About 28,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who applied for university admission without an offer just days to A-level results should be published, according to experts.
What promises to be one of most competitive university admission rounds in recent memoryanalysis by DataHE found in total amount of eighteen-year- The number of older people without offers has increased from around 16,000 at this stage. in admission process in 2019 to 27,850 in 2022.
A little of the increase is due to fact Exist more contenders than ever before, but experts say it also was probably driving rise in bounce rate and more conservative offers from high-tariff institutions that want curb in recruitment after excesses of pandemic.
According to Mark Korver, co-founder of datahe, risk of the number of applicants who do not have a single offer at the moment increased from 6% to 9%. in in space of two years, 50% jump proportionally, back up to levels last seen when universities had to stay within the number controls.
“It will feel like a real shock after almost a decade of steadily improving odds of get an offer,” Korver said.
His warning came because the examining body of England Ofqual and the university admissions office Ucas sent out an unprecedented letter to all A-level students to try and calm them down as tension builds before results day on Thursday.
Letter says nearly 300,000 British 18-year-olds keeps a firm offer, up 7000 on last year and highest on record, with 30,000 courses available in cleaning.
There is still a huge amount of however uncertainty. After two years of higher than the average grades during the pandemic – when exams were canceled and work was evaluated by the teacher government asked regulators set bounds so that the scores are halfway between these in 2019 and 2021, with estimates will return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
Last week it was reported that dozens of thousands of A-level students with offers from your preferred university may be at risk of lose their seats because of projected fall of 10 percent points in number of A and A* classes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
After record results last yearwhen 44.8% of grades were A or A* at A-level, experts in sector calculate that with in government when recalibrating this will drop to 35% (up from 25.5% in 2019).
Although almost one in five (19.1%) ratings were A* last year is year proportion is expected decline up to 13.5%. Exactly the same number of Expected transition from grades A* to C down from 88.5% in 2021 to 82%.
Korver said that students, even those without offers, should do not overdo it. “There are places, but they can be in universities or for items that may not have been on the initial shortlist of the candidate and may need a little of research and flexibility to take advantage of”.
Universities with A-levels results on On Friday evening, they confirmed that there was still capacity, but they warning what the clearing will be busy and said that students may need to consider related subjects and alternative institutions. in to provide place.
Meanwhile, Ucas disputed DataHE’s analysis, which is based on Ucas Data on number of students are “free to accommodate in clearing”.
This was stated by the Executive Director of Ucas Claire Marchand. record amount of eighteen-year-olds applied this year and his data showed more than 97% of these students received at least one proposal that was also a record.
“There are many reasons why students are entitled to find place in cleaning. In some cases, students who extremely savvy and constantly evaluating their options increasingly view clearing as great option find place.
“Overwhelming majority of universities and colleges will have courses available this week and my advice to students without place is to bear on with your research and reach out to Ucas if you need support during cleaning.
Alix Delaney, head of university admissions of East Anglia, said: “We expect it to be very busy clearing with a lot of of activity and more of universities with vacancies.
“Although there may be some disappointment for those who have applied for highly competitive courses, I think there are still opportunities in whole system for students to find place in university, should They wish go to school in September this year.
“They are just you may have to think about related courses, subjects, or alternative universities.”
Department for A spokesman for the education department said, “We are working with universities in ensure offers reflect the grades students will receive this summer. [There are] 281 500 18-year-old in UK has a solid offer, up 7000 on last year and highest on record – meaning more applicants in a prime position to provide a preferred course than ever before.
“Competition for there were always many places in the most selective universities, and this year is no different. There are many of capabilities available this is year including about 30,000 courses available through clearing or quality professional options which just as prestigious and rewarding as academic routes”.
