GCSE Scoring for Medicine Applicants
Dear University College London,
I was curious in what constitutes to your actual score of an applicant's GCSE profile. I've read that you rank them on the basis of "Above Average", "Average" and "Below Average", with "Average" being a majority of A*/A attained at GCSE. However, does perhaps getting, say, 1A* 5As 5Cs count as "Average" since most of the grades are A*/A, even if that score is fairly weak for a medicine applicant? Or does the inclusion of x number of B or C grades render a GCSE profile "Below Average" automatically, regardless of how many A*s he/she may have obtained? Any response is appreciated, thanks.
Yours faithfully,
[name removed]
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Data Protection & FOI
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Dear Mr [name removed],
I am writing in response to your request by UCL earlier today.
The following information id relevant to your request.
The UCL Medical School refines its scoring systems each year based upon
analysis of the previous year's applications. This is the system that we
have used this year (2016 applications) and was based upon the profiles of
the successful 2015 applicants. Applications with profiles of GCSEs are
matched to the nearest description from those below. We look both at the
overall profile of GCSEs but also pay particular attention to the key
subjects of Maths, English and sciences.
GCSE score 1
This is the top score. Maths, English and science subjects with all A*
grades. Overall, more than ten GCSEs (taken in one year) with at least
half A* and the rest at A.
GCSE score 2
Maths, English and science subjects with at least three A* and the rest A
grades. Overall 9-10 GCSEs (taken in one year) with at least half A* and
the rest A.
GCSE score 3
Maths, English and science subjects with at least one or two A* and the
rest A grades. Overall seven or more GCSEs (taken in one year) with grades
of A* to B.
GCSE score 4
No A* grades in Maths, English or science subjects. Resitting any of these
subjects would also drop an applicant down to GCSE score 4 even if they
have achieved highly in other less relevant subjects.
GCSE score 5
The lowest score. Mostly below B grades and/or a smaller number of GCSEs
than normal (e.g. six or fewer) without good explanation (such as moving
to UK from a different schooling system).
The GCSE profile you mention in our request (1A* 5As 5Cs) is difficult to
score as we don’t know which subjects the different grades are in. However
overall the profile would certainly be lower than those that we usually
see. It looks as though the score would be a 4 or 5.
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Alex Daybank
Data Protection & FOI
Legal Services
University College London
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Alex Daybank
Data Protection & FOI
Legal Services
University College London
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