the new ucas tariff for 2017 entry onwards. why change the current tariff? many qualifications...
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The new UCAS Tariff for 2017 entry onwards
Why change the current Tariff?Many qualifications cannot be accommodated within the current method as the Tariff domains are not suited to vocational qualifications; the process is Awarding Organisation led, expensive and complex.
Benefits of the proposed new Tariff methodBenefit 1 Transparent
Benefit 2 Meets the needs of the HE sector
Benefit 3 Efficient and cost effective
Benefit 4 Comprehensive
Benefit 5 Sustainable and flexible
Benefit 6 Fair
Project Advisory GroupDevelopment of the new Tariff was overseen by a project advisory group comprising:
• HEPs
• Teachers
• Teaching representative bodies such as the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
• Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA)
• Association of Colleges (AoC)
• Higher Education Liaison Officers Association (HELOA)
New Tariff points – e.g. A levelsThe new Tariff numbers are very different (i.e. considerably lower)
2017 Tariff Points Current Tariff Points
140
120
100
80
60
40
New Tariff points – e.g. BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
New Tariff method
size (points) x grade (points) = Tariff points
Size bands - qualifications are allocated a size band of 1 to 4, based on their guided (or notional) learning hours
Grade bands – qualifications are also be allocated a grade band across a value range of 3-14. These grade bands spread across the breadth of Level 3 / SCQF Level 6 (but grade bands 1 and 2 are excluded because they do not give the requisite multiplier effect)
Points are determined by multiplying size and grade bands
New Tariff size bandsSize bands have been designed to ensure that existing size relationships between qualifications are maintained whilst not over-emphasising the importance of size
AS remains half the size of an A level
Scottish Highers are allocated a size band in between AS and A level
• Scottish Advanced higher, A levels, IBHL, Pre U Principal Subjects are regarded as being of comparable size
• Welsh Baccalaureate is being revised for programmes starting in 2015. The new qualification is equivalent to an A level and has therefore been allocated size band 4
New Tariff size band examplesSize band
GLH/NLH Size band value
Qualifications included GLH/NLH
1 < 120 1 Free Standing Mathematics Qualifications 60
2 120-219 2 Extended Project Qualification IB Core AS BTEC L3 Certificates IB Standard Certificates
120220180180200
3 220-319 3 Scottish Higher 240
4 320+ 4 Scottish Advanced Higher A level IB Higher Certificates BTEC National L3 Subsidiary Diploma Pre U Principal Subjects
320360360360380
New Tariff grade bandsAim to establish a grade scale that maps across the whole of level 3, providing broad grade bands that all qualifications can be mapped to.
Grade Points A level AS (New Tariff)
Scottish Highers
Scottish AdvHighers
14 A* A13 12 A B11 A10 B A C9 B8 C B D7 C6 D C5 D D4 E 3 E
“The material studied at AS is less demanding than an A level”
Ofqual
AS repositioned to circa. 40% of A level (rather than 50%)
Adjustment applied to other qualifications (e.g. Pre-U short courses aligned to AS rather than A level)
Example Tariff valuesQualification Tariff score
A level – A* 56
AS – A 20
BTEC Extended Diploma - DDD 144
Welsh Bacc (2017 award) – A* 56CACHE Extended Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce - C
96
Scottish Higher - A 33
Example of offers Current Tariff points total
New Tariff points total
Three A Levels at grades A, B, B 320 128Five Scottish Highers at grades A, A, B, B, C 340 141
Final questions & discussion points
Thank you for listening
Discussions will follow
Alan JonesUCAS PD team