Colleges in Britain and Northern Ireland are to introduce a revolutionary way of dealing with admissions. Students will apply electronically once they have their results rather than applying in advance before they have sat their exams.

The marking of exam papers will be speeded up to enable results to be published earlier in August. It seems that universities and schools will, however, continue to operate to the old timetables so students will have a very short time in August to make choices and secure places.

Applicants will be given a week to apply to universities once they have their exam results. A fast-track system for student admissions will match student choices against universities' preferences.

Every year, about 50,000 college places are allocated through a clearing process for vacancies. These vacancies are advertised through the national papers and on a website and students often have to make decisions within days or hours of getting an offer. It is anticipated that the new system will reduce clearing to a minimum.

The system is expected to make its debut in two years' time. At present, most students apply to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) some eight months before they know the results of their exams. The UCAS closing date of December 15th is even earlier than the Irish Central Applications Office (CAO) date of February 1st. Meanwhile, the Points Commission, which is reviewing the Irish college applications system, continues its deliberations here. Undoubtedly, it will be keeping a close eye on developments across the water.

The obvious advantage of waiting until students have their results is that they have a much better idea of where they are likely to secure places. However, the Irish and British admissions system are dissimilar with the CAO operating a points-based admissions process and UCAS making offers conditional on the achievement of specified results.

The second research paper to be carried out under the auspices of the Points Commission found that 70 per cent of Leaving Cert students are dissatisfied with the current points system. Published earlier this month, the attitude survey of more than 3,000 Leaving Cert students in 64 schools found that there was a perception that the system does not reward all students equally, rewarding some skills and knowledge while ignoring others; measuring only a narrow range of educational achievement and not selecting the most suitable students for particular third-level courses.

Many students criticised the use of a high-pressure, once-off terminal exam expressing concern about "the lack of recognition for consistent hard work throughout the five or six years and a total lack of recognition for any sort of involvement in extra-curricular activities e.g. games, music."

ALMOST 85 per cent said extra points should be awarded for subjects relevant to the third-level course being applied for, while more than 84 per cent said that "talents such as sports, music, debating and acting should be rewarded." The personal statement used in the UCAS application form gives applicants some scope to present themselves as a rounded person rather than an academic number.

The downside is that the ugly question of subjectivity raises its head. At least, with points only, candidates know why they have or have not got a place.

The Points Commission has finished the consultation process and is now at the key stage of considering recommendations. It is expected to report in late spring or early summer. The report must be timed so it does not upset this year's college applicants - any changes will take effect in the year 2000 at the earliest.