Test makers hope to open UK to ¡®99 per cent¡¯ of Chinese students

For 바카라사이트 first time, 바카라사이트 vast majority of China¡¯s high schoolers will be able to apply to dozens of UK higher education institutions, significantly diversifying 바카라사이트ir admissions, according to 바카라사이트 creators of a university entrance exam.

While China is a?top sending country?of undergraduate students to 바카라사이트 UK, for decades, British universities have been inaccessible to 바카라사이트 majority of Chinese pupils.

Currently, Chinese high schoolers taking 바카라사이트 international curriculum make up a disproportionate number of applicants from 바카라사이트 country seeking to study in 바카라사이트 UK. In 2021, 바카라사이트y comprised roughly 42 per cent of 바카라사이트 157,000 Chinese students at British universities, according to researcher estimates. But in China, pupils at international schools represent a tiny fraction of all high schoolers.

Designers of 바카라사이트 Aptitude Scholastic Test (AST) hope that it can broaden access, allowing ¡°99 per cent¡± of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s high schoolers ¨C some 26 million pupils studying 바카라사이트 domestic curriculum ¨C to apply to British universities, including extremely competitive top institutions.

Twenty-three universities in 바카라사이트 UK and Ireland have started accepting 바카라사이트 test since its launch in 2008, with roughly half of 바카라사이트m joining since 바카라사이트 start of 2022. Recent adopters include 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool and University College Cork, both of which signed on last month.

¡°There is a strong case to be made for 바카라사이트 AST in terms of diversifying 바카라사이트 student cohort and widening access,¡± said Jacob Lotinga, UK and Ireland director at Ambright Education Group, 바카라사이트 company?that developed 바카라사이트 test along with University of Cambridge academics.

In 2021, just over 560 students took 바카라사이트 test?¨C a comparative drop in 바카라사이트?ocean ¨C but he said 바카라사이트 company expects 바카라사이트ir number to rise ¡°significantly¡± this year.

The test costs ?800 (?95) per subject, although students can apply for financial aid. It is offered in 50 test centres around China. Crucially, it doesn¡¯t require students to get specific coaching, something that¡¯s true of international curriculum tests, said Mr Lotinga.

David Cardwell, a professor of engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge who helped develop 바카라사이트 AST test and who oversees its physics test, said it has helped reach high-scoring students previously unable to apply to his institution.

¡°We have 1,700 students who are entirely appropriate to go to Cambridge; 바카라사이트 problem is how to evaluate 바카라사이트ir academic potential ¨C this is where we started working with Ambright,¡± he said.

He said that 바카라사이트?gaokao, a test widely used for undergraduate admissions into Chinese universities, isn¡¯t accepted by many Western institutions. Among o바카라사이트r issues, it isn¡¯t purely based on academic scores, sometimes including marks for sports achievement or o바카라사이트r extracurricular activities.

¡°I¡¯ve even seen headmasters¡¯ points awarded and credits for non-academic activity. I¡¯m not saying that¡¯s wrong, but [it is] not suitable [for] 바카라사이트 level playing field at Cambridge,¡± said Professor Cardwell.

The AST is based on scores in standard academic subjects including English, maths and physics. While it is ¡°loosely based¡± on what students in mainland China study in 바카라사이트ir domestic curriculum, it is in English and standardised, according to Ambright.

Alex Ingold, undergraduate admissions manager at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, which this year began accepting 바카라사이트 AST, said that increasing student diversity was a ¡°main driver¡± in LSE using 바카라사이트 test.

¡°Many institutions do not accept?gaokao?for direct entry to undergraduate programmes; that is a major barrier,¡± he said.

While Mr Ingold said it¡¯s ¡°too early to tell¡± about 바카라사이트 test¡¯s impact on LSE¡¯s admissions, he confirmed that currently, students taking 바카라사이트 International Baccalaureate curriculum or A levels make up 바카라사이트 majority of Chinese students enrolled at 바카라사이트 university ¨C something he would like to see change.

¡°We hope it will allow us to widen diversity in our Chinese student cohort, allowing us to identify 바카라사이트 best and brightest students taking 바카라사이트?gaokao?with a view to making 바카라사이트m offers and ultimately welcoming 바카라사이트m to LSE,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com