I ask this because I was asking some of the lecturers at uni how hard it would be to get a 1st as that is what I want to aim for, and they basically said I and anyone else on the course has no chance of getting a 1st.

They say its something to do with all grades being averaged out, so even if any of us gets a 1st it will be downgraded to a 2:1 :(

Yeah, they map them to a mean distribution curve.

Big sis has a 1st (I got a lowly 2:2 though), but big sis had an average of over 85% in all of the exams that counted to a final result, so I think she'd have been a bit miffed if she's got a 2:1.

BTW she's a chemical engineer.

I am not the most intelligent chappie but I got a 2:1 in engineering....... how crap does that make me? I am glad I got through it..... Just do your degree first and worry later. Do you really want a pat on the back all the way...... just get on with it it's not a funfair ride, you need to apply yourself..... so get on with it. If you need support or help in a different way that would be a valid thread.... sorrry for being me.

No I dont want a pat on the back. In fact Id be happy with a 2:2, and I myself think theres no chance of getting a 1st, im just not that clever enough. I think the highest I could get even if they dont change the grades is a 2:1

I was just wondering is all.

Originally posted by spyro2000
No I dont want a pat on the back. In fact Id be happy with a 2:2, and I myself think theres no chance of getting a 1st, im just not that clever enough. I think the highest I could get even if they dont change the grades is a 2:1

I was just wondering is all.

You are noble..... I see that in your answer. I think you will go on to surprise youself and I really hope you do. You have infact answered your own question...... You are clever enough, you just need to believe that...... and put all the negative people in your life on hold..... for now, till you you can face em and let em know. I think you have a fantastic future ahead of you..... It's all in your hands..... and I wish you the best. You will conquer.... It's in your blood. Just believe it.

I have a first in biology. I graduated ten years ago, but as I recall the degree classification was based on performance in the final exams in the second and third years, plus the honours project.

A first class degree equated to first class marks in the exams, same with the 2:1 and 2:2 degrees. The mark that was needed to obtain a first may have changed slightly each year (eg. 85% one year, 82% the next), but it was always theoretically possible for any student to obtain a first.

I know quite a few people that I was as uni with that got 1sts, most of them were getting grades of 80% or thereabouts all the way through (one was soooo upset when she got a 69% (2:1)) One of my friends was averaging 69% most of the way through, and with sheffield uni's amazing working out/averaging scheme he got a first too... much to his surprise!

I got a 2:1 in my first degree (av 61%) and a Merit in my second degree (av 62%) so at least i'm consistent!!

As far as I can tell, all that a first gets you is more chance of funding for further academia!!

PAH a 2:1 is the best degree you can get - get a 1st and potential employers think you are a girlie swot get a 2:2 and they think you haven't tried!!!

(Guess what I got!)

My friend got a 1st at Sheffield Uni so it is possible.

I got a 1st, but in design, rather than an 'academic' subject - no exams, and not sure how you can put a % on creativity!

Got a 2:1 in Politics from Sheff Uni. and we were told that was about the most we could aim for as firsts were never given out. I certainly don't know anyone from my time there that got a first in Politics. I think people have more of a chance of getting a first in subjects that have right or wrong answers rather than some nebulous theory that requires gasbagging about.

They can't 'change' grades, the University regulations will set down what percentages are required to get each classification. However, when marking a piece of work, if all students are getting over 80% tutors may change marking criteria so that the marks given will fit into the ditribution curve.

As a rough guide the top 5% of students tend to get a first, so if you have less than 20 students in your class that may have been what the tutor was implying when he said it was unlikely any would get a 1st.

I got a first from Sheffield Uni back in 1995, in Accounting and Financial Management.
It's good to see that degrees have not suffered the kind of "grade inflation" that A levels and GCSEs have demonstrated recently, where A grades seem to be far more common than they were "in my day" - NB this is not a criticism of the students who still have to work hard to get their grades!

I got a 2(i) Honours back in 1982, Biochemistry.

I was told by a tutor at the end of my First year I could get a First if I carried on working the same way, at the end of my Second year I was told I might struggle to get a first.

Basically, I slacked off. I can't remember whether anyone on my course got a First - there were two contenders from Singapore but whether they in fact made the grade I don't know.

