https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/let-s-end-the-lottery-of-predicted-grades
The UK admissions system is often lauded on this site as better than or perhaps more predictable than the US system. Sounds like it has less moving parts but isn’t necessarily less stressful or more fair.
Also many UK schools are now significantly overenrolled because the A level grades have experienced a huge inflation over the last 2 years.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/don-t-blame-teachers-for-this-year-s-grade-inflation
As Smithers suspected, the A level TAGs are certainly a ‘bumper’ crop. Reports last nightsuggested that about 49 per cent of entries will be graded A or A*, exceeding even last years’ record breaking 38.6 per cent. These statistics would have been unimaginable before the pandemic. In 2019, only 25.5 per cent of entries scored these grades. I say ‘only’ but even those figures triggered concerns about grade inflation.