Now Imperial College demands A* at A-level

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The university said it would require an A* in maths and two As in "relevant subjects" for seven of its 16 undergraduate courses, including physics and mechanical engineering, when the grade is introduced next year.

Imperial said it was still looking at whether the A* would remove the need for its own tests.

A spokeswoman said at this stage it would continue developing its in-house test because "a lot [of candidates] are still going to have identical qualifications - people with the A*".

A spokeswoman for Cambridge suggested the A* grades would lessen the need for the university to devise its own tests.

"To facilitate Cambridge being seen as open to everybody, the fewer Cambridge-specific hoops people have to jump through the better," she said.

Students will be awarded A* grades if they score at least 90 per cent in the second year of A-level study and an A in the course as a whole.