Medicine A100

The request was partially successful.

Dear Cardiff University,
I would like to make a humble request regarding statistics for the medicine UCAS cycle. Please can you answer these questions to help me with my application.
1. Is the interview score the sole factor when deciding to give out offers?/ Do you take into account the UCAT score and achieved examination results (A-levels, GCSEs) holistically with the interview score when deciding to give out offer?
2. Due to students getting calculated a level grades because of the coronavirus outbreak, would the university look at students applying with these achieved a level grades differently/ would the calculated achieved a level grade be weighted less than previous years or be given same weighting as predicted grades?
3. May I please know the scoring/points system for gcse and a levels for the 2021 entry? /Would there be a change to this scoring system for students applying with calculated a level grades
4. Is a 9/8 gcse grade both equivalent to an A* grade/ same amount of points for 2021 entry?
5. Is role play assessed in the interview?
6. Is there a personal statement station at the interview?
7. What % of students who were invited to an interview were given an offer
8. Am I allowed to see how the interview is assessed/ can I access the interviewer assessment score sheet?
9. What are the common mistakes students make at the interview?
10. How do you think students can improve their interview score/ key advice?
11. Is there an interview cut off score and if so may I know the cut off score for past cycles, else do you rank and select the top scoring applicants at the interview when allocating offers?
Thank you for taking your time in answering these questions,

Yours faithfully,

Shaji Matthew

InfoRequest, Cardiff University

Dear Shaji,

I acknowledge receipt of your email received by this office on 24th April 2020.

Your request will now be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and has been allocated reference FOI20-150 which should be quoted in all correspondence. We will respond to your request within 20 working days starting the next working day after receipt, therefore you can expect to receive a response no later than 26th May 2020.

Please note that in order to fulfil your request we need to liaise with other teams across the University. Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic most staff are now working remotely, and it is likely that there will be a delay in responding to your request. Staff may not be able to assist as they may need to prioritise other work, cover for colleagues who are ill or be away from work themselves due to illness. However, we will do our best to meet this deadline and keep you informed should we be unable to do so.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and, if that is the case, we will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

Yours sincerely

Assurance Services
Strategic Planning & Governance

Gwasanaethau Sicrwydd
Adran Gynllunio Strategol a Llywodraethu
Cardiff University

Prifysgol Caerdydd
2nd Floor, Friary House

Llawr 2, Friary House
Greyfriars Road
Cardiff

Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
Caerdydd
CF10 3AE

E-mail: [email address]

We welcome correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.

E-bost: [email address]

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth trwy’r Gymraeg neu’r Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhyw oedi.

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InfoRequest, Cardiff University

Dear Shaji,

 

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request dated
27^th April 2020.

 

For ease of reference, I have reproduced your questions below and set out
our corresponding responses.

 

1.        Is the interview score the sole factor when deciding to give out
offers?/ Do you take into account the UCAT score and achieved examination
results (A-levels, GCSEs) holistically with the interview score when
deciding to give out offer?

 

Details of the entry requirements, interview and selection process for our
Medicine (MBBCh) programme can be found on the University’s website here:
[1]https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergra...

 

2.        Due to students getting calculated a level grades because of the
coronavirus outbreak, would the university look at students applying with
these achieved a level grades differently/ would the calculated achieved a
level grade be weighted less than previous years or be given same
weighting as predicted grades?

 

Information for prospective students and applicants due to the COVID-19
pandemic can be found here:

 

[2]https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/coronavirus/co...

 

3.        May I please know the scoring/points system for gcse and a
levels for the 2021 entry? /Would there be a change to this scoring system
for students applying with calculated a level grades

 

Please refer to the University’s website as noted in our response to
questions one and two.

 

4.        Is a 9/8 gcse grade both equivalent to an A* grade/ same amount
of points for 2021 entry?

 

Please refer to the University’s website as noted in our response to
questions one.

 

5.        Is role play assessed in the interview?

 

Please refer to the University’s website as noted in our response to
questions one.

 

 

6.        Is there a personal statement station at the interview?

 

Please refer to the University’s website as noted in our response to
questions one.

