UK exam system does not prepare pupils for university education

According to an annual admissions survey, launched at a Higher Education (HE) advisors’ conference, many officials believed students are not being prepared enough for higher education.

All respondents to the survey agreed that students must be ‘ready to think and learn independently’ before coming to university to study. However, 62 per cent of the poll’s participants said this often wasn’t the case for many students.

Furthermore, 98 per cent of admissions officers said students should have a secure understanding of the demands of their chosen course, yet 32 per cent claimed this comprehension was missing for numerous students when they arrived to begin their degree.

Jeremy Lewis, head of the private ACS Egham school, who took part in the research commented: “Our study shows, quite clearly, many of our exam systems are just not preparing students to make that leap from secondary to HE.

“There is a huge emphasis placed on the quality of the student experience at university nowadays, but the reality is that many young people are unable to access the right experience for themselves.

“We need to equip them with the skills to succeed in HE, and develop their style of learning, but some exam systems are too narrowly focussed on subject content alone to achieve this.

“As well as being prepared to think and work independently, students also clearly need to do their homework on course content and realistically ensure they are able to cope with the challenges it will bring if they are to thrive and succeed at university.”