UCAT Results Discussion 2019

[Kezza]

I mean of you can guarantee that you are gonna make the cuttoff for Gpa and ucat for interview then the fact the don't do the Goa cut-off for interview benefits you heavily. Especially if there are 150 people ineligible.

Of course, that makes my whole point mute -however, for those who miss out on the interview to someone who is ineligible, it does not benefit them heavily at all :/

In reality, I’d imagine it’s a very small proportion of applicants that don’t make the cutoff. I don’t think changing the order would have much of an impact on things - if it was a problem for JMP and WSU then they would’ve changed their admissions process by now.

I don't think that it is an issue by any means on the universities front numbers wise- I just meant that those people who say miss out on an interview being say 5 spots behind the cutoff - if 5 students failed their GPA/ATAR requirements, then those 5 people missing the UCAT cutoff could have possibly gotten in from their interviews.

It's a much of a muchness really - it's essentially "does the chicken come before the egg" - do you base off GPA/ATAR first or UCAT score... As the former is pretty much constant each year, I just feel it would be a fairer process.

 

[A1]

In my comment I was denoting that once results are calculated for ATAR in December then interview offers would go out for interviews to take place in later December.

UNSW is doing it this way^, and see what happens - ATARs released on 17th Dec, invites go out the same day for interviews to begin next day 18th, until 23rd, then go into Christmas-New Year break, offer calculations first week of January for offers on the 10th.

JMP interviews almost twice as many, interview period is 12 days compared to UNSW's 6. How do you think JMP would fit them in?

 

[wilsh]

Applying for: Medicine
Application Type: Gap Year
Predicted ATAR/GPA: min. 99 (after UES)
UCAT Percentile Rank: 92~ (according to sd & mean), 91 (according to official UCAT calculator)
VR: 700
DM: 700
QR: 660
AR: 800
Total: 2860
SJ: 715
Current State: SA
Applying to: Adelaide/Flinders (no interstate )
Rural Applicant: (no)
GWS Applicant: (no)
Indigenous Applicant: (no)
Other: UES
Specific Question:

How do offers work with Adelaide? If I have, say, a reasonable/good interview, and my ATAR & UCAT, can anyone estimate a % chance of an offer at Adelaide? Much appreciated.



Also sidenote to anyone interested, you can apply to UK Unis 2020 with UCAT ANZ 2019 scores: Results | UCAT Consortium

Deadline: 15 Oct

Sorry for the spam everyone, couldn't get a response last time. Could anyone evaluate my chance at Adel/Flinders? Ty x100 in advance

 

[A1]

Sorry for the spam everyone, couldn't get a response last time. Could anyone evaluate my chance at Adel/Flinders? Ty x100 in advance

You need 97.6 raw ATAR to get boosted to 99.85 for a chance at Flinders. It's difficult to estimate Adelaide due to the generous UES (95.5+ gets boosted to 99+), UCAT is weighted half as much and the high ratio of interviewees to places. Not just for you but even a near top ATAR+UCAT has only 30-40% chance. All you can do is to prepare the best you can for the interview.

 

[ucatboy]

You need 97.6 raw ATAR to get boosted to 99.85 for a chance at Flinders. It's difficult to estimate Adelaide due to the generous UES (95.5+ gets boosted to 99+), UCAT is weighted half as much and the high ratio of interviewees to places. Not just for you but even a near top ATAR+UCAT has only 30-40% chance. All you can do is to prepare the best you can for the interview.

What exactly IS UES? Does receiving some meagre Family Tax Benefits automatically boost your ATAR to 99 and beyond? Because that sounds kinda crazy tbh EDIT: FTB isn't considered under the scheme
Also, I assume that not every family is in the same financial position (some might be experiencing extreme hardship and others less so) but is a flat 5-point boost applied to everyone?

 

[Totolier]

Applying for: Medicine
Application Type: standard
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 99.2
UCAT Percentile Rank: 96
VR: 580
DM: 650
QR: 870
AR: 890
Total: 2990
SJ: 651
Current State: NSW
Applying to: UNSW --> WSU --> JMP (UON)
Rural Applicant: (no)
GWS Applicant: (no)
Indigenous Applicant: (no)
Other:
Specific Question:
What chances do I have of making an interview for any three? If successful, do you think I have a shot at getting an offer

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Applying for: Medicine
Application Type: standard
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 99.2
UCAT Percentile Rank: 96
VR: 580
DM: 650
QR: 870
AR: 890
Total: 2990
SJ: 651
Current State: NSW
Applying to: UNSW --> WSU --> JMP (UON)
Rural Applicant: (no)
GWS Applicant: (no)
Indigenous Applicant: (no)
Other:
Specific Question:
What chances do I have of making an interview for any three? If successful, do you think I have a shot at getting an offer

Asked and answered previously. Please check through your posting history.

