On good form

The need to complete the Ucas form clearly and accurately may sound obvious but it's amazing how many critical errors are made that can affect chances of getting offers from chosen universities. At the outset the overall advice is to practise on endless photocopies and then, when filling in the actual form, follow the instructions carefully, even if this does mean wading through the less-than-thrilling 38-page "How To Apply" booklet! The reason for this? When Ucas get your form they will copy it and send it to all six of your choices, so any mistakes will be magnified sixfold and sneered at in six institutes of higher education!

So what are the basics? Clear black ballpoint pen or type is the first. Do not separate the two halves of the form and don't use glue, paper-clips or staples anywhere - no extra sheets are allowed. This year there is a plea not to use correction fluid if you make mistakes so when it comes to your real Ucas form make sure you know exactly what you are going to write and carefully copy from your final photocopy. Remember that any of these errors can result in your form being delayed and your chances harmed.

You should not have too much trouble with the first two sections; after all you know who you are and where you live. But do you know your date of birth? Nearly 10% of all applicants reckon it's the year in which they are applying! Complete this "further details" section carefully as it also includes questions about who will assess you for tuition fees or how you will pay for your course.

The next section concerns the courses and the universities you have chosen. These should appear in Ucas Directory order, not in your preference order. You'll need either the paper or CD-rom version of the Directory (also on the Ucas website) to complete the codes for this section accurately.

It is worth getting the photocopies out again for section 7. This is where you list all the qualifications you have completed, pass or fail, and those that you have not yet completed, the ones you are studying now. It is vitally important to get the details of your exam centre and the abbreviations for the awarding bodies 100% accurate as problems can arise around results time next year if there are mistakes or omissions.

Finally, apart from the personal statement dealt with elsewhere, don't forget to complete the final two sections - if you don't answer yes or no to the criminal convictions question or if you forget to read and sign the declaration then your form will not be processed by Ucas. That just leaves the payment (£15; cheques, credit, debit cards all OK) and then you are ready to pass your form to that very lovely person you've been smiling at a lot, who's going to write your reference!