This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

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

Hi

Please can you help as I am still very keen to get to Cambridge to study PPS

I got 6 A's and 4 A* at GCSE

I got BBCE at AS level (bit of a shock!) + C in crit thinking

having done re takes these were improved to ABB + A(AS French)

At A2 this improved again to AAB

A2 Modules:-
Politics 63/90 86/90 99/120 =A
Eng Lit 77/90 90/90 120/120 = A
History 75/90 93/120 66/90 I was 8 marks short of an A in history

So with an overall AABa I am now embarking on a gap year.
I think my PS is pretty good and my gap year is relevant to my future study.

What do you think my chances are of getting to interview at Cambridge; or should I lower my aspirations ?

thanks for any advice

Reply 581

necessarily benevolent

14

Bunchoflilleys

Hi

Please can you help as I am still very keen to get to Cambridge to study PPS

I got 6 A's and 4 A* at GCSE

I got BBCE at AS level (bit of a shock!) + C in crit thinking

having done re takes these were improved to ABB + A(AS French)

At A2 this improved again to AAB

A2 Modules:-
Politics 63/90 86/90 99/120 =A
Eng Lit 77/90 90/90 120/120 = A
History 75/90 93/120 66/90 I was 8 marks short of an A in history

So with an overall AABa I am now embarking on a gap year.
I think my PS is pretty good and my gap year is relevant to my future study.

What do you think my chances are of getting to interview at Cambridge; or should I lower my aspirations ?

thanks for any advice

They want AAA so you should probably retake one of the History modules during your gap year to see if you can bump it up. In this case you may still be predicted one.

Reply 582

Bunchoflilleys

thanks for reply I... have been advised by
others that re takes after my AS retakes would eliminate my application to Cambridge anyway..any other views please ?

Reply 583

tahmiina.

Lidka

Cambridge do not accept General Studies as an A-level. Likewise, if Russian is your native tongue it doesn't really count as an A-level. Can I ask why your AS results were so low? Is there a reason? I have to say if you're getting results that low for no reason, then Cambridge may not be for you - and remember any offer you get will be AAA, so you should be able to achieve this (unless there are extenuating circumstances). Sorry to sound pessimistic, but as you know Law is pretty competitive, and Cs are not As or high Bs.

I've failed one/two units for both of the C's, I am still dropping one and re-taking units in the other C. I have decided not to apply for Cambridge, although it was what I originally wanted. I understand where you're coming from completely. My first choice is UCL which is still hard but I am willing to try. My predicted grades are AAB, general studies is still not acceptable I know and Russian is not my native tongue (I am just doing an AS level because it will take a long time to learn again, I learnt the language when I was little). The other universities I am applying for want AAB-ABB.

Reply 584

Isometrix

11

hey, do cambridge focus more on ums average scores or the no. of modules that you scored full marks in? i'm interested in applying for medicine btw. thx

Reply 585

ben_stretch

I'd say average scores. Why, what are yours like?

Reply 586

Isometrix

11

ben_stretch

I'd say average scores. Why, what are yours like?

in sig, scored 300, 285, 281, 280 with full marks in 5/12 modules.

Reply 587

donteatthepie

7

Ok so I got 3As (Economics, Maths, Physics) and 2Bs (English Lit, General Studies) and an A in the 2 modules we've done so far for f.maths. I got 4A*, 4A, distinction and merit at GCSE (and a B in something I did in year 10). Don't have any amazing music, sports, work experience etc and most of my personal statement outside of my subject will be summer schools etc. I'm at a state school too btw =]
Just wondering what chances I would have at doing Economics? Or of even getting an interview. I know I won't get a definitive answer just would like to know if I have no/very little chance so I don't waste a choice!

Reply 588

alex_hk90

19

donteatthepie

Ok so I got 3As (Economics, Maths, Physics) and 2Bs (English Lit, General Studies) and an A in the 2 modules we've done so far for f.maths. I got 4A*, 4A, distinction and merit at GCSE (and a B in something I did in year 10). Don't have any amazing music, sports, work experience etc and most of my personal statement outside of my subject will be summer schools etc. I'm at a state school too btw =]
Just wondering what chances I would have at doing Economics? Or of even getting an interview. I know I won't get a definitive answer just would like to know if I have no/very little chance so I don't waste a choice!

You should get an interview. :yep:

Reply 589

donteatthepie

7

alex_hk90

You should get an interview. :yep:

lol ok thanks, now I just have to carry on trying to decide which blooming college I wanna apply to! I'm way too indecisive lol.

