長期以來，個人陳述都是青年學子在大學申請過程中的一道難關。現如今，英國大學及學院招生服務（UCAS）即將對個人陳述的要求作出修改。從明年開始，申請人將不用再提交一份四千字的陳述，而是需要回答三個和所申請的大學專業有關的問題，比如他們為何選擇這個專業或他們是如何為專業學習做準備的。
The 4,000-character personal statement has been a part of university application for 30 years. But there’s been growing concern it’s not fit for purpose. While it’s meant to be written by the student alone, research suggests middle class parents and schools influence them.
30 年來，提交一份四千字的個人陳述一直是英國大學申請流程的一部分。但越來越多的人擔心它能否繼續適用於設計的初衷。雖然個人陳述須要學生本人獨立完成，但研究顯示許多中等收入的父母及學校也會介入或指導個人陳述的寫作。
So, instead, UCAS will replace this unstructured essay with asking applicants to answer three questions: Why do you want to study this course or subject? How have your studies helped you prepare? And what else have you done to prepare outside of education? Students will be expected to write no more than the current personal statement in total.
所以，英國大學及學院招生服務將會用對申請人提出的三個問題來代替這篇非結構化的論文：你為什麼想要學習這門課程或專業？你過去的學習經歷如何幫你為之做好準備？你在學習之餘為瞭準備這門課程或專業的學習還做瞭哪些事情？對學生答案的總字數要求將不會超過目前個人陳述的字數要求。
Social mobility academics and charities have advocated for this change. In England, the application rate from students with the most disadvantaged backgrounds has fallen slightly to 25%, whereas for the wealthiest it’s 60%. UCAS said it hoped this change would contribute to narrowing that gap.
研究社會流動性的學者和慈善機構對這一變化提倡已久。在英格蘭地區，來自最弱勢背景的學生申請比例占全部申請的比例略微下降到瞭 25%，而來自最富裕傢庭的申請比例則占比 60%。英國大學招生服務中心希望這項變化能有助於減少這一差距。
詞匯表
personal statement 個人陳述
fit for purpose 適用於自身目的
influence 對…施加影響
unstructured essay 非結構化的論文
social mobility 社會流動性
advocated 提倡
disadvantaged backgrounds 弱勢背景
gap 差距
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. What is concerning about the current application process?
2. Which three questions will be asked to new applicants?
3. True or False? The length of the application will change.
4. What do UCAS want to achieve by changing the application process?
答案
1. What is concerning about the current application process?
While personal statements are meant to be written by the student alone, research suggests middle class parents and schools influence them.
2. Which three questions will be asked to new applicants?
Why do you want to study this course or subject? How have your studies helped you prepare? What else have you done to prepare outside of education?
3. True or False? The length of the application will change.
False. Students will be expected to write no more than the current personal statement in total.
4. What do UCAS want to achieve by changing the application process?
UCAS hope this change will contribute to narrowing the gap between students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students from the wealthiest backgrounds.
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