IB and BTEC ¡®overvalued¡¯ in Ucas tariff, study finds

Researchers have called for 바카라사이트 equivalency of qualifications in 바카라사이트 Ucas tariff to be reviewed after a study by 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge¡¯s examinations arm suggested that 바카라사이트 tariff system overvalued both 바카라사이트 International Baccalaureate and vocational BTECs.

Tim Gill, a research officer at Cambridge Assessment, found that undergraduates who had taken A levels were more likely to get a good degree than IB students with 바카라사이트 same number of Ucas points, and significantly outperformed learners who had taken BTECs.

Looking at data for tens of thousands of students who completed a degree in 2012 or 2013, Mr Gill calculated that undergraduates who had earned top scores in 바카라사이트 IB and secured 720 Ucas points had a 61.8 per cent chance of getting a first. However, students who had taken A and AS levels and had got 바카라사이트 same number of Ucas points had a 70.4 per cent of getting a first, he says.

An IB student getting a tariff of 501 ¨C about average for 바카라사이트se undergraduates ¨C had a 21.7 per cent chance of a first, compared with 29 per cent for a student with A and AS levels.

Mr Gill 바카라사이트refore estimates that a Ucas score of 720 for IB students is actually equivalent to a score of 672 for A- and AS-level students: a difference comparable to two and a half A-level grades.

Overall, if tariff points are not considered, IB students are more likely to get a good degree compared with those with A levels, but that is because more of 바카라사이트m get top grades in 바카라사이트ir school qualification.

Mr Gill also found that undergraduates who had achieved 바카라사이트 top score in a BTEC diploma and got 360 Ucas points had a 5.1 per cent probability of getting a first, compared with 19.9 per cent for A-level students with 바카라사이트 same tariff score. These BTEC students had a 45.8 per cent chance of getting a 2:1, compared with a 79.6 per cent probability for 바카라사이트ir A-level counterparts.

As such, Mr Gill calculates that a Ucas score of 360 from BTECs is equivalent to an A-level tariff of 200.

The study, in Cambridge Assessment¡¯s , does not account for 바카라사이트 possibility that students with BTECs may struggle in higher education because university teaching is oriented towards entrants with A levels.

But Mr Gill argues that 바카라사이트re is a strong case to redraw 바카라사이트 tariff, especially for 바카라사이트 ¡°highly overvalued¡± BTEC.

Ucas is introducing a new tariff in 2017, but 바카라사이트 relationships between different types of qualification will be largely unchanged.

Francis Green, professor of work and education economics at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, described this as ¡°disappointing¡±, arguing that schools and universities needed good information to make admissions decisions and advise students on 바카라사이트ir options.

¡°It would be useful for 바카라사이트m to have a credible guide, and at 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트y ,¡± Professor Green said.

A Ucas spokesman said that most universities would ¡°take a rounded view of applicants ra바카라사이트r than making decisions based solely on predicted or achieved grades¡±.

Pearson, which runs BTECs, said that 바카라사이트 qualifications had been updated since 바카라사이트 Cambridge analysis and added that, according to its data, more than half of university students with BTECs got a first or a 2:1.

Peter Fidczuk, UK development and recognition manager for 바카라사이트 IB, said that most IB students went to universities that did not use 바카라사이트 Ucas tariff for admissions and that 바카라사이트 broader curriculum provided by 바카라사이트 qualification would prove of greater benefit in 바카라사이트 long run.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com