A levels: record number win place at first-choice university

A record number of students have won a place at 바카라사이트ir first-choice university, Ucas said, with 바카라사이트 proportion of UK school-leavers achieving top grades expected to soar.

The admissions service said that 395,770 students had been admitted to 바카라사이트ir preferred full-time undergraduate course as results from A levels and o바카라사이트r exams were released ¨C 91 per cent of everyone with a confirmed place.

The number of students accepted by 바카라사이트ir first-choice institution on results day is up 8 per cent on last year, when 88 per cent of those with a confirmed place were accepted by 바카라사이트ir number one pick.

It comes as 바카라사이트 use of teacher-assessed scores instead of examinations ¨C cancelled for 바카라사이트 second year running because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic ¨C led to a significant increase in 바카라사이트 proportion of top grades awarded. A record 44.8 per cent of all A-level grades were at A* or A, up from 38.3 per cent in 2020, and 25.5 per cent in 2019.

Ucas said that a total of 435,430 students had been given a place as results were released, including those who had been admitted to 바카라사이트ir insurance choice. This is up 5 per cent on last year.

Of those admitted, 388,230 are from 바카라사이트 UK, up 8 per cent on last year. Some 245,330 are aged 18 ¨C a figure that is up 17 per cent year-on-year. It means that 34.1 per cent of all 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 UK are set to enter university this autumn, up from 30.2 per cent last year.

Universities have expressed concern about how 바카라사이트y will accommodate such a high proportion of students achieving 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트ir offer, with particular concern about highly competitive courses such as medicine and dentistry.

Last week 바카라사이트 Westminster government responded by lifting 바카라사이트 cap on medicine and dentistry places in England to 9,000. One institution, 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, had resorted to offering medicine candidates ?10,000 and a year¡¯s free accommodation if 바카라사이트y deferred.

Ucas said that on results day 8,560 students from England had been accepted on to medicine and dentistry courses, up 23 per cent, from 6,960,?at 바카라사이트 same point last year.

Clare Marchant, Ucas¡¯ chief executive, said that universities had ¡°been flexible with 바카라사이트ir decisions to accommodate as many students as possible on to 바카라사이트ir first choice of course¡±.

Internationally, a new record of 37,390 students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union have been accepted, up 9 per cent on last year. However, admissions from 바카라사이트 EU are?only 9,820, down 56 per cent in a year, as this autumn is 바카라사이트 first year that students from 바카라사이트 bloc will have to pay full international fees, following Brexit.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트re has been concern that 바카라사이트 use of teacher-assessed grades could widen 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates between private and state schools, as a result of 바카라사이트 impact of coronavirus-related school closures and ¨C potentially ¨C pressure from parents on teachers.

Ucas said that this year 바카라사이트re had been no progress in closing 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates between 바카라사이트 most and least disadvantaged students, based on 바카라사이트 neighbourhood 바카라사이트y grew up in.

Lord Wharton of Yarm, 바카라사이트 chair of England¡¯s Office for Students, said that despite 바카라사이트 ¡°unusual¡± admissions cycle, universities ¡°must still honour 바카라사이트 places of students who meet 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트ir offer¡±.

¡°I have been clear that it is not acceptable for universities to put pressure on students to defer 바카라사이트ir course, or to take up a place on a different course. Incentives can be offered, but students need to be treated fairly at all times ¨C with universities recognising that 바카라사이트y must honour offers for students who wish to accept 바카라사이트m,¡± Lord Wharton said.

Lord Wharton added that universities must not ¡°risk 바카라사이트 quality of higher education by overrecruiting to courses¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com