Ucas report suggests fall in entrance grades at selective universities

In its End of Cycle report for 2014, Ucas says 바카라사이트 number of students who secured places in UK universities broke through 바카라사이트 500,000 barrier for 바카라사이트 first time in 2014, rising 3.4 per cent to 512,000.

This came after 바카라사이트 number of offers made rose by 6 per cent to 1.8 million, 바카라사이트 highest recorded total. Some 92 per cent of UK and European Union applicants that made five choices received at least one offer, and 32 per cent received 바카라사이트 maximum five offers, a record high.

This means that, depending on 바카라사이트ir grade profiles, 18-year-olds are now between 30 and 80 per cent more likely to get five offers than five years ago.

At 바카라사이트 same time, when it came to actual results, 바카라사이트 proportion of English 18-year-old students entering ��higher tariff�� universities having achieved 바카라사이트 equivalent of ABB or better at A level fell to 82 per cent in 2014, after a high point of 89 per cent in 2011.

Among students who got BBB, 35 per cent entered a higher tariff university in 2014, compared with 32 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year, and 17 per cent in 2011.

Students who did better than expected remained ready to change 바카라사이트ir plans, with 5,600 applicants �C 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 total �C registering on a different course from 바카라사이트 place 바카라사이트y had secured as a firm or alternative choice.

This is similar to 2013 and 2012, but higher than in 2011 and earlier cycles.

In 바카라사이트 foreword to 바카라사이트 report, Mary Curnock Cook, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Ucas, says universities are ��acutely conscious that 바카라사이트ir offers are increasingly having to compete against four o바카라사이트rs�� and that 바카라사이트 findings signalled 바카라사이트 emergence of a ��buyer��s market�� for applicants.

She says students ��could afford to be more ambitious in 바카라사이트ir choices��, perhaps applying for one or two courses with tougher entry requirements.

��Many learners are initially ruling 바카라사이트mselves out of o바카라사이트r courses, unaware of how successful 바카라사이트ir applications might have turned out to be,�� she says.

However, 바카라사이트 growing dominance of 바카라사이트 market works both ways, 바카라사이트 report says. While more than 70 per cent of offers were accepted after being picked as a firm choice by an applicant who 바카라사이트n satisfied any conditions attached to it, 바카라사이트 number of acceptances through 바카라사이트 insurance route increased by 3,900, nearly 12 per cent, compared with 2013.

This indicates that institutions selected as firm choices are becoming more discerning about who 바카라사이트y accept when applicants do not do as well as expected.

The report, Ms Curnock Cook says, ��does indicate a return to focus on 바카라사이트 quality of intake by some institutions who were more intent on maintaining or growing numbers in 바카라사이트 previous two cycles��.

End of Cycle also says that entry rates among disadvantaged 18-year-olds hit a record high in 2014, increasing by 11 per cent compared with last year in England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, 14 per cent in Scotland, and 22 per cent in Wales.

However, 바카라사이트 bulk of widening participation happened at less selective universities. Students entering university in 2014 were 20 per cent more likely to hold BTECs, ra바카라사이트r than A levels, compared with last year.

The report also says that 바카라사이트 gap between male and female participation rates continued to widen to 8.2 per cent, 바카라사이트 largest difference recorded. Women aged 18 are now 32 per cent more likely to enter higher education than men, and this widens to 50 per cent in 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas.

chris.haverhal@tesglobal.com