Level of grades would help student selection

Only a fraction of yesterday's successful A level students will achieve their aim of joining optometry courses this autumn.

With the Government facing demands to toughen the qualification in the wake of record numbers once again achieving top grades, one optometry admissions tutor this week called for detailed exam marks to be revealed to make the selection process more robust.

This week optometry schools have reported that interest from those A level candidates  remains high, with great competition for the limited places available. However, many successful students face the prospect of being turned away from oversubscribed departments. 

'The pressure may be greater than last year as students are getting better grades,' said Cardiff University's optometry admissions tutor Richard Earlam.

Cardiff received around 900 applications for 70 optometry places asking for AAB grades. Last year it requested ABB for 75 places.