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UCASReference Writing
Dr Robin BarlowStudent Recruitment & Admissions
Relevance• The reference should be relevant to the actual
course/s chosen by the student• Make the student do the work with a bullet-point
summary for the referee• This should focus on the Entry Profiles• Admissions Tutors value the fact that the person
writing the reference knows the student well (or creates the impression that they do) and understands the requirements and demands of the chosen course
Essential element: academic performance and
context• Good references are consistent and specific
• Concrete examples/evidence, showing the standard of work of which the student is capable are highly valued
• Avoid generalisations such as: ‘ An excellent student who is passionate about her work’
• Much better: ‘She recently produced an outstanding essay on the military career of Earl Haig analysing and evaluating two traditional biographies with two recent, revisionist works. This was one of the best A-Level History essays I have read in the past five years’.
Other academic qualities to consider
• Powers of analysis, argument and communication• Breadth of interest
– A willingness to go outside and beyond the confines of the syllabus
– Will the student ‘go the extra mile’?– Initiative and independence of thought– Industry, reliability and organisation
Academic/non-academic comments
• The emphasis must always be on the academic qualities of the student
• A rough guide would be 3:1• A student’s extra-curricular interests are not, per se, of interest• However, Admissions Tutors will be impressed if a student
manages their academic commitments whilst still taking part in a large number of other activities– This illustrates a student’s time-management and
organizational ability
What Admissions Tutors find useful
• Realistic prediction of grades• Explanations of blips in performance, especially if
predicted grades are inconsistent with AS grades• Detailed comments relating to the particular course• Comments on subject-specific strengths• Comment on the student’s career plans, if these
have been mentioned in the Personal Statement
……..and the less useful
• Repeating information that is found elsewhere on the form
• Over-short references• Descriptions of what the student has covered as
part of their programme of study• Over-long descriptions of the school/college• Detailed description of family situation or
background• Repetition of what the student has said
Sub-text………With open references, it is not always possible to say something
less than positive in a reference
• ‘He has matured in his outlook in the past year’
• ‘He is capable of work of a high quality’
• ‘She is intelligent and at times inspired’
• ‘She is an all-rounder’
UCAS Example Reference Format
• Information on School/College• Suitability for chosen course• Subject by subject reference
• Personal qualities• Endorsement
Nuts and Bolts
• The reference can be a maximum of 4,000 characters and/or 47 lines.
• No italics, bold or underlining can be used.
• Always save the reference periodically.
Some examples• 1. UK applicant, Geography• Xxxx is a polite and pleasant boy who has a wide spectrum of interests. He has
proved himself responsible and helpful as the President of the Class Association. He is also the class "intellect", offering insights and solving problems with ease. His independence gives him the assertiveness needed for achievements in life. XXX is a student of high calibre and deserves my highest recommendation.
• 2. Overseas student, Law• I was genuinely impressed with xxxxxx’s enthusiasm when I first taught him in his
Secondary One year. Over the past years he consistently demonstrated good qualities, and I heartily endorse him for any university seat.He would be a great asset to any university. He is one of the most diligent students that I have ever had. He also has a great drive and passion for his work. He is reliable, dedicated and conscientious. Of particular value to me is his ability to handle a high-volume workload. Based on XXX's performance and my understanding of him, I believe he will be a good asset for his prospective university.
• I trust that the information provided will be of assistance and will be happy to provide further information about XXXX if required.
• Sincerely,
.....and more• 3. UK Applicant• Xxxx is a small independent boarding school located in North XXX in a rural farming
environment. It is co-educational and of mixed ability where approximately 50% of the students board and about 20% of the Sixth Form are international students.
• Art• A2 prediction: B• Xxxx is always willing to make a positive endeavour. He able to receive positive
critics well and he work towards finding solutions to problems often late into night. He has many positive points and has been pleasure to instruct I am confident he will succeed at university.
• Applied Business• A2 Predicted - B • Xxxx is a very conscientious and polite student. He has worked hard at this
subject and has produced work of a very good standard. He is fast improving his written exam technique to achieve the A grade his understanding deserves; I am however confident of him achieving at least a B grade at the end of his A2 year. Xxxx will be well suited to undergraduate study and would be a valuable addition to the course at your university. I recommend him unequivocally.
………continued• Mathematics • A2 prediction: C• Xxxxxis a delight to have in the group. He is very keen to do well and
he always gives of his best. He is prepared to put time and careful attention into problem solving in order to gain a sound understanding. He is very happy to offer his help to others; he would be an asset to any teaching group.
