Parents’ Evening Presentation - UCAS Application Guide - How to Help Your Son or Daughter

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Terk

Parents’ evening presentation guiding families through the UCAS process for applying to higher education in the UK. Covers the applicant journey, why higher education matters, and practical steps for research, including UCAS events and student videos. Explains entry requirements, UCAS Tariff, and how qualifications such as A Levels and BTEC (QCF) translate into points. Also outlines admissions tests and interviews, plus course search methods and study options like degrees, foundation year, and HE certificates and diplomas.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages30

Reading Time1 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

The applicant journey and how you can help

Why higher education?

Research – it’s free and important to do

Entry requirements and UCAS Tariff

Additional requirements

How to choose and search for courses

Parents’ evening presentation Help your son or daughter through the UCAS process Content of this session The applicant journey and how you can help Part one • Researching HE Part two • UCAS application At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11/05/2015 2 Why higher education? • Increase potential earnings * • Better career prospects • Benefit the wider community • Social and cultural reasons • More independence, self-confidence and responsibility • Personal challenge • Broadens interests and knowledge •It can be immense fun! *Source: The Guardian, How much is your qualification worth?, 2011 At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11/05/2015 3 The UCAS journey 11/05/2015 4 Research – it’s free and important to do 􀂃 Start at [www.ucas.com](www.ucas.com) 􀂃 Research – career options, universities, courses and minimum entry requirements. 􀂃 Attend a UCAS event – even if your son or daughter doesn’t know what they want to do, speaking to those in the know will help. 􀂃 Learn from others – student videos are available to watch [at UCAS.tv](at UCAS.tv). Find us on: At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11/05/2015 11/05/215 5 Unsure of what to study? Centigrade online Spartan test • Centigrade is an interest-based questionnaire £20-£30 • It matches a student's interests and abilities with HE courses and institutions in the UK, Ireland and those in Europe offering undergraduate degrees taught in English. • Free 5 minute self assessment questionnaire • Interactive questions to get some direction on what you may be most suited to when it comes to higher education and future careers At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11/05/2015 6 Entry requirements • The level of academic ability expected by the course provider • Can be specific grades or UCAS points and some courses may also specify GCSEs UCAS Tariff • Converts qualifications to points • Not all qualifications are included At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11/05/2015 7 UCAS Tariff A Levels | Grade | | | | Tariff
points | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | GCE &
AVCE
Double
Award | A level with
additional AS
(9 units) | GCE A
level and
AVCE | GCE AS
Double
Award | GCE AS &
AS VCE | | | A*A* | | | | | 280 | | A*A | | | | | 260 | | AA | | | | | 240 | | AB | | | | | 220 | | BB | A*A | | | | 200 | | BC | AA | | | | 180 | | | AB | | | | 170 | | CC | | | | | 160 | | | BB | | | | 150 | | CD | BC | A* | | | 140 | | DD | CC | A | AA | | 120 | | | CD | | AB | | 110 | | DE | | B | BB | | 100 | | | DD | | BC | | 90 | | EE | DE | C | CC | | 80 | | | | | CD | | 70 | | | EE | D | DD | A | 60 | | | | | DE | B | 50 | | | | E | EE | C | 40 | | D 30 | | | | | | BTEC Qualifications (QCF) | Grade | | | | | Tariff points | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Extended
Diploma | Diploma | 90 credit
Diploma | Subsidiary
Diploma | Certificate | | | D*D*D* | | | | | 420 | | D*D*D | | | | | 400 | | D*DD | | | | | 380 | | DDD | | | | | 360 | | DDM | | | | | 320 | | DMM | D*D* | | | | 280 | | | D*D | | | | 260 | | MMM | DD | | | | 240 | | | | D*D* | | | 210 | | MMP | DM | D*D | | | 200 | | | | DD | | | 180 | | MPP | MM | DM | | | 160 | | | | | D* | | 140 | | PPP | MP | MM | D | | 120 | | | | MP | | | 100 | | | PP | | M | | 80 | | | | | | D* | 70 | | | | PP | | D | 60 | | | | | P | M | 40 | | | | | | P | 20 | At the heart of connecting people to higher education 11/05/2015 8 Additional requirements Admissions tests • Medical BMAT, UKCAT, GAMSAT, HPAT • Law LNAT (Cambridge law test) • Maths MAT, STEP • Oxford LNAT, BMAT, ELAT, TSA, CAT, HAT, MAT, MLAT, OLAT, PAT • Cambridge LNAT, BMAT, TSA, STEP Interviews & auditions • Check universi

FAQs

What is the UCAS journey and how can parents support it?

The presentation outlines the applicant journey and the steps families can take to help, including researching options, using UCAS events and resources, and understanding entry and additional requirements.

How do entry requirements and the UCAS Tariff work?

Entry requirements can be specific grades or UCAS points, and some courses may specify GCSEs. The UCAS Tariff converts qualifications to points, including A Levels and BTEC (QCF) mappings shown in the session.

What additional requirements might applicants need beyond grades?

Admissions tests may be required for subjects (for example BMAT, UKCAT, GAMSAT, LNAT, MAT/STEP), and applicants may also face interviews, auditions, or portfolio requirements, depending on the university and course.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Terk