UCAS is launching a new pilot to offer greater help to teachers and advisers in issuing UCAS predicted grades to further unlock opportunity for students, as part of continued efforts to increase transparency around university and college admissions.
UCAS predicted grades play a key role in enabling student choice and access to higher education. The pilot will provide over 1,000 schools and colleges with a personalised report showing how their UCAS predicted grades compare to achieved results. The aim is to equip students, and their teachers and advisers, with better information to support their choices.
UCAS predicted grades continue to play an important role in the admissions process and form part of an array of information used by universities and colleges to understand the potential of a student. Yet, UCAS analysis shows there has been a growing difference between predicted grades and achieved grades over time. This is especially the case with the highest grades, with around half of UK 18-year-olds predicted AAA and above in 2024. By contrast, 26% of those accepted last summer secured AAA and above.
The reports have been developed following extensive consultation with schools, universities and colleges, as well as the wider sector.
Alongside the launch of this pilot, UCAS has today released research bringing fresh transparency to this complex area. Part of this research highlights how predicted grades can differ by student context. For example, disadvantaged applicants (defined using the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index score) achieve further below UCAS predicted grades than advantaged applicants. This research is intended to help schools, colleges and higher education providers further support their students and applicants.
The pilot follows the successful launch of UCAS’ historic grades on entry data introduced last year, which shows both the offer rates and the actual A level grades that universities have accepted for courses alongside the listed entry requirements. To date, the tool has been used more than two million times.
Overall, 88% of students found the historic grades on entry data extremely or very useful. UCAS research also uncovered:
- 78% felt more motivated to apply for courses after viewing the data
- 73% of advisers observed a positive impact on students’ understanding of their next steps
- 80% of students found the tool easy to use.
UCAS Chief Executive Dr Jo Saxton CBE said:
“UCAS predicted grades are one of the most important services that schools provide as these are key to unlocking opportunity, allowing students to not only head into their exams feeling confident and motivated about their potential, but also enabling them to secure early offers from universities and colleges. The dual system UCAS operates means that students can also apply later or revisit their decisions should they wish.
“Combined with the historic grades on entry data, our aim is that these reports will also support teachers and advisers in guiding students toward courses and universities that best suit their needs, while also providing efficiencies for staff already managing high workloads.
“I know from my time as a school leader, and more recently as Chief Regulator, that predicting grades can sometimes be challenging. I’m grateful to schools and colleges for the vital role they play in predicting grades, and UCAS is committed to supporting them further, giving access to their own individual UCAS Predicted Grades Report to help inform 2026 admissions predictions.”
UCAS will publish a range of resources to support the use of the individual reports.
ENDS
Notes to editor
The reports will include 2024 end of cycle data on 18-year-old applicants domiciled in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with at least three A Levels from their school or college. Plans are already underway to expand the range of qualifications included within the reports.
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UCAS
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education.
UCAS’ services support young people making post-18 choices, as well as mature learners, by providing information, advice, and guidance to inspire and facilitate educational progression to university, college, or an apprenticeship.
UCAS manages almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.
UCAS is committed to delivering a first-class service to all our beneficiaries — they're at the heart of everything we do.