• Personal• Xxxxx is well respected by staff and his peers; he has matured into his
A Levels this year, with only his speed in written English holding back his academic achievement at times. As his housemaster I also find him a very personable young man who is an excellent role model for his peers and the younger years. Xxxxx is trustworthy and reliable, very capable of operating independently under minimal supervision, but also as part of a team. Xxxxx will be a real asset to any university course where he will always give of his best; he has my unequivocal endorsement as a young man of impeccable character.
………continued• 4. UK Applicant – Law
• XXXX Secondary School has a small 6th form (106) with the majority of students taking 3 A2 levels. Numbers in year 13 are 31 and as a result class sizes are small (under 10). The catchment of the school is mixed, with rural and urban areas. Last year 65% of yr 13 students gained a place at university. All except 1 who applied were accepted. I have known xxx for 2 years in the capacity of her law teacher. She is a delightful student, happy, committed to doing well and because of that hard working. She has performed well in the Sixth Form and achieved a good set of A level results which follow on well from her overall performance at GCSE. She achieved her predicted grade of a C grade in Law. She worked really hard and was self motivated throughout the course. She was very well organised and excellent at managing her own time, worked well individually and in group work. She always ensured that she fully understood the area of law that she was studying, always had lots of questions. She had a keen interest in law and in debating some of the failings of it. Her performance in Art was similar and shows her to be a committed student who works well and tackles the tasks to a high standard and always meets deadlines. In the sixth form she impressed me with her enthusiasm and commitment to working with people as well as determination to achieve her goals. Her preferred career path has been decided upon after some careful thought and as a result of the strengths she developed in her chosen subjects at school.
.• She wants to follow a law and criminology course after her very positive
experiences in law at A level. I believe her determination and endurance will prove a useful asset in the challenges that the course presents to her. I believe that she is the sort of person who should do well in this career, she is bright and lively but also cares a great deal about other people, with whom she gets on well. Her science teachers from year Year 11 remember her as having an enquiring mind and that she wanted to know what was going on and why. She communicates ideas well in writing, orally and through art. Importantly she has the confidence to talk to staff and discusses things in a mature way, she takes on board advice and criticism and acts on them in a grown up way. Her work inside school counseling and supporting younger students has helped her to start developing the skills of working with other people and taking a measured view of a situation skills that will prove very useful for her chosen career path.
• She has an excellent attendance record both when she is at school and on the days when she is studying at the local college. She also has good organisational skills and is always keen to do well. Above all she is determined to succeed. She has also shown that she is willing to give up her own time and go that step beyond many of her contemporaries, she has gone out and worked in the community and tried to make a difference. I strongly believe that she will successfully follow the criminology and law course.
.• 5. UK applicant studying for IB, Economics/Business Management• XXXX is a pleasant, polite and well mannered young man who is well liked
and respected by staff and his peers. He enjoys working as part of a team and is increasingly confident about expressing his own ideas.
• In Business & Management, xxx presents work of a good standard. He has a good command of the language and writes well structured answers. He is very quick to grasp the mathematical concepts in the course and this is a particular strength. He has taken an active role in group presentations and has demonstrated he works well within a group. His internal assessment was conducted on a business problem for a real company and he has chosen to focus on business & management in his Extended Essay, such is his interest in this subject area.
• In English, xxx has shown an adequate understanding of the thoughts and feelings expressed in a range of texts. He is able to make adequate and appropriate references to texts to support his ideas. xxx is increasingly able to identify literary features and appreciate the effects of these devices on the reader. His arguments have some sense of focus and development and there is some attempt to present ideas in an ordered and logical sequence.
.• In Geography, Xxx is an enthusiastic and dedicated pupil. He has the ability to do
independent research which is due to the fact that he is extremely interested in the subject material. This interest has produced a high motivational level within him and thus, the work is of a high standard. The majority of his ideas are conceived within group discussions but are taken further by his own independent studies.
• In his standard level subjects, Xxx seems reasonably confident with most of the ideas encountered in Mathematics so far and he appears willing to try hard. In group work he will make his views known if he feels that he has a valid contribution to make. In Spanish, Xxx is a pleasant and well motivated student who has shown clear signs of being able to successfully analyse novel situations. He can grasp new ideas quickly and he usually reaches some conclusions independently. In EVS, Xxx is a quiet student, who has made progress and is developing good practical skills. His analytical skills are good when he has learned the basic facts of a topic.
• In addition to his academic studies, Xxx plays football for the First Eleven football team. His responsible attitude has been recognised and rewarded by his promotion to the school's prefect body. Xxx has also acted as Captain of Guests, a role that involves organising fellow students to escort visitors around the school.
• I have no hesitation in recommending Xxx to you as suitable for a university course in Business Management.
.• 6. UK Applicant, Animal Science• Xxx is an able student who performed strongly at GCSE level and who is making good
progress in her IB Diploma studies. She has a vivacious personality and a profound interest in veterinary science and animal welfare.
