UCAS receives upgraded Centre Assessed Grades and provides analysis on number of upgraded students able to meet conditions of original first choice

@ucas_online receives upgraded Centre Assessed Grades and provides analysis on number of upgraded students able to meet conditions of original first choice

UCAS has today received the grades from the four largest awarding bodies for the 160,000 students that received upgraded A level grades in England.   

Our initial analysis shows approximately 15,000 of these students who were originally rejected by their original firm choice university with their moderated grades will now meet the A level conditions of their offer with their CAGs (centre assessed grades). 

Approximately 100,000 students who had their grades upgraded were already placed at their first choice university on results day last Thursday.  

Of the remaining 60,000 students with higher grades from CAGs, around one in four (approx. 15,000) will now meet the A level offer conditions of their original first choice university.  90% of these students made their original firm choice at a higher tariff institution. 

UCAS has conducted further analysis into these 15,000 students and found 7% of this group are from disadvantaged backgrounds (POLAR4 Q1).   The follows a record breaking year for disadvantaged students gaining places at high tariff universities, which at this point in the admissions cycle stands at 6090 (compared with 5290 at the same point last year for UK 18 year olds).

Clare Marchant, UCAS Chief Executive, said: ‘We have rapidly produced this initial analysis to provide the education sector with insight into the overall picture and to enable support to be directed quickly to the students that need it the most.

“It’s clear from this data that universities have already exercised flexibility when making their original confirmation decisions and have looked closely at the backgrounds of students. 

“We are all focused on supporting the 15,000 students who now meet their conditions of entry and may want to make a different decision and take up a place at their original first choice university.   

“We will be providing advice and guidance for teachers and advisers through webinars tomorrow and a Facebook Live for students on Friday.” 

“For students holding other qualifications, such as BTECs, from across the UK, UCAS is working closely with awarding bodies to process these results to ensure students can make decisions as soon as possible.”