 3 best higher levels (in this case, chemistry, biology, and geography), or out of all 4 of my higher levels including maths.
Also, the english language test they're talking about, what exactly is that? Do I need to prepare for it or anything? Also I might need to defer my entry because I need to get my residence permit next year and that requires me to stay at my country of origin for another year. Do I have to pass this english test in the next 2 months or so or can I wait till next year to do it? Thanks!
Reply 1
My reading of this is that you need 5 or more in ALL higher subjects.
Only unconditional offers can be deferred - any offers that are still conditional after September/october are rejected by UCAS. That means to defer the offer you would need UCL to make it unconditional before that date (there’s 2 dates because universities can put a manual extension onto the deadline to delay the auto rejection until October). Which would mean meeting the English language requirements by then.
Only unconditional offers can be deferred - any offers that are still conditional after September/october are rejected by UCAS. That means to defer the offer you would need UCL to make it unconditional before that date (there’s 2 dates because universities can put a manual extension onto the deadline to delay the auto rejection until October). Which would mean meeting the English language requirements by then.
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 2
Hi, I would encourage you to contact the University you have applied to for further guidance and confirmation regarding your offer of study 
My guess is the 3 HL subjects bit is to do with the fact that UK students do 3 A Levels and HL subjects are more like the full A Level syllabus. I would have thought that they are saying you need 3HL subjects with reasonable grades, so you need 18HL points in 3 subjects with no score less than 5 in those 3 HL subjects. I don't see why they would specify the grade in a 4th HL subject if you only need 3 HL subjects. As the other poster suggested you can check this with their Admissions office.
You need to take an English language test (like IELTS Academic Online) to meet the English language requirements by the deadline they gave you to meet all conditions in their offer. (Probably by end of August 2025.) If you read that webpage you posted you will see there are also some options involving IB English which meet the requirements without needing a separate test. (Depends on which IB English you do and at what level)
You need to take an English language test (like IELTS Academic Online) to meet the English language requirements by the deadline they gave you to meet all conditions in their offer. (Probably by end of August 2025.) If you read that webpage you posted you will see there are also some options involving IB English which meet the requirements without needing a separate test. (Depends on which IB English you do and at what level)
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Robin9426
Here's my offer:
This offer is subject to you obtaining
International Baccalaureate Diploma with 38 points overall, and a combined score of 18 achieved in three higher level subjects, with no HL score lower than 5, including 6 in both Biology and Chemistry. Plus pass an English Language test approved by UCL at Level 4 (see https://tinyurl.com/y4rthuw6), or provide evidence that you have already done so.
So I did my IB exams in May 2024 (last year) and got 38 points overall. My Higher level so far is sitting at 6 in chemistry, 6 in geography, and 4 in maths.
This year I'm doing a year 14 at my school with higher level biology, predicted a 7.
I've also signed up for a maths retake, however, I absolutely won't have time to revise for it and will probably end up with a 2.
Now, I don't understand whether 'no HL score lower than 5' means out of my 3 best higher levels (in this case, chemistry, biology, and geography), or out of all 4 of my higher levels including maths.
Also, the english language test they're talking about, what exactly is that? Do I need to prepare for it or anything? Also I might need to defer my entry because I need to get my residence permit next year and that requires me to stay at my country of origin for another year. Do I have to pass this english test in the next 2 months or so or can I wait till next year to do it? Thanks!
This offer is subject to you obtaining
International Baccalaureate Diploma with 38 points overall, and a combined score of 18 achieved in three higher level subjects, with no HL score lower than 5, including 6 in both Biology and Chemistry. Plus pass an English Language test approved by UCL at Level 4 (see https://tinyurl.com/y4rthuw6), or provide evidence that you have already done so.
So I did my IB exams in May 2024 (last year) and got 38 points overall. My Higher level so far is sitting at 6 in chemistry, 6 in geography, and 4 in maths.
This year I'm doing a year 14 at my school with higher level biology, predicted a 7.
I've also signed up for a maths retake, however, I absolutely won't have time to revise for it and will probably end up with a 2.
