If you’re gearing up for your university application via UCAS, one key aspect you need to understand is the UCAS reference and predicted grades. These components can significantly impact your application, so it’s essential to know what they are, how they are created, and who is involved in the process. In this blog, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know.
What is a UCAS Reference?
A UCAS reference is a piece of supplementary information, up to 4,000 characters long, provided by your school, college, or educational institution. It’s essentially a recommendation from your teachers or form tutor that supports your university application. Think of it as a third-party endorsement of your achievements, character, and academic potential—similar to a personal statement, but from the perspective of your educators.
This reference often includes:
- Your academic performance.
- Your character and personal qualities.
- Any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your studies.
- Your predicted grades.
What’s Included in My UCAS Reference?
The UCAS reference is a holistic overview of you as a student. It’s designed to show universities why you’d be a great fit for their courses. Typically, the following will be included:
- Academic Strengths: Your teachers will discuss your strengths in the subjects you’re studying. They might highlight specific achievements or work you’ve done that demonstrates your potential.
- Extra-curricular Involvement: Any clubs, societies, leadership roles (like being a prefect), or other activities you’ve been involved in at school will be mentioned.
- Career Aspirations: If you’ve shown an interest in a particular career path (for example, medicine, law, or engineering), the reference may highlight the steps you’ve taken to prepare yourself for that field.
- Extenuating Circumstances: If you’ve faced personal challenges that have impacted your academic performance, these can also be detailed. Examples include serious illness, bereavement, or other disruptions in your life. It’s crucial to ensure your teachers are aware of any such circumstances so they can be included in your reference.
Who Writes the UCAS Reference?
In most cases, your UCAS reference will be written by your form tutor, head of sixth form, or another senior member of staff. However, all your subject teachers usually contribute by writing individual reports, which are then compiled into a single reference by the lead teacher.
In my experience, we were asked to fill out forms detailing our subjects, hobbies, and any significant work we were particularly proud of. This helped the teachers create a comprehensive reference that accurately reflected both our academic achievements and personal qualities.
How Do They Know So Much About Me?
Your teachers might ask you to provide additional information about your interests and achievements. For instance, you may be asked to fill out a form where you share details about any specific accomplishments, extra-curricular activities, or experiences you’d like included in the reference. It’s a good opportunity to ensure everything important to you gets mentioned!
What Are Extenuating Circumstances?
Extenuating circumstances, sometimes referred to as mitigating circumstances, are unforeseen events that significantly impact your ability to perform at your best academically. Examples include serious health issues, family emergencies, or other disruptive events.
If you’ve experienced anything like this, it’s important that your school notes it in your UCAS reference. Universities take these circumstances into account when reviewing applications. In some cases, additional evidence may be required.
What If I’m on a Gap Year or Had Time Out of Education?
If you’re currently on a gap year or have taken multiple years out of education, it’s best to reach out to your last educational provider—whether it was your school, college, or university—to write your reference. If that’s not possible, you can ask your employer to write one for you. However, this can be less ideal as UCAS prefers academic references.
Can I Change My Predicted Grades or UCAS Reference?
Yes, in certain cases, you can change your reference or predicted grades. If you feel that your predicted grades are not reflective of your abilities, or you’re unhappy with your reference, you have the option to apply outside your school’s UCAS system.
For instance, you could approach a tutoring centre to write your reference and provide new predicted grades, although most centres would require you to have completed at least a month of tutoring with them. They might also ask you to sit a mock exam to determine your predicted grades.
Just remember, if you go down this route, the reference must come from an official school or organization email, not a personal one.
Final Thoughts
Your UCAS reference and predicted grades are crucial parts of your university application, so make sure you engage with your teachers and communicate any important information you want them to include. If you have extenuating circumstances, ensure these are documented properly so universities can take them into account.
Good luck with your application process—you’ve got this! And remember, if things don’t go as planned, there are always alternative routes and second chances. Stay positive, work hard, and aim high!
