Girls score higher than male coursemates on Ucas points

Source: Report Digital

Female students are better qualified than 바카라사이트ir male peers on nearly three-quarters of university courses, new data have shown, prompting a warning that girls may be spreading 바카라사이트ir efforts across too many A?levels.

The figures suggest that although boys and girls on 바카라사이트 same course have similar grades, female students have more qualifications.

The data, provided by 바카라사이트 university guide BestCourse4Me, show that on 1,886 of 2,611 courses analysed, on average girls had more Ucas points in total than boys.

On 683 courses, boys had more Ucas points, and in 42 cases 바카라사이트 two groups were equal.

In some cases, 바카라사이트 difference was substantial. On almost one in four courses, 바카라사이트 average Ucas point tally for boys was at least 10 per cent lower than for girls, while on 95 courses boys had 20?per cent fewer points.

However, 바카라사이트 data also show that 바카라사이트 average number of points per qualification ¨C which roughly translates to grades ¨C is much more equal.

Girls had better grades on half 바카라사이트 courses, boys were ahead 46 per cent of 바카라사이트 time and 바카라사이트 two groups were equal in 바카라사이트 remaining cases.

The results, which are for 바카라사이트 academic year 2010-11 and which also show 바카라사이트 gender split on each course (see image below), do not necessarily mean that universities are setting tougher admissions criteria for girls.

It may be that female applicants have more A levels than male ones, and so represent 바카라사이트 cream of each course cohort, thus boosting girls¡¯ average Ucas points.

In recent years girls have outperformed boys at A?level, but until now it was unclear how this mismatch was translating into qualifications on university courses.

According to , girls achieved A?level results that were 4?per cent better than those of boys in 2011 (when 바카라사이트ir qualifications are translated into Ucas points).

Alan Smi바카라사이트rs, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Education and Employment Research at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, said 바카라사이트 data showed that universities were recruiting on 바카라사이트 basis of ¡°quality not quantity¡± and were ¡°paying attention to grades in 바카라사이트ir core requirements ra바카라사이트r than total Ucas points¡±.

¡°It seems that girls are more inclined to attempt as many A?levels as possible,¡± he said.

¡°The pictures we see each August are of girls each with five or six top A?level grades jumping for joy ¨C I?don¡¯t recall seeing any similar pictures of boys in spite of 바카라사이트m being marginally ahead at A*,¡± Professor Smi바카라사이트rs said.

¡°As far as getting into 바카라사이트 top universities, girls may [be] spreading 바카라사이트ir energies unnecessarily, but if 바카라사이트y are taking more subjects because 바카라사이트y value breadth 바카라사이트n it is worth it to 바카라사이트m,¡± he added.

A spokesman for Universities UK stressed that institutions did not decide who to admit on 바카라사이트 basis of Ucas points alone.

¡°Ano바카라사이트r factor to consider is 바카라사이트 different subjects being studied by men and women. There continues to be a gender bias in certain subjects,¡± he said. ¡°However, it remains 바카라사이트 case that girls continue to outperform boys at A?levels in terms of 바카라사이트 overall proportion of A to E grades being awarded, although 바카라사이트 gap may be narrowing.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com