Now, I don't understand whether 'no HL score lower than 5' means out of my 3 best higher levels (in this case, chemistry, biology, and geography), or out of all 4 of my higher levels including maths.
Also, the english language test they're talking about, what exactly is that? Do I need to prepare for it or anything? Also I might need to defer my entry because I need to get my residence permit next year and that requires me to stay at my country of origin for another year. Do I have to pass this english test in the next 2 months or so or can I wait till next year to do it? Thanks!
I agree with the above that "no HL score lower than 5" means that all HL scores must be greater than a 5. Which means you need achieve a 5 or above in your maths retake to meet the conditions of the offer. It does not specify "three best HL subjects" in that part of the sentence, and note some students take 4 HLs in any event and would also still be subject to that condition.
Of course ultimately it will be at the university's discretion to consider you as a "near miss" applicant if you don't get a 5 or above in your HL maths retake - they may not be overly worried about it in the end. But as the offer is written you don't meet the stated offer if you get below a 5 in HL maths (with or without retake).
Note that you would still need to meet the conditions for the English language test in time in order to have the offer confirmed as unconditional and then request to defer, and if you failed to meet that condition you would lose your offer. English language requirements are normally "hard" requirements as well, so best get on top of sorting that out.
(edited 1 month ago)
All UCL programmes have similar IB wording about certain points total in 3HL subjects with no HL score less than 5. I agree the wording is ambiguous but what is the logic of requiring a certain score in a 4th HL subject if that is only an option? (I'm assuming it is an option but don't know for sure.)They don't specify any requirements for the SL subjects. It would be a bit like saying you need AAA at A Level with no grade less than B in any other A Level you happen to take.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by AlanT12
My guess is the 3 HL subjects bit is to do with the fact that UK students do 3 A Levels and HL subjects are more like the full A Level syllabus. I would have thought that they are saying you need 3HL subjects with reasonable grades, so you need 18HL points in 3 subjects with no score less than 5 in those 3 HL subjects. I don't see why they would specify the grade in a 4th HL subject if you only need 3 HL subjects. As the other poster suggested you can check this with their Admissions office.
You need to take an English language test (like IELTS Academic Online) to meet the English language requirements by the deadline they gave you to meet all conditions in their offer. (Probably by end of August 2025.) If you read that webpage you posted you will see there are also some options involving IB English which meet the requirements without needing a separate test. (Depends on which IB English you do and at what level)
You need to take an English language test (like IELTS Academic Online) to meet the English language requirements by the deadline they gave you to meet all conditions in their offer. (Probably by end of August 2025.) If you read that webpage you posted you will see there are also some options involving IB English which meet the requirements without needing a separate test. (Depends on which IB English you do and at what level)
Thank you so much, yes I've emailed admissions but they're on Easter break now and probably wouldn't reply till after. My exams begin in a bit more than a week so I really need to think through how to allocate my study time from now on, which is why I'm asking. My main concern is my maths. The fact they said '3 HLs with 18 points in total' and 'no HLs with lower than a 5' is scaring me, seems to suggest all my 4 HLs including maths has to be above 5. They could've said '3 HLs with scores above 5'. And regarding english, I took SL and got a 6, which doesn't meet their requirements (which is a 7 in SL). I am fluent in english tho and I'm just extremely bad at analyzing texts. So passing one of the language tests in 1-2 months should be achievable. Thanks for your help!
It just reads like the standard IB offer, (not taking into account retakes and/or additional subjects).
They may not have spotted Maths HL, (assuming it was listed on the application?), or may have just ran out of character space to explain all the permutations they'll accept. I am sure theyll clarify when the admissions office reopens.
They may not have spotted Maths HL, (assuming it was listed on the application?), or may have just ran out of character space to explain all the permutations they'll accept. I am sure theyll clarify when the admissions office reopens.
Original post by Admit-One
It just reads like the standard IB offer, (not taking into account retakes and/or additional subjects).
They may not have spotted Maths HL, (assuming it was listed on the application?), or may have just ran out of character space to explain all the permutations they'll accept. I am sure theyll clarify when the admissions office reopens.