Reply 590

shadowsintherain

9

It shouldn't stop you applying...from what I've seen it's time to stop asking "will it affect my application" and just get on with doing the very best you can to prepare for it.

Reply 591

ben_stretch

Isometrix

in sig, scored 300, 285, 281, 280 with full marks in 5/12 modules.

But then why does it matter whether they look at number of 100% or averages? There isn't much difference between the two.

Reply 592

Darthdevidem

1

Hi.....I'm new so I might be asking basic & easy questions...

In my GCSE's I got:

Phy, Chem, Bio, Maths, Business & Communication Systems, History - A*

English, English Literature - A

DT (Food Technology), R.E - B

IT, French - C

So Thats -----6A*'s, 2A's, 2B's, 2C's

I want to go to Cambridge to do Engineering (later on specialise in elctronic eng. or Aerospace).

At AS-Levels I am doing -- Maths (Mechanics),Further Maths, Phy, Chem, Bio (I will drop Biology after doing AS so as to do 4 A-Levels)

Basically m doin 5....I'm doing Bio so that my UCAS points will go up as I am not sporty, musicy....e.t.c. ---- does Cambridge give importance to UCAS points??

Back to my GCSE grades.....how are they......I am extremely worried about the 2 C's & 2 B's.....I have an excuse for French....I actually had never done it in my whole life until YEar 10 itself....I transferred from one school to another thats why.

Also is doing a GAP Year necessary for Cambridge Engineering....as I won't be able to do that due to personal & family reasons + problems.

sorry for the long post....any help at all would be greatly appreciated :smile:

Reply 593

alex_hk90

19

Darthdevidem

Basically m doin 5....I'm doing Bio so that my UCAS points will go up as I am not sporty, musicy....e.t.c. ---- does Cambridge give importance to UCAS points??

I don't think so, no.

Darthdevidem

Back to my GCSE grades.....how are they......I am extremely worried about the 2 C's & 2 B's.....I have an excuse for French....I actually had never done it in my whole life until YEar 10 itself....I transferred from one school to another thats why.

Your GCSEs (6 A*s, 2 As) are fine.

Darthdevidem

Also is doing a GAP Year necessary for Cambridge Engineering....as I won't be able to do that due to personal & family reasons + problems.

I've never heard of it being necessary before, but I don't know much about Engineering specifically.

Reply 594

PTW

Sorry if this has been done to death or I'm posting in the wrong place.

I know Cambridge look at the UMS marks for each module, but how much are they valued, compared to the personal statement/interview etc.

I ask because I want to do history. Overall I got 4 As at AS Level. In unit 1 and 3 of history I got 100% UMS. Yet in Unit 2 I got 70% - a low B on the borderline.

This isn't great, but could it be made up by the 100%s in the other modules (which give me an overall percentage of 91%) and the fact a significant number of modules in my other subjects were at 100% UMS and were all an A.

Whilst I understand the B in my history module is by no means the end of the world, it won't compare too well with those students with 3 as in their modules. How would Cambridge view the B if I did a good interview etc? Would it be relatively ignored or would they still have serious doubts? Would it be a better option to apply to Oxford who I understand don't look at module marks, and risk the HAT?

Thanks for your help.

Reply 595

dominiclmorris

Completely irrelivant, 4AS are what you everyone needs, OUTSTANDING grades are something of a bonus, but not much more than a good interview, which is the deciding factor in the majority of cases.

Reply 596

Darthdevidem

1

Thanks for the response...

What I meant by UCAS points going up was that if I don't do biology I will only have 480 UCAS points....thats not a lot.....I have heard you need 600 Minimmum to get an interview from Cambridge.

I will be getting 540 UCAS points if I do Biology at AS though....will that increase my chances?

Reply 597

Meteorshower

14

Darthdevidem

Thanks for the response...

What I meant by UCAS points going up was that if I don't do biology I will only have 480 UCAS points....thats not a lot.....I have heard you need 600 Minimmum to get an interview from Cambridge.

I will be getting 540 UCAS points if I do Biology at AS though....will that increase my chances?

You've heard a load of crap, you'll get an interview if it's realistic that you can get AAA at A-level. Almost everyone who applies gets interviewed.

Reply 598

Good bloke

19

Darthdevidem

What I meant by UCAS points going up was that if I don't do biology I will only have 480 UCAS points....thats not a lot.....I have heard you need 600 Minimmum to get an interview from Cambridge.

I don't know where you heard that, but it is complete rubbish.