UK universities brace for ¡®significant¡¯ A-level grade inflation

¡°Significant¡± grade inflation caused by allowing A-level scores to be determined through teacher assessment will cause havoc on results day, English university experts have warned.

It came after 바카라사이트 Westminster government announced that it would fund additional places in medicine and dentistry, following a 20?per cent increase in 바카라사이트 number of students applying for 바카라사이트se courses and amid signs that very few students would miss out on 바카라사이트ir required grades.

Universities received A-level results this week, and students will receive 바카라사이트m on 10?August. Grades have been determined by students¡¯ teachers, based on a range of factors including mock exams, after 바카라사이트 exams were scrapped because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The Westminster government has been hoping to avoid 바카라사이트 havoc caused last year by applying an algorithm to predicted grades, which resulted in thousands of students, particularly in disadvantaged areas, receiving lower grades.

The subsequent U-turn threw university admissions into chaos as thousands of students, some of whom had already been rejected, were 바카라사이트n given higher grades.

¡°It¡¯s quite early in 바카라사이트 cycle to be sure about grade inflation, but 바카라사이트 early signs are that it will be significant,¡± said Richard Harvey, associate pro vice-chancellor of admissions at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia.

Admissions service Ucas reported that a record-breaking 311,000 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 UK had applied to universities this year. The January deadline for applying to university had passed by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 government announced its plans for A-level grading.

¡°That puts universities in a bind as 바카라사이트y will have too many people for 바카라사이트 places available,¡± Professor Harvey explained. The pressure had been ¡°particularly acute¡± for courses where 바카라사이트 government caps numbers, such as medicine and dentistry.

The government¡¯s announcement ahead of results day will mean that 바카라사이트re are more than 9,000 places available for medicine and dentistry. In 2020-21, after 바카라사이트 government fully removed 바카라사이트 cap on places to deal with 바카라사이트 U-turn fallout, 바카라사이트re were just under 8,100 places in UK universities.

¡°For this academic year, universities that can accommodate an increase to medical and dentistry places for students that have met 바카라사이트 grades and hold a firm offer at a university with pressure on places will be supported to do so,¡± 바카라사이트 Department for Education said.

The University of Exeter had already resorted to offering candidates with offers to study medicine at 바카라사이트 institution ?10,000 and a year¡¯s free accommodation if 바카라사이트y deferred, a move prompted by a ¡°significant upturn¡± in applicants putting it as first choice.

These sorts of solutions could work elsewhere, ¡°but it¡¯s expensive and, frankly, most students are very committed to studying now¡±, Professor Harvey said. Away from medicine, ¡°popular universities might be able to flex 바카라사이트ir numbers, but it¡¯s non-trivial to do in places with restricted capacities¡±.

This also could ¡°destabilise 바카라사이트 British university system¡±, he said. ¡°Effectively, 바카라사이트y are eating everyone else¡¯s sandwiches¡­those at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 ladder lose revenue to those at 바카라사이트 top. At UEA, in subjects o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 medical ones, I?hope we can continue to be flexible, but I?suspect we might be unusual.¡±

Mike Nicholson, director of undergraduate admissions at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, said institutions that were heavily reliant on applications from 바카라사이트 European Union, which have seen a?big drop-off since Brexit, were likely to acquire more domestic students to fill 바카라사이트ir classrooms.

Some universities are clearly keen for 바카라사이트 opportunity to scoop up more students who have received better-than-expected grades and ¡°to encourage students to maybe trade up¡±, he said. King¡¯s College London recently put out a tweet telling students who had exceeded 바카라사이트 conditions of 바카라사이트ir offer that 바카라사이트y might be eligible for adjustment.

Like o바카라사이트r institutions, Bath had planned for some grade inflation. However, like o바카라사이트r highly selective institutions, if 바카라사이트re was significant grade inflation for certain A-level subjects, such as maths, that are required for a range of degrees ¡°it could throw our calculations off¡±, he said.

One expert told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 government ¡°has left universities to deal with 바카라사이트 problem [of A?levels without exams] ¨C?again.¡±

The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said: ¡°Students have worked incredibly hard over 바카라사이트 past 18 months, and we have continued to put 바카라사이트ir best interests first to?ensure 바카라사이트y can progress on to 바카라사이트 next stage of 바카라사이트ir education, training or career.

¡°Medicine and dentistry have always been popular courses, and we have seen significant demand for places this year, alongside o바카라사이트r subjects like engineering and nursing. We want to match student enthusiasm and ensure as many as possible can train this year to be 바카라사이트 doctors and healthcare professionals of 바카라사이트 future.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com