Honestly, I’m not sure. That’s why I asked. I’d really like to hear what you think reviewers should actually be doing.

Few examples: 1) understand where the payline is and what score compression looks like. I suspect a 1 will be required. Maybe 1 or 2 apps will be funded per SS. 2) be kind to ESI/NI and other discriminated groups 3) maybe drop the whole "this is an A1 but I'm going to pretend it's not" approach.

In my experience, reviewers are already acutely aware of paylines and score thresholds, and most do take ESI/NI status into account. I’m less sure about point 3. Even with that awareness and the best intentions, this will be terrible all around, for applicants and reviewers alike.

If most reviewers take ESI status into account then why do we have quota based top down affirmative action ESI payline relaxation, a policy that has remained unchanged from 2007 to the present?