XI. Read the text.

1) Admission procedures

Students are admitted to British universities largely on the basis of their performance in the examinations for the General certificate of Secondary Education. The selection procedure is rather complicated. It has been designed to combine as much freedom as possible for the universities to choose the students they want with as much freedom as possible for students to choose the university they want. This was done by setting the UCAS.

A student who wants to go to university applies for admission before he takes his Advanced level examinations. First of all he must write to the UCAS and they send him a form, which he has to complete. On this form he has to write down the names of six universities in order of preference. He may put down only 2 or 3 names stating that if not accepted by these universities he could be willing to go to any other.

2) Application form

Applicants may submit only one application form in any application year. Applicants are asked to complete all sections of the form except the coloured boxes and the referee’s report. A number of schools and colleges are able to offer applicants the facility of completing their application forms electronically. The data entered, including the personal statement and reference, is sent to UCAS (Universities and colleges admissions service) where it is processed; and copy forms and computer are records produced for institutions.

After the initial processing has been completed, the applicant is sent an acknowledgment letter detailing the institutions and courses entered on the application form.

The selection and recruitment of students is the responsibility of the institutions. However, decisions on all applications must be notified to UCAS.

After receiving the institutions’ decisions on all their initial applications, applicants who have received one or more offers are sent a statement of Decisions letter.

Applicants who were unsuccessful with their original application are able to enter UCAS clearing.

Applicants are given a date by which to reply.

Once an applicant has declared his choices, he is ready for confirmation, i.e. for final decision to be made on application.

The General Certificate of Secondary Education is normally taken at school at about age 16. GCSE syllabuses are developed in accordance with GCSE regulations, and where relevant subject-specific criteria. A course work element is a key feature of most GCSE syllabuses.

For all examining groups the General Certificate of Secondary Education is usually taken in summer. Some examinations can also be taken in winter. GCSE results are normally available in late August.

The GCSE grading scale is alphabetical, ranging from grade A to U, as follows:

A, B, C – the levels of attainment normally required for entry to Higher Education.

D, E, F – lower levels of attainment.

U – unclassified.

The General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCSE A-level) is an advanced academic qualification normally taken in schools and colleges in year 18, two years after the General Certificate of Secondary Education or Ordinary (O) level examinations.

Candidates can choose how many GCE A-level examinations they take, and need not take them all at the same time. The normal pattern is to offer 3 GCE A-level examinations in year 18 at schools. Some candidates may offer fewer than 3 subjects. GCE A-level examinations can be taken in schools, colleges in the Further Education Sector and by private candidates on an external basis.

General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Supplementary (AS) was introduced in England and Wales in 1989. It is the same academic standard as GCE A-level. AS subjects are often studied in tandem with GCE A-level subjects at schools and colleges.

For the purposes of entry to Higher Education one As qualification is equivalent to half a GCE A-level.