A-Level entry requirements to rise again

Warwick University has confirmed that some A-Level entrance requirements for prospective students will rise with effect from this academic year.

A University spokesperson has confirmed that all but one degree course at Warwick will now require at least AAB at A-Level. The University has stated that these increases to entrance requirements are “simply in order to manage demand”.

Furthermore, Warwick has commented that “As one of the UK’s top ten universities demand for a place at Warwick remains very high. We have roughly 8.5 applicants for every place at Warwick – all with very high predicted grades.” The University has also confirmed that the rise in grade requirements is not connected to the increase in tuition fees.

In German and Italian, requirements for certain degree combinations will rise from ABB to AAB in order to match the entry profiles of similar courses. The grades required for Sociology have risen from BBB to AAB. In addition, Law and Sociology now requires students to achieve AAB at A-Level.

It is possible that further increases to entrance requirements will deter some potential Warwick applicants. A potential applicant from Devon remarked: “It’s almost like grade deflation where an A is no longer good enough. You’ve actually got to get really high percentages in specific modules. It’s really stressful for us as students.”

Opinion is also divided amongst current Warwick students. Ben Hutson, a first-year Accounting and Finance student, commented that exam performance is “all based on one day rather than a student’s overall academic ability”.

However, Ewelina Sieradska, a first-year Civil Engineering student, stated that “Warwick is improving as an institution and going up the league tables, therefore they’re looking for more able students.”

With the announcement coming in an already controversial academic year which has seen the rise in tuition fees come into effect, this issue is set to divide student opinion yet again.