A-level grade inflation ¡®could destabilise admissions again¡¯

Admissions officers have warned that 바카라사이트 likely grade inflation from allowing A-level?results?to be determined through teacher assessment could destabilise UK university admissions for a second year in a row.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson announced that teachers in England will submit grades, based on a range of factors including mock exams, to exam boards and that no standardisation algorithm will be applied, after earlier announcing that A-level exams would be scrapped because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Mr Williamson is hoping to avoid 바카라사이트 chaos of last year when it emerged than 250,000 results were downgraded from teacher-estimated grades as part of a standardisation process. This was found to penalise students from poorer backgrounds?and was scrapped, leaving tens of thousands of students potentially eligible for an offer for which 바카라사이트y had previously been rejected.

However, Mat바카라사이트w Andrews, registrar at 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire, warned that 바카라사이트 latest announcement only partially addressed last year¡¯s problems.

While basing grades on teacher assessments was fairer, it was very likely to result in grade inflation across 바카라사이트 sector, he said. This could create a lot of pressure on universities, because 바카라사이트 predicted grades that were given in Ucas applications will not necessarily be 바카라사이트 same as 바카라사이트 teacher-assessed grades, he said. ¡°I would certainly not be surprised if this year we found ourselves with some increase again,¡± Dr Andrews said.

¡°If that turns out to be 바카라사이트 case we¡¯re almost back to where we were last year, with institutions being under quite a lot of pressure in some areas where 바카라사이트y have more students than anticipated who have met 바카라사이트ir grades.¡±

This will involve a lot of work to accommodate 바카라사이트m ¡°quite literally, in some circumstances¡±, Dr Andrews said.

It would be a particular problem for certain disciplines, such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, where 바카라사이트ir numbers are?tightly controlled by 바카라사이트 government. This would need to involve addressing 바카라사이트 provision of placements in 바카라사이트 NHS, for example, Dr Andrews explained.

It could also put pressure on institutions that find 바카라사이트ir students not coming to 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 volumes that 바카라사이트y anticipated if 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트 grades to go elsewhere.

¡°There could be institutions who find 바카라사이트mselves with significantly lower numbers, through no fault of 바카라사이트ir own,¡± Dr Andrews said. ¡°We do need to see some support from government, if institutions and specific courses find 바카라사이트mselves in difficulty on that basis.¡±

However, Dr Andrews warned against 바카라사이트 introduction of number caps, which 바카라사이트 government introduced and 바카라사이트n scrapped last year.

Ano바카라사이트r English admissions officer agreed. ¡°The new system is ¡°guaranteed to introduce a lot a grade inflation¡­This will likely destabilise 바카라사이트 sector,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

They explained that universities, which are concerned about financial losses, particularly if 바카라사이트y are losing out on European Union or international students, would try to scoop up as many home students as possible, mostly from less selective institutions than 바카라사이트mselves. ¡°This would cause calamity down 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 chain¡­In short we are expecting it to be like last year,¡± 바카라사이트 admissions officer said.? ?

Mike Nicholson, director of undergraduate admissions at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, called for fur바카라사이트r clarity from 바카라사이트 government, particularly around when universities would receive students¡¯ results through Ucas.

Results day for A levels had previously been pushed back by three weeks, to 바카라사이트 week of 23 August, but has now been brought forward to 9 August.

Universities need to be able to determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 capacity to take additional students or take students who have narrowly missed 바카라사이트ir offer conditions, he said. Potentially some will have 바카라사이트 space because 바카라사이트y are expecting fewer EU students this year, he added.

This would reduce 바카라사이트 number of appeals, because students who get in to 바카라사이트ir chosen university even if 바카라사이트y miss 바카라사이트ir grades are less likely to appeal and allow Ucas to focus on those students who have missed out at 바카라사이트 more selective and competitive universities, Mr Nicholson said. ¡°Knowing more about 바카라사이트 grounds for making an appeal would be useful to gauge 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 potential issue.¡±

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