Predicted grades: what they are and how to raise them in one term
Contents
In short
Predicted grades are the school's forecast of a student's final result, issued before the exam. UK universities and many others make conditional offers based on them, so performance a year before the exam matters for admissions as much as the final result. Predictions can be raised: teachers base them on mock exams, internal assessments and progress over time.
Who sets predicted grades, and when
The school sets the prediction, usually the subject teacher together with the programme coordinator. It happens in the final year, before university applications go in. Oxbridge and medicine have earlier deadlines, so for those applicants the prediction is needed as early as the autumn.
What the teacher looks at
- Mock exam results, sat in the real exam format.
- Internal work: the IA in the IB, coursework in A-Levels.
- Class tests and progress over the last few months.
- How the student responds to feedback.
How to raise a prediction in one term
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Topic-by-topic diagnostic in the exam format | Straight away |
| 2 | Close the weak topics that carry the most marks | Weeks 2–8 |
| 3 | Practise the mock format: timing and extended answers against the markscheme | A month before mocks |
| 4 | Submit the IA or coursework to the highest standard, on time | On the school's schedule |
| 5 | Discuss the prediction with the teacher and show your progress | After mocks |
Glossary EN ↔ RU
- predicted grade
- прогнозная оценка от школы
- conditional offer
- условное предложение о зачислении
- mock exam
- пробный экзамен в формате настоящего
- markscheme
- официальные критерии оценивания ответа
- IA (internal assessment)
- внутренняя работа, часть итоговой оценки IB
If the prediction is low
Talk to the teacher: ask which mock result or piece of work could change the prediction, and by when. In parallel, build a realistic university list with reach, match and safety choices. If time is short, focus on the topics that carry the most weight.
Questions and answers
Can a predicted grade be changed after the application is sent?
As a rule, the prediction is set once for the application. After that the final exam decides: offer conditions are met with actual grades.
Does the prediction match the final grade?
Not always. That's why it matters to prepare for the exam itself, not just for the prediction.
Sources
- UCAS www.ucas.com
- International Baccalaureate www.ibo.org