The annual university admissions cycle for full-time
undergraduates across the UK follows the same pattern every
year – the UCAS admission system opens in the
autumn and students apply for places, universities allocate
places during the year and places are confirmed in the summer
after the release of school examination results in August,
students who achieve lower than expected grades may secure a
place through the Clearing scheme which opens on results day.
In 2020 all schools and colleges in England were closed in
March due to the coronavirus pandemic and public
examinations were cancelled. Ofqual the
examinations regulator was tasked with devising a system for
assessing and allocating students final grades in the
absence of examination marks – the method chosen was based on
several factors including: centre assessed
grades (CAGs), pupil rankings and a
computer model or algorithm which took into
account the past performance of individual
schools.
On 13 August students in England were informed of their final
grades- 40% of students had been awarded grades lower
than their CAGs. The subsequent protests resulted in a
Government U‑turn on the method used to calculate grades and
grades being awarded based on CAGs.
On results day around two thirds of 18 year olds had
been accepted on to their first choice of course.
However the move to CAGs has caused significant grade
inflation and many more students have now become
eligible for places at their first choice provider and on
high tariff courses. On 27 August the number of English
18 year olds with a place on a course was up by 4.6% compared
to last year. The clearing process continues to
September. Increased demand for places and movement of
students has caused ‘turmoil’ in the admissions
process and higher education providers are facing
unique challenges over meeting offers and increasing
capacity.
This briefing paper outlines the causes of the situation and
the ramifications for students and the higher education
sector.
This is a fast moving issue and the information in this
briefing is correct at the time of writng. The paper focuses
on the situation that arose in England in August 2020.
Library briefing, Coronavirus and
schools: FAQs, 18 August 2020 gives further details of
the A level assessment process and issues surrounding it.