Joe

I got a 1st on microelectronics engineering degree, and then got a distinction on my Masters degree in control systems. As I was told by my tutors you need to get an average result of more than 70% (for a bachelors or masters degree), but this may be not enough. At the end of the academic year, lecturers have a meeting and decide on the degree class of all students. Let's say you have 75% average but on a couple of subjects you have 60%, then they might decide that you're good on some subjects but not consistently good, so you cannot get a first class... To be certain that you're getting a first (or distinction if it's a masters) you need an average of more than 70% and all individual subjects above the 70% mark...

On my course only one person got a first - at Hull. I got a 2:1.

It did get better after that. I managed to get "summa cum laude" for my PhD, and was very proud of myself as a result ;-)

It sounds like it depends what university you go to. I went to York and they never mentioned anything about ‘distributing’ grades or never handing out firsts. IIRC they specifically told us what we needed to achieve to get each grade: 36-40% for a pass, 40-50% for a third, 50-60% for a 2:2, 60-70% for a 2:1 and over 70% was a first. Hardly anyone got one though. Only one on my course, and I only know one other person who got one (in maths!).

I do think it would be better if there was a standard procedure at all universities and that the level of understanding required to achieve grades be the same whatever the university. At the moment the degree class someone has is almost meaningless information as a stand-alone fact.

I too got a first, and like many of the others in this thread who are owning up to one, it was in a science subject. Hard work and a detailed understanding of the subject will get you what you deserve in science subjects, where it's not at all impossible to get 100% (just very unlikely).

Essay subjects, OTOH, are a completely different kettle of fish. An able student will find it very difficult to reach the required standards of understanding, originality and communication of ideas required for a 1st - at least that's what I've always heard from my friends who studied arts subjects. A 2:1 is a lot more readily achieveable, and recognised as a high quality degree in such subjects. Firsts are still awarded, but only to the truly exceptional.

I'm going to try to aim for a first next year in my final year, I dont understand all these people that say "theres no way I can get a first I'll aim for a 2:1/2:2" ... aim for a first, even if you dont get it theres more chance you'll get a 2:1 than if you aim for a 2:1 and end up with a 2:2!

My 2nd year average was only 67%, my final grade can be either 100% of final year or 25% 2nd year + 75% final year...

so with my 2nd year average I'm just going to aim for a spankingly good 80% average in my final year and work my socks off on all my assignments and exams, I know I'm capable of it, it's just whether girls and alcohol distract me too much... they've always been my downfall :(

I scraped my way into a 2:1 with 60.9% in the second year... trying for a first this year but I think the odds are stacked against me! Mind you, I barely did any work last year so maybe it's not impossible :)

A friend of mine got a 1st in Occupational Therapy.

I don't know of anyone who got a 1st off my degree course (Law)

I got a fairly good 2:1 :D :D

the method of awarding firsts seems to depend on the university and how many firsts the relevant department within the university is prepared to give out each year.

i got a first (environmental engineering at uni of leeds), with an average exam / coursework mark of about 80 per cent. 3 other people (out of 80) also got firsts.

my partner went to durham, and got a 2:1 with an average mark of 69 per cent; HOWEVER, she got 4 x 70%s in her final set of exams, which suggests to me that she was capped to prevent more than 2 people on her prestigious course getting a first. unfair!

I just missed getting a first at Sheffield Uni in 1997. I was disappointed as I was told I was on line for a first and all my coursework and dissertation were firsts. But that was the problem. When I did my finals, my nerves were so bad (cos I was thinking about what I had to achieve) that my exam marks weren't as good and I ended up with a 2:1. There were 6 firsts on our course, out of 100+ students ... and I understand that certain adjustments are made in the final examiners meeting. My tutor also said that my name was discussed at the final examiners meeting, presumably as I was close to borderline.

When I got my results I had to go into the toilet for a cry. I wish nobody had mentioned a first to me. Before this, I thought a 2:1 was good and a 2:2 was what most people came away with!

I think it does depend on the course and the institution.

I got a 2:1 in Media Writing (whatever that means!) from a rather poor university. The majority of people on my course also achieved the same grade, with only about five managing firsts. (They were all mature/older students - not sure exactly what that means, but there you go.)