 

[monkey1234]

Applying for: Med
Application Type: (non-standard)
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 98.9/6.9
UCAT Percentile Rank:90
VR: 580
DM:690
QR:860
AR: 710
Total: 2840
SJ:685
Current State: NSW
Applying to: unsw, wsu, jmp
Rural Applicant: no
GWS Applicant: yes
Indigenous Applicant: no
Other: no
Specific Question: Do you know about the marks required for the UNSW medical science transfer program into medicine ?

Hi, I think my previous post was missed before, would anyone be able to comment on this, thank you in advance!

 

[A1]

Also, I assume that not every family is in the same financial position (some might be experiencing extreme hardship and others less so) but is a flat 5-point boost applied to everyone?

I think so > Adjustment factors - SATAC

"Applicants who are eligible for adjustments under the Universities Equity Scheme (either school-based or individual disadvantage) will have their university aggregate adjusted by 5 points"

This part doesn't apply to Adelaide/Flinders med though, but seems to be accepted for Adelaide dent:
"and applicants who are eligible for adjustments under the Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme will have their university aggregate adjusted by either 2 or 4 points. An individuals’ aggregate can be adjusted by a maximum of 9 points".

 

[DrDrLMG!]

Hi, I think my previous post was missed before, would anyone be able to comment on this, thank you in advance!

I have a feeling this probably remains unanswered because we simply don’t know. I can’t recall a course switcher reporting in here in the last few years (they are few and far between). Logic may have some second hand information?

 

[monkey1234]

I have a feeling this probably remains unanswered because we simply don’t know. I can’t recall a course switcher reporting in here in the last few years (they are few and far between). Logic may have some second hand information?

thank you for your response! Would you be able to comment on my chances for gaining interview offers for the Uni's I mentioned?

 

[A1]

Would you be able to comment on my chances for gaining interview offers for the Uni's I mentioned?

WSU is unlikely unless they happen to weight more on your two best sections QR & AR (no-one knows their weightings yet).

For UNSW your equiv ATAR rank is around 99.2, with 90%ile it's a little below borderline but wait & see. Hopefully you will get JMP interview.

 

[xyz1]

Mod note: answered

Applying for: Medicine
Application Type: Standard
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 99.90
UCAT Percentile Rank: 92
VR: 610
DM: 720
QR: 780
AR: 770
Total: 2880
SJ: 617
Current State: WA
Applying to: UWA, Curtin, Monash, UQ, Melbourne
Rural Applicant: (no)
GWS Applicant: (no)
Indigenous Applicant: (no)
Other:
Specific Question: Chances for interview at Monash? If I do manage to receive an interview around how strong would I have to perform (70+ %tile?) to be accepted, given that I'm an interstate applicant. Thanks

 

[DrDrLMG!]

A heads up that I’ve created a thread for collating interview invite information. Please share your data here 2020 Entry Interview Invites - Collated once invites start to roll out, and remember to keep to thread appropriate posts (here and elsewhere).

General interview discussion and questions should also go in the appropriate thread: General Interview Discussion and Questions 2020 Entry

 

[Crow]

Applying for: Medicine
Application Type: Standard
Predicted ATAR/GPA: 99.90
UCAT Percentile Rank: 92
VR: 610
DM: 720
QR: 780
AR: 770
Total: 2880
SJ: 617
Current State: WA
Applying to: UWA, Curtin, Monash, UQ, Melbourne
Rural Applicant: (no)
GWS Applicant: (no)
Indigenous Applicant: (no)
Other:
Specific Question: Chances for interview at Monash? If I do manage to receive an interview around how strong would I have to perform (70+ %tile?) to be accepted, given that I'm an interstate applicant. Thanks

If last year is anything to go by, your score combination should get you a Monash interview. I can't realistically see the cutoff rising any higher unless they all but scratch interstate applicants altogether (but unfortunately, medicine cutoffs continually seem to rise over time, so I won't make any guarantees). I won't try to answer the other question - just do your best at the interview as you should regardless of whatever perceived chance you think you'll have. Good luck