• Xxx's HL Biology teacher comments that her "inspiration to study veterinary science comes from her love of animals, in particular horses. Attentive and involved in class activities, Xxx gathers data methodically and can analyse processed data effectively. She can show initiative and work with determination when the task demands. An example of this was on a recent marine field course when Xxx worked closely with a partner, intently observing and studying the large number of organisms present in the quadrats." In Chemistry, Xxx is an enthusiastic student who is an excellent communicator. She is a very good team player, who listens well to other people's opinions before making a decision. She works well under pressure and is good at meeting deadlines.
• In HL Philosophy, Xxx is focused and absolutely determined to do well. Her great strength is her mature approach to ethical issues. Xxx is articulate and engages wholeheartedly in current affairs, particularly in relation to bio-ethics. In class debate Xxx can always be relied upon to present her case in a passionate and informed manner. In English A1, Xxx is a committed student who has become increasingly perceptive throughout the course. She now identifies increasingly complex ideas from within texts studied and is becoming more comfortable with presenting her ideas in a literary manner.
.
• She frequently adds interesting ideas to class discussions. In Mathematics, she takes on new concepts very quickly and works hard to consolidate her learning. She contributes well in groups where she feels at ease with increased confidence and maturity.
• Xxx is a confident, creative and helpful student who is ready to contribute to the wider life of the school and the community at larger. She has worked extremely hard by choreographing dances for our 'Innovation' Fashion Show and the 'Verve Fashion Show'. Her contribution is valued greatly by the school community and both fashion shows were a great success. Xxx's passion for dance is long-standing; pursuing ballet to higher levels and training regularly in more modern dancing styles and techniques. She has attended the 'Gifted Young Dancer' program at the Academy for Performing Arts. She has also won awards for horse riding and has further used her talents in that field to support the 'Riding for the Disabled' program on a weekly basis. Xxx has always been a loyal supporter to her friends and classmates: she is a person that everyone is willing to talk to and she is well trusted by her friends. She enjoys working collaboratively with her peers and her opinions are always valued.
• Xxx's interest in animal welfare was reinforced by the work experience that she recently gained in a local veterinary practice. The strength of her motivation in this field is without doubt: combined with her academic abilities and her vibrant personality, she makes a very strong candidate for her chosen course. I recommend her to you with enthusiasm.
• Universities greatly appreciate your efforts
• References do carry great weight
• …and they are read!
Final Points
The Process
Application submitted to UniversityUniversity considers application according to their own proceduresPersonal Statement & Reference read Decision on application madeStudent may be invited to university depending on subject (e.g. interview, audition, portfolio viewing)
What Admissions Tutors are looking for:• Academic capabilities & potential• Stick-ability• Sociability• Career aspirations• Knowledge/experiences beyond the syllabus
DISCLAIMER /
WARNING /
CAUTION
The importance of each factor will depend largely on the course and the individual
institution.
What UCAS says
An application needs a reference from a tutor, careers adviser or other professional who knows a
candidate well enough to write about them and their suitability for a course.
Quotes from the frontline
“…the most suitable students to maximise themutually beneficial HE experience for both thestudent and the University.”
“Evidence that the applicant will succeed onhis/her chosen course and derive maximumbenefit from the HE experience in the widestsense.”
“Academic achievement and potential areparticularly important : we use the academicreference to assess that.”
Some words of caution
• Try and avoid using a standard template and filling in the blanks.
• Be mindful of the Data Protection Act 1998.
• Each reference should be as unique as possible.
A True Story
Planning the Reference• Read the whole application & discuss with
student.
• No need to repeat content of personal statement unless you wish to comment on certain things.
• Avoid referring to institutions by name.
• Use UCAS Entry profiles for course details.
What admissions tutorsfind helpful
• Evidence of broad reading as observed by tutors.
• Extended knowledge beyond the syllabus.
• Reference to relevant interests known to tutor.
• Transferable skills.
General Content• Short statement on school/college and
normal academic route of students (e.g. 3 x A2, 1 x AS)
• Develop on GCSE results and AS grades.
• Prediction of future grades.
• Comments from subject tutors and 6th Form tutors.
Some further points on predicted grades
• Be honest & clear about an applicants grades
• If they are low predictions…Are there any extenuating
circumstances?Does the student have the potential?Is it a reflection of their true
abilities?
The Reference • Any factors affecting performance
(e.g. health, family, financial).
• Achievements in & out of school that demonstrate balance between the academic & extra curricular.
• Suitability for chosen degree course with comments on progress in relevant areas of current study.
• Indication that applicant will survive and thrive at university.
• Comments on students intellectual qualities, motivation, enthusiasm.
• Any comments on improvement in performance since last assessment.
• Summative recommendation.
The Reference
