Provide a statement of academic achievement, including details of AS grades and/or marks. This is especially important if good AS results are uncertificated and therefore cannot be declared in the Education section of the main UCAS application; or if the marks indicate a high positioning within a grade band.

Discuss any resits, particularly if there is evidence that they are likely to lead to an improvement in an AS/A-level grade.

Provide an indication of academic potential supported by predicted grades.

List any factors that may have influenced an applicant’s academic performance such as illness, special educational needs, family or personal problems. However, you should not give information about a student’s health or disability without their consent .

Comment on how suitable the applicant is for the courses applied to.

Provide an evaluation of the applicant’s study skills, including motivation, self-discipline, powers of analysis, written and oral communication, independence of thought, and ICT skills.

Include a statement of the applicant’s career aspirations (if known/relevant).

Provide an English language competency statement (for those whose first language is not English).

Include a description of the applicant’s personal qualities (eg teachability, relationships with teachers and peer group), and any notable extra-curricular interests.

If the student is applying for courses that interview, but is likely to interview poorly because of nerves, shyness etc, then this should be identified in the reference.

Make sure that commitments that prevent interviews at a certain time (eg modular exams) are mentioned.