 

7.        What % of students who were invited to an interview were given
an offer

 

We note you have not provided any frame of reference for this question
i.e. year of entry. As such please see below table for entry for the last
three academic years (we cannot provide data for 2020 entry as this
process is still ongoing):

 

  2017 2018 2019
No of Applications (UK/EU) 2068 1875 2306
No of Applications (OS) 434 424 451
Invited to Interview (UK/EU) 1251 1155 1235
Invited to Interview (OS) 80 87 109
Offers Made (UK/EU) 587 651 679
Offers Made (OS) 55 54 57
Final Acceptances (UK/EU) 220 260 241
Final Acceptances (OS) 21 25 26

 

 

8.        Am I allowed to see how the interview is assessed/ can I access
the interviewer assessment score sheet?

 

This information is confidential. An applicant would have an unfair
advantage if they were to see this information. However, we can share that
the interviewers are fully trained and score a candidate by sticking to a
predetermined marking schedule.

 

The above information is held by the University however after due
consideration it is considered that the information is exempt from
disclosure by virtue of Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act
entitled Commercial Interests. This section states:

 

“43(2) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act
would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any
person (including the public authority holding it)”.

 

The recruitment of UK, EU and International students is a very competitive
environment where UK universities face competition not just from each
other but also from other institutions around the world. Students are
highly mobile and have wide choices over where they may study.

 

The information requested would provide competitors with an insight into
the University’s student recruitment process and therefore prejudice our
commercial interests. Any loss of market share and reduction in enrolled
student numbers would have significant impact on the University’s student
fee income, with attendant impact on the University’s long term financial
sustainability. As public funding sources for higher education have
declined, student fee income has become an increasingly important source
of income and is a key factor in ensuring the University’s long term
financial sustainability.

 

The ability for universities in general, and Cardiff University in
particular as a major research intensive university in Wales, to compete
effectively in a global market is an important strategic objective as set
out by the Welsh Government in 'For Our Future: the higher education
strategy plan for Wales' and in the Welsh Government Policy Statement on
Higher Education which is available at:

http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dcells/publicat.... It
is also important that Cardiff University is able to continue competing on
an equal footing with similar large, research intensive institutions in
the UK and overseas.

 

In order to apply, the exemption requires that a public interest be
considered and this is documented below:

 

Factors in favour of disclosure

Openness and Transparency - It is in the public interest that
University's, as public authorities, are as open and transparent as
possible in the way that they operate.

 

Factors in favour of non-disclosure

Commercial Interests - It is not in the public interest to disclose
information that would undermine the ability of the University to
differentiate itself from competitors and fairly compete with competitors
in

the recruitment of students.

 

Efficiency and effectiveness – It is not in the public interest to
disclose information that would erode the efficiency and effectiveness in
the recruitment of students by undermining the University’s competitive
advantage and impact on recruitment.

 

Given the above, it is considered that it is in the greater public
interest to withhold the information from disclosure at this time.

 

Where a candidate has undertaken an interview and requested a copy of
their scoresheet, under Section 40(1) of the FOI Act, information is
exempt where it constitutes the personal data of the requestor.  Section
40(1) states:

 

“Any information to which a request for information relates is exempt
information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the
data subject.”

 

The score sheets would constitute personal data and as such are exempt
from disclosure under Section 40(1). 

 

9.        What are the common mistakes students make at the interview?

 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the University is required to
provide information held in response to a request. However we are not
obliged to create new information in response to a request or to express
opinions on matters not already recorded. This question seeks an opinion
rather than recorded data and no information is held.

 

10.     How do you think students can improve their interview score/ key
advice?

 

Please see response to question nine.

 

 

11.     Is there an interview cut off score and if so may I know the cut
off score for past cycles, else do you rank and select the top scoring
applicants at the interview when allocating offers?

 

The University does not hold this information. After interview, offers are
made to the highest ranked applicants. The scores of individuals can vary
from year to year.

 

I trust this information satisfies your enquiry.  The University has a
Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure should you feel dissatisfied
with this response or the way in which your request was handled.
Complaints must be made in writing and must set out why you believe the
University has not met its obligations under the Freedom of Information
Act.  You may email your complaint to [3][email address] where
it will be forwarded to the Director of Strategic Planning and Governance
who will be responsible for overseeing the review.

 

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your complaint, you
have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for
consideration.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at the
following address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Cardiff University. If you require further assistance please feel free to
contact me.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Ian Johnson   Ian Johnson
Assurance Officer   Swyddog Sicrwydd
Strategic Planning & Governance     Adran Cynllunio Strategol a
Cardiff University Llywodraethu
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Prifysgol Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
LLawr 2, Friary House

Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
CF10 3AE
Tel: 029 208 79633   Ffon: 029 208 79633
E-mail: [4][email address] E-bost:
[5][email address]
 
 
The University welcomes
correspondence in Welsh or English. Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n
Saesneg.

 

 

References

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