They may not have spotted Maths HL, (assuming it was listed on the application?), or may have just ran out of character space to explain all the permutations they'll accept. I am sure theyll clarify when the admissions office reopens.
It's pretty much the wording for their standard entry requirements. But since I obtained this offer saying I'm doing a retake, I'm not 100% certain whether they gave me the offer BECAUSE I'm planning to retake rather than taking it as I've met the standard entry requirements with just my top 3 HLs. And yes, I listed everything in my application, including my achieved grade of 4 in maths and a pending grade (without a PG) for my 2025 retake. And I don't think they ran out of character space, because my offer for Warwick is quite a bit longer than this (assuming UCAS gave them the same amount of space). I'm freaking out a bit since my maths exam is in 3 weeks plus I have other exams as well. If I need a 5 in maths I need to lock in right now, meaning I won't get nearly as much time to prepare for my other exams.
I think they can only base their decision to make you an offer based on your overall IB prediction and your best 3HL score including having biology and chemistry. They can't consider a 4th HL since it is an option. Maths would have only been considered in terms of getting the offer if the predicted resit grade increased your overall IB score or number of HL points for the 3 best including biology and chemistry.
But regardless of what got you the offer, they make everyone the same offer. So you can use either Maths or Geography as your 3rd HL subject (assuming the programme accepts resits).
But regardless of what got you the offer, they make everyone the same offer. So you can use either Maths or Geography as your 3rd HL subject (assuming the programme accepts resits).
(edited 1 month ago)
I met the entry requirements with my overall 38 points with 66 in HL chem and geo and 7 predicted in HL bio. The 4 in maths is achieved and the only requirement I got from manchester is a very clear 6 in HL maths. So when I saw the offer I thought they meant top 3 HLs but then they said no HL lower than a 5. I've sent admissions an email but I'm not expecting a reply till after the April break. The thing is, if maths isn't in the conditions I would much rather go all in on bio to secure a 7 and prepare for one of the english tests considering I don't have much time. Since the wording is so similar to the standard entry requirements, is it more likely that this is what pretty much everyone else got instead of personalized like some of my other offers? Because in this case I would assume they mean the top 3 HLs.
In this case I'll probably still focus on bio then, because I have a conditional for that for sure. I'll start looking over maths just in case so if admissions replies with yes a 5 in maths is also required 2 weeks later I'll still have a week or so to go all in on maths before my exam. Thanks a lot for your help, I'm a lot less stressed now!
Reply 13
i’m in a similar sort of situation and they gave me the same condition of ‘no grades lower than 5’ and when i called them they confirmed it was for all subjects, not just the ones i was retaking.. it sucks that they give out offers so late
Original post by Anonymous
i’m in a similar sort of situation and they gave me the same condition of ‘no grades lower than 5’ and when i called them they confirmed it was for all subjects, not just the ones i was retaking.. it sucks that they give out offers so late
it's for all HL subjects, not just the top 3? My situation is I have 4 HLs in total. I'm retaking 1 and another I switched from SL to HL first year so this is my first sitting. I already have 664 achieved for chem geo and maths respectively and 7 predicted for bio. In this case if I get a 6647 at the end (which is very likely), will they take it as 667 therefore I've met my conditions or 6647 therefore I have not met my conditions because I have a 4 instead of a 5 in maths? Because this is the standard offer and most people only do 3 A levels or 3 HL subjects.
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 15
Original post by Robin9426
it's for all HL subjects, not just the top 3? My situation is I have 4 HLs in total. I'm retaking 1 and another I switched from SL to HL first year so this is my first sitting. I already have 664 achieved for chem geo and maths respectively and 7 predicted for bio. In this case if I get a 6647 at the end (which is very likely), will they take it as 667 therefore I've met my conditions or 6647 therefore I have not met my conditions because I have a 4 instead of a 5 in maths? Because this is the standard offer and most people only do 3 A levels or 3 HL subjects.
mine was for all but you should email/call them asap.
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