3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?
Welcome to the Oxbridge forums: where prospective and current students can discuss anything about Oxford and Cambridge.
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Full Member
- Posts: 102
3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?I have 3 A*'s and 1A, should I bother applying to to MML at oxbridge?
I had to retake english AS thrice and A2 twice
AS maths twice
AS German twice
I have worked in Germany during my gap year. Worth applying? Can they see my retakes? -
- Reputation:
- Adored and Respected Member
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?They will see your retakes because you will have to provide all of your modular marks in the extra questionairre (Cambridge). Not so sure about Oxford - I think they ask for modular grades, but don't take my word for it.
I presume the 1 A is in English (you can't get A* in A2 if you retake, can you?)
Probably worth it, but you'll need to give strong reasons as to why and how this happened, and to display a lot of strength in being at Oxbridge. -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: england
- Posts: 4,304
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?Do you mean you've retaken individual modules within two years of 6th form (eg. sat an AS maths module in January of year 12, June of year 12 and January of year 13), or have you taken four or five years to do your A-levels?
-
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: england
- Posts: 4,304
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?You have to put your original A-level scores on your ucas form, as well as your retake scores.(Original post by Aurel-Aqua)
They will see your retakes because you will have to provide all of your modular marks in the extra questionairre (Cambridge). Not so sure about Oxford - I think they ask for modular grades, but don't take my word for it.
I presume the 1 A is in English (you can't get A* in A2 if you retake, can you?)
Probably worth it, but you'll need to give strong reasons as to why and how this happened, and to display a lot of strength in being at Oxbridge.
(Eg. June 2009: A-Level Maths: Grade C
June 2010: A-Level Maths: Grade A*;
or
June 2010: A-Level Geography: Grade B
June 2011: A-Level Geography: Result pending) -
- Reputation:
- TSR Deity
- Location: London!
- Posts: 29,752
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?As others have said, Oxford don't ask you to list retakes whereas Cambridge do.
The course at Oxford is quite different though: very much literature-based, which doesn't suit some people. Look carefully at the course content to see whether you would enjoy the course. In such a high-pressure uni, not liking the course at all isn't much fun
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Full Member
- Posts: 102
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?(Original post by angelmxxx)
Do you mean you've retaken individual modules within two years of 6th form (eg. sat an AS maths module in January of year 12, June of year 12 and January of year 13), or have you taken four or five years to do your A-levels?
Yup, I did
Jan, June, Jan June
And yes, all completed within 2 years
-
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: england
- Posts: 4,304
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?Then you're not a retake student!!(Original post by treacletart01)
Yup, I did
Jan, June, Jan June
And yes, all completed within 2 years
You don't have to write down the retakes, everyone does those kind of module resits
Perfectly fine - you'll have to tell Cambridge all your UMS scores (From each time you sat a module), but they will expect you to have done some resits, though maybe not that many.
For Oxford/other unis, they wont' even know The vast, vast, vast majority of students retake some units during their 2 years.
-
- Reputation:
- New Member
- Posts: 5
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?Definitely go for it, the worst that can happen is that you get rejected. Like other people have mentioned Oxford is your better chance in a situation like this, but if you prefer Cambridge over Oxford then apply there as you still have a good chance of getting accepted.
-
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
- Location: Oxford
- Posts: 774
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?Both Oxford and Cambridge have separate application forms to fill in beyond UCAS. In each, you will be required to enter your AS results in full; there is space to give indication of any intent to resit exams, and also to offer further comments or explanation for any bad marks.(Original post by treacletart01)
I have 3 A*'s and 1A, should I bother applying to to MML at oxbridge?
I had to retake english AS thrice and A2 twice
AS maths twice
AS German twice
I have worked in Germany during my gap year. Worth applying? Can they see my retakes?
Your retakes might make your final offer (should you get one) slightly higher than the required grades, and A*A*A*A is well above Oxbridge's standard offer. What were your original grades? Were they below an A?
I wouldn't hold out much hope, just because in total you've done 9 retakes on four subjects, when there are other Oxbridge applicants who've got As and A*s without any or few retakes. Top universities are becoming stricter on retakes because of the increasing competition. It's worth a try though.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...el-resits.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...to-double.html
Thought these might be of interest
(Why did I get neg repped for this?! I was trying to be helpful :\ )Last edited by la-dauphine; 09-02-2011 at 17:11. -
- Reputation:
- Banned
- Posts: 313
- Warning points: 1000
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?Obviously apply for Oxbridge. Just make sure you add some other unis as well, so in case you get rejected, you won't have to waste a year or go to a uni you wouldn't want to go to.(Original post by treacletart01)
I have 3 A*'s and 1A, should I bother applying to to MML at oxbridge?
I had to retake english AS thrice and A2 twice
AS maths twice
AS German twice
I have worked in Germany during my gap year. Worth applying? Can they see my retakes? -
- Reputation:
- Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
- Location: england
- Posts: 4,304
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?I think your biggest issue could be that if you need a lot of attempts to get high marks, perhaps Oxbridge courses aren't the best for you? Most universities don't allow exam resits (unless you've failed, and then your resit mark is capped at the lowest pass mark, unlike with A level resits), and Oxbridge tend to have all their exams at the end of the course, with little coursework/etc.
If you're needing to retake units so many times then having your degree grade reliant on relatively few exams at the end of the course might be too big a risk for you. -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Location: London
Re: 3 A*'s and 1A - achieved through retakes, worth applying to Oxbridge?You took so many retakes within 2 years.(Original post by treacletart01)
I have 3 A*'s and 1A, should I bother applying to to MML at oxbridge?
I had to retake english AS thrice and A2 twice
AS maths twice
AS German twice
I have worked in Germany during my gap year. Worth applying? Can they see my retakes?
.. You now how to screw yourself 
Just imagine how much better your grades would have been if you had done right justice first time around. You will have lot of convincing to do to the admission tutor about getting things done right first time. I would still apply and try with a convincing excuse. Good luck
