The Big "Are My Grades Good Enough for Cambridge?" Thread (Mk1)

Yes before I begin I am VERY sorry that you all must suffer another paranoid teenager worrying about Cambridge and GCSE grades...

Anyway, I shall commence!

Would you say that how tolerant the admissions tutors are of poor GCSEs is proportionate to how competitive the course is?

For instance, is it easier to get into something less competitive, such as ASNAC, than to get into something like PPS with poor GCSEs (e.g. less than 5A*).

Thanks

P.s. sorry to annoy everyone sick to death of these threads! I am VERY sorry.

they go for students who get straight A* mainly if u cant get them maybe Cambridge isnt for u mate. Sorry.

Yes before I begin I am VERY sorry that you all must suffer another paranoid teenager worrying about Cambridge and GCSE grades...

Anyway, I shall commence!

Would you say that how tolerant the admissions tutors are of poor GCSEs is proportionate to how competitive the course is?

For instance, is it easier to get into something less competitive, such as ASNAC, than to get into something like PPS with poor GCSEs (e.g. less than 5A*).

Thanks

P.s. sorry to annoy everyone sick to death of these threads! I am VERY sorry.

Although it'll look a lot better if you have straight A*s than if you don't, plenty of people get in each year with much less. So I'd say it's worth a shot.

I have a friend who got 1A* at GCSE 6 As and 2 Bs and a C who got interviewed to english lit at cambridge.

this is because she got 95% ish in all modules in eng lit, classics, eng history and film studies and was predicted 4 A*s at a level. her old school was an average comprehensive, where few people got lots of A*s.

I also know someone with 5A*s rest As at GCSE. AAAB physics, maths, history and chem (b in chem) get an interview for chem enginneering. she got a B in the subject most prevealant to ehr course choice.

basically, what i'm trying to say is stop worrying. and AS levels are much more important. If you get 90% ish in most modules then go for camrbidge. and if rekcon you can get at least 1 A* at A2 level.

I only have 4A* and 6As so if I get an offer I guess it will buck the trend a little bit. My A2s were 96% average tho...

Your UMS definitely make up for you 'below average' GCSEs for a Cambridge applicant.

On the open day, one of the main talks referred to why they prefer applicants with high UMS, as opposed to straight A*s. From the talk, it seemed to me as if Cambridge thought that GCSE grades are very dependant on the school, it goes without saying considering they have a point system, and extra points are given to applicants from below average schools. In the same respect, they think more independent work is needed with A-Levels, and it shows true potential. The only reason I deduced this is from the example the woman at the talk gave; she said that someone with straight A*s, but then mediocre AS results shows someone who doesn't have as much potential. Whereas someone with mediocre GCSEs, but then fantastic AS results, shows someone who has more potential.

I got an offer for economics having got 5 As, 1 A*, 5Bs and a C at GCSE. AS I got 4 As, all at 95%+ and I'm predicted 2 A*s 1 A (don't even get me started on that). My cousin in 2004 had straight A*s then some huge marks at A level and didn't get in for economics. He was a pretty good rower too. He's now worth £5 million. Unlucky Cambridge if you ask me.

Having said that I don't know if I will go now. I hate to say it on a Cambridge forum, but the university really seems far to up itself.

I'm not sure about the ratings system.....but do tell us your GCSE results, the pass rate at your school and how you compared to the rest of student population taking GCSEs.

It is my belief that Oxbridge and Durham look at how far your results deviate away from the mean set of results.

yh sure, since the website suggests that the calculation only involves A's and A*'s, i'll just provide those
I got 3A*'s and 6A's, my schools pass rate is 28% and I got the second highest grades in my year.

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/admissions/handbook/section2/2_6.html

maybe that will help.