According to the Guardian, top A-level grades have dropped substantially for the first time in two decades! In the past, graduate employers have put an emphasis on prerequisite requirements for entrance on to their graduate schemes. Employers like Deloitte, PWC and Goldman Sachs have minimum UCAS point requirements just to apply for their schemes. So if students aren’t hitting those top grades at A-levels, it will be up to them to differentiate themselves at university. This is going to mean standing out from the majority of 2:1 graduates to make up for a lack of UCAS points.
This leaves us with two questions. Firstly, will graduate employers make adjustments to the entrance requirements of their employment schemes to accommodate for the emerging trend of lower than expected A-level performance? Perhaps by putting more emphasis on high achieving graduates, who obtain high 2:1 and first class degrees. And secondly, if this is the case, how will students seek to differentiate themselves while at university. Arguably there are two options available, either through an outstanding academic record, such as graduating with a first, or through other extra-curricular activities such as running societies or undertaking work placements to boost their CV. Increasing not only the appeal of their academic resume but transferable skills that are in demand in the workplace.
What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below...
This leaves us with two questions. Firstly, will graduate employers make adjustments to the entrance requirements of their employment schemes to accommodate for the emerging trend of lower than expected A-level performance? Perhaps by putting more emphasis on high achieving graduates, who obtain high 2:1 and first class degrees. And secondly, if this is the case, how will students seek to differentiate themselves while at university. Arguably there are two options available, either through an outstanding academic record, such as graduating with a first, or through other extra-curricular activities such as running societies or undertaking work placements to boost their CV. Increasing not only the appeal of their academic resume but transferable skills that are in demand in the workplace.
What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below...
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