 

[Lyyrre]

If last year is anything to go by, your score combination should get you a Monash interview. I can't realistically see the cutoff rising any higher unless they all but scratch interstate applicants altogether (but unfortunately, medicine cutoffs continually seem to rise over time, so I won't make any guarantees). I won't try to answer the other question - just do your best at the interview as you should regardless of whatever perceived chance you think you'll have. Good luck

A little bit of data on top of this, and I know I keep popping up with all these unusual examples but just hoping they’re helpful :|

Last year. I know of 2 interstates who got 99.40/99%ile and 99.95/93%ile who both did not receive a Monash interstate interview, so it is very competitive for interstate applicants. To specify, their results came out in early January - maybe that affected things? When is Monash interstate interviews normally?

 

[A1]

Last year. I know of 2 interstates who got 99.40/99%ile and 99.95/93%ile who both did not receive a Monash interstate interview, so it is very competitive for interstate applicants. To specify, their results came out in early January - maybe that affected things? When is Monash interstate interviews normally?

99.95 & 99.40 indicate these likely were IB students. Using this coming year as example, IB results will be released on 7th Jan while Monash will send out interstate invites from 14th Jan. Note an important difference in that ATARs are calculated/issued by the TACs (i.e. easily accessed between them) whereas I believe IB results are issued by some faraway organisation. I just found this link, maybe these students forgot to request IB to make their results available to VTAC?

> Transcripts | Diploma
"You can select up to six higher education institutions (HEI) worldwide. An admissions center, e.g., Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), counts as one request.

When results are released, they will be made available to (the selected) institutes via an IB secure website, or on a paper transcript if the institute does not make use of the IB secure website."

 

[REGULAR JOE]

99.95 & 99.40 indicate these likely were IB students. Using this coming year as example, IB results will be released on 7th Jan while Monash will send out interstate invites from 14th Jan. Note an important difference in that ATARs are calculated/issued by the TACs (i.e. easily accessed between them) whereas I believe IB results are issued by some faraway organisation. I just found this link, maybe these students forgot to request IB to make their results available to VTAC?

> Transcripts | Diploma
"You can select up to six higher education institutions (HEI) worldwide. An admissions center, e.g., Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), counts as one request.

When results are released, they will be made available to (the selected) institutes via an IB secure website, or on a paper transcript if the institute does not make use of the IB secure website."

A1 I'm in a similar kind of boat, having done Cambridge A Levels. which is equivalent to Australian Year 12. I have achieved the maximum grades possible, but I have been advised by several TAC's that my equivalent ATAR is NOT the maximum (99.95), but 99.00. It seems pretty unfair to me that I've achieved the highest grades possible in a qualification that's equivalent to Australian Year 12, but not receive the highest atar. Do you have any suggestions (if any) to my concerns?

 

[A1]

It seems pretty unfair to me that I've achieved the highest grades possible in a qualification that's equivalent to Australian Year 12, but not receive the highest atar.

Unfortunately there is no justification for this reasoning^. For example in QLD's OP system OP1 is the highest possible, but no-one can argue OP1 is therefore equivalent to the highest ATAR 99.95. The correct logic is OP1 is approximately the top 1% thus = 99+, whereas 99.95 is the top 1/20th of 99+. They have to find ways to split OP1 into 20 ranked sub-groups and only the top sub-group is considered 99.95.

So for A Levels they'd need to know what percent of students achieve the maximum grades, then have ways to rank them into 0.05% sub-groups and give 99.95 to the top sub-group. I guess the unis/TACs here have no interest in doing all these calculations.

 

[pokopoko99]

A1 I'm in a similar kind of boat, having done Cambridge A Levels. which is equivalent to Australian Year 12. I have achieved the maximum grades possible, but I have been advised by several TAC's that my equivalent ATAR is NOT the maximum (99.95), but 99.00. It seems pretty unfair to me that I've achieved the highest grades possible in a qualification that's equivalent to Australian Year 12, but not receive the highest atar. Do you have any suggestions (if any) to my concerns?

Which TACs did you ask? I've called all of them and some individual unis hoping for some information but only SATAC were able to give me a clear definite answer :/ (in case you misunderstand I'm not suggesting you could be lying about 'several tacs' I'm just genuinely curious and will try contact those admission centres which provided you information again)