AS, A2 and UCAS

AS Grade UCAS Points • A 60 • B 50 • C 40 • D 30 • E 20 A2 Grade UCAS Points • A* 140 • A 120 • B 100 • C 80 • D 60 • E 40

Points and Grades

Some Universities will ask for grades, others will ask for points: Cambridge may ask for A*AA = 380 Brunel may ask for 280 points = BBC Students need to be making realistic choices.

Personal Statement Plan Summary

75% subject specific - 25% other • • • • • •

5 paragraphs with focussed subject content: 1.Motivation

– demonstrate passion for course.

2.Suitability

– what skills show you’re the one?

3.Communication

and interpersonal skills – how are you going to contribute to course dynamic?

4.Experience

– what have you done recently to support your suitability?

5.Added Bonus

– Why do they need you?

Decisions, decisions……… 10 Top Tips

1.Be aware of what courses are available – there are many more than you may have imagined, more than there are subjects at A level. From e.g. American and Canadian Studies to Zoology with Forensic Studies. There are literally hundreds of choices.

2.Use the UCAS website to search for courses; then go that research step further and find out about the content and entry requirements for the specific course.

3 Different universities will have different course requirements, e.g. English at Bristol requires AAA, but at Hull requires BBC. So, pick realistically, but be aware that not all courses with the same title have the same content.

4.

Don’t start making decisions too early; there are lots of factors to consider. You need to start narrowing down your options carefully. What sort of course would suit you: single honours, joint honours, combined honours or perhaps a sandwich course?

5. Where would you like to spend at least the next 3 years of your life? Are you going to be brave and get the most out of your university career by moving away from home? Do you want to live and study on a Campus University, or would you prefer a city or rural location?Do you want to move to The North, The South, The Midlands?

6. Make sure your A level subjects are suitable for the course you wish to study.

7. Be realistic about grades and entry requirements. Remember you have to make 5 choices in total (but only 4 for medicine or dentistry plus 1 other course which may be related). If a course requires AAA and BCC is realistic for you, don’t apply. And vice versa if you are likely to achieve AAB don’t apply for CCC courses; the chances are if there is this mismatch, you won’t get a happy ending.

8. Once you have your shortlist visit the universities during the summer term, they all have formal Open Days; many will welcome your visit at other times and with prior notice may well provide a guide. 9. Make sure your Personal Statement is focused to the course(s) for which you have applied and that at least 75% is related to what you want to study and why you want to study it!

10.Check on www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide or The Times Good University Guide and see how the teaching and research at your choices is rated.