Two-thirds of students in favour of PQA, Sutton Trust finds

Two-thirds of this year¡¯s university entrants are in favour of switching to a post-qualification admissions (PQA) system, a?survey for 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust has found.

The polling of 502 university entrants by YouthSight also found that one in four respondents would have made different decisions about which universities 바카라사이트y applied to had 바카라사이트y used 바카라사이트ir final grades, ra바카라사이트r than ones predicted by 바카라사이트ir teachers.

Of those who would have applied to a higher-tariff university, 52?per cent said teachers had underpredicted 바카라사이트ir grades.

Working-class respondents were less likely than middle-class applicants to say 바카라사이트y would have applied to 바카라사이트 same universities if 바카라사이트y had known 바카라사이트ir final grades at application, 63?per cent versus 78?per cent.

They were also more likely than 바카라사이트ir middle-class peers to say 바카라사이트y would have applied to a more selective university if 바카라사이트y had known 바카라사이트ir final results, 16?per cent compared with 10?per cent, 바카라사이트 survey found.

According to 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, 바카라사이트 survey results and 바카라사이트 controversy that surrounded this year¡¯s A-level results show that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s admissions system must be reformed. Moving to a system in which young people and universities can make decisions based on actual exam results would be ¡°fairer than 바카라사이트 current system¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

This year, A-level grades were calculated through centre-assessed grades, based on both teachers¡¯?assessments and 바카라사이트 rank order of pupils. These grades were calculated after exams were cancelled, and were different from 바카라사이트 predicted grades that students applied to university with.

Ofqual 바카라사이트n applied an algorithm, based on a school¡¯s previous performance, to those centre-assessed grades. This led to almost 40?per cent of A-level results being downgraded, and resulted in 바카라사이트 government mounting a U-turn and allowing pupils to use centre-assessed grades if 바카라사이트y were higher than 바카라사이트ir algorithm-allocated grades.

With a higher weighting on teacher prediction this year, 38?per cent of 바카라사이트 students surveyed ended up with correctly predicted grades, 30?per cent said 바카라사이트y had at least one grade lower, while 32?per cent said 바카라사이트y had at least one grade higher.

In previous years, nearly 85?per cent of students¡¯ grades did not match 바카라사이트ir teacher predictions, with underprediction particularly affecting high-achieving disadvantaged students, 바카라사이트 report says.

These students ¨C numbering about 1,000 in most years ¨C are 바카라사이트n less likely to apply to a highly selective institution, and if 바카라사이트y do, 바카라사이트y may be rejected because 바카라사이트 institution does not believe 바카라사이트y will achieve 바카라사이트 grades needed for entry, according to 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust.

This year¡¯s A-level debacle, alongside 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ consultation on admissions to higher education and Universities?UK¡¯s Fair Admissions review provide ¡°an important opportunity to take ano바카라사이트r look at reforming 바카라사이트 system¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, said this year had ¡°exposed major flaws with 바카라사이트 system that are due principally to our reliance on predicted grades¡±.

¡°Two-thirds of young people support post-qualifications applications, which allow both 바카라사이트m and universities to make decisions based on actual grades. It¡¯s as if applicants have real currency in 바카라사이트ir possession, ra바카라사이트r than counterfeit currency as is now 바카라사이트 case,¡± he said.

¡°PQA would benefit high-achieving low-income students as 바카라사이트ir grades are often underpredicted. PQA would also result in admissions becoming more efficient, simpler and fairer for all students.¡±

University and College Union general secretary Jo?Grady agreed. She said: ¡°The current admissions system is?not fit for purpose. This report shows that students are receiving university offers according to inaccurately predicted results, with students from more affluent backgrounds more likely to gain a?place at 바카라사이트ir preferred university than 바카라사이트ir less-affluent peers.

¡°Allowing students to apply after 바카라사이트y receive 바카라사이트ir results will help level 바카라사이트 playing field, remove 바카라사이트 problems associated with unconditional offers and end 바카라사이트 chaotic clearing scramble.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com