Thing is, I graduated earlier this year, and although I didn't get a first class honours degree, a 2:1 is still a fairly decent achievement. Sadly, I'm rotting away away at a clothes shop in Meadowhell, as being in education since I was five and plunging myself thousands of pounds into debt seems to have done me no good whatsoever as I can't get a proper job. :(

So, good luck with your course, and good luck with your future. I hope your specific degree opens more doors than mine did - mine seems to have shut a fair few, actually. Ho hum.

(Fancy a grape? They taste a little on the sour side...)

I got a first in maths. Had to maintain an average of 70% or more in my last two years, it was an undergrad masters too so I'm pretty happy about that! Quite a few got firsts in my year (a dozen or so out of sixty), but the kind of person who does a degree in maths tends to be good at it anyway so that's not too surprising. I know people who got firsts in History, Social Anthropology and, er, International Relations so it's not impossible to do it in arts subjects.

I got a 2.1 from Manchester University in an essay-based subject. It was apparently quite a feat to get a First on that course, and only 1 person - or was it 2? - got one in my year.

StarSparkle

I got a 2:1 in social Policy and politics from the now defunct 9and completely cack) university of lincolnshire and humberside.

Very few people at the uni got firsts as very few who were there had the ability or cared.

I know many people with firsts (mailny In English :suspect: )

My son got a first class honours degree in computer studies and business management at Sheffield Hallam University, not bad for a lad who's headmaster said he'd be in remedial when he was ten, I'd love to meet him again, also he kept a job going while at Uni. so he could pay his board, he was born on a council estate, which proves that it doesn't hold you back if you're prepared to work for it.

Originally posted by spyro2000
I ask this because I was asking some of the lecturers at uni how hard it would be to get a 1st as that is what I want to aim for, and they basically said I and anyone else on the course has no chance of getting a 1st.

They say its something to do with all grades being averaged out, so even if any of us gets a 1st it will be downgraded to a 2:1 :(

it really depends on the subject, when i left durham a politics 1st hadn't been given for 9 years, on the otherhand in maths if you averaged above 70% in your modules you'd get a first for def

Only in the university of life :)

I'm working on my masters at the moment :D

Most of my friends got 1st and distinctions for their undergrad and masters degrees. I just missed out on both accounts but then I never tried that hard, so it's hardly suprising.

It's stange, I struggled to get on graduate fast-tracks because of my 2:1 and merit and my friends struggled because they were 'too academic' in the eyes of the interviewers.

On a few occasions I felt like reaching across the table and grabbing one of the executive by the lapels and yelling,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" ...

I got a First, again in a science subject. I agree with AstroKath that science subjects probably do give more firsts out because they have a problem-solving basis, so if you get the problem right you are bound to get something pretty close to 100%.

If you're doing something more sociological or essay based, where there is often no right answer except for someone else's theory or interpretation, it can be harder to get an outstanding mark for every bit of work and graduate with a first.

1st class BA Hons from Sheffield University in the very early 70's.

If a 3rd is known as a Douglas (Hurd) and a 2:2 is a Desmond (Tutu) what could be the daft name for a 2:1 or a 1st?

Originally posted by nuf_said
1st class BA Hons from Sheffield University in the very early 70's.

If a 3rd is known as a Douglas (Hurd) and a 2:2 is a Desmond (Tutu) what could be the daft name for a 2:1 or a 1st?

A Taiwan and a David Hirst?

My sister had just graduated with a first in a Master's at Leeds in Business Management and her bloke is finishing off his Master's in Architecture (same uni). They both worked really hard for them

I graduated from Loughborough in 2001, by the time I realised I wanted to do something else I was already more than halfway through the course. I did Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The course was awful - poor content that hadn't changed in years (it is supposed to be technology-related!). My time at uni generally went:

1st year - lots of drinking, little or no work
2nd year - as above
3rd year - some drinking, some work

I also had to hold down a weekend job so I could stay at uni. By the end I had lost interest and came out without honors. Oh well!

BUT when I was at uni I really got into PC's and started building them and understanding them. I graduated and within 10 months got a job in IT for Lincolnshire County Council looking after servers, and two months ago started working for one of the big banks in Sheffield as a Storage Administrator (so I moved here).

I really don't want to bring anyone's achievements at uni down, but for me I learnt more in 3 months in work than in 3 years of uni. I did what I liked doing (working with computers) and managed to get a job in IT.