A government-appointed taskforce charged with examining university admissions procedures has recommended the adoption of US-style aptitude tests to be taken alongside A Levels.

In its report the taskforce, led by Professor Steven Schwartz, argued that while each student should be treated individually, admissions tutors could consider a candidate's test scores in the context of their background.

"Admissions staff have the discretion to vary the weight they give to examination results and other indicators of achievement and potential," it said.

"This means that admissions staff have the discretion to vary the offer that they make to applicants, provided this is done consistently with the principles of fair admissions."

Professor Schwartz, vice chancellor of Brunel University, highlighted the case of an applicant whose father died shortly before her A Level exams, as a consequence of which she did not achieve the A grades she would normally have.

"What we are saying is there are cases where almost everyone would agree that background factors are important and shouldn't be ignored," he said.

"Or they could be people who read a lot, who think, but who went to such a poor school that they weren't prepared for A levels.

"It is cases like these that admissions tutors might want to have a look at."

Actual grades

Students should able to apply for university places using their actual, not predicted, grades, the report argued, calling on university heads and vice chancellors to resolve their differences over term dates.

"About half the predictions are wrong, so it's almost a coin-toss," added Professor Schwartz.

The report also highlighted the need for better training for admissions staff, arguing that the job was usually given to an academic in addition to their other responsibilities.

In addition "compacts" between universities and neighbouring schools, which give local students a head-start in the admissions process, should be reviewed, or extended to larger regions and more than one institution.

The taskforce argued that such a practice could face legal challenges unless "equality of opportunity" could be proven.

Transparent and fair

Higher education minister Alan Johnson insisted that the report published on Tuesday were only interim findings.

"It is very important to make sure admissions are transparent and fair," he said.

"Professor Schwartz has been asked to chair an independent review of admissions and this consultation is the next step in the process.

"It is a consultation by the sector for the sector.

"We look forward to receiving the final report later this year.  In the meantime we will continue to re-emphasise that admissions policy is a matter for universities and colleges alone to determine."

However, Liberal Democrat education spokesman Phil Willis criticised the findings.

"Our university system is built on the right of universities to choose students based on merit and potential and the right of every applicant to be treated as an individual.

"The social imbalance in our universities cannot be rectified by social engineering but by investment from birth into students who at present are not reaching their potential.

"SAT scores in the USA have not resulted in a better social mix in top US universities. They have coincided with an unprecedented drop in poor students attending top universities."