Cambridge Applicants Game 2012
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012I'm also on AQA for maths and the only ones that have been below like 79% for an A are Core 2 when I did it last year, and Core 1 when I did it last year (there was lots of fuss about them being hard from peers).(Original post by Xero Xenith)
On OCR it varies from 70% to 81% - FP2 is lowest with 70% for an A. Go FP2
(The example I quoted above was Edexcel AS Japanese June 2011 - Japanese has some of the most insane grade boundaries I've seen. It's probably because there's no set textbook, only a list of reasonable ones, and everyone comes into the exam knowing a different set of vocab!
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Wow, that's pretty insane! Which board are you on? I'm with AQA for Physics, I'll need ~60/75 this January to max it out
And I'm on AQA for Physics
It says it's out of 100 raw marks? Unit 4 right? (EDIT: I'm doing Physics B, it looks like you're doing Physics A)
The maths certainly isn't difficult, but I think it's because it's not like maths where everything links in. There's just a tonne of stuff to learn, some of which is completely irrelevant to everything else and so can only be rote learned. I haven't actually done this past paper yet, I just looked up the boundaries after this little conversation(Original post by TheMagicMan)
Was it hard? I didn't know there was anything hard in physics a level
It's amazing how difficult seemingly simple physics can get actually...BPhO round 2 was the limits of my abilities last year and it almost killed me (despite teh fact that the questions seem quite innocuous) I'll report back what I get in raw marks in a few days time
Last edited by Intriguing Alias; 28-12-2011 at 23:58. -
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012For Edexcel Politics A2 it's something like 60/90 for an A* lol.(Original post by Xero Xenith)
On OCR it varies from 70% to 81% - FP2 is lowest with 70% for an A. Go FP2
(The example I quoted above was Edexcel AS Japanese June 2011 - Japanese has some of the most insane grade boundaries I've seen. It's probably because there's no set textbook, only a list of reasonable ones, and everyone comes into the exam knowing a different set of vocab!)
Wow, that's pretty insane! Which board are you on? I'm with AQA for Physics, I'll need ~60/75 this January to max it out
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Which do we think a greater factor in this game, UMS/grades or subject? (I remember someone saying if they wanted to win they'd just pick arch&anth or classics applicants, which made me a tad defensive
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Looking at the list, a load of people just went for top UMS(Original post by Aesc)
Which do we think a greater factor in this game, UMS/grades or subject? (I remember someone saying if they wanted to win they'd just pick arch&anth or classics applicants, which made me a tad defensive)
Subject is important - maths people get double the number of offers they should, since about half fail STEP, so count them along with you
And I don't think pooled applicants get counted, so someone who went for Emma, Kings, Trinity etc is more likely to get pooled (i.e. not counted as an offer) than an applicant to Churchill, Robinson etc.
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012A lot of people really should take this into account(Original post by Xero Xenith)
Looking at the list, a load of people just went for top UMS
Subject is important - maths people get double the number of offers they should, since about half fail STEP, so count them along with you And I don't think pooled applicants get counted, so someone who went for Emma, Kings, Trinity etc is more likely to get pooled (i.e. not counted as an offer) than an applicant to Churchill, Robinson etc.
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012That's because of an unfair assumption that mostly only private school students apply for classics and arch&anth therefore they have a good chance of getting in as only a few people are applying. Totally not true as well.(Original post by Aesc)
Which do we think a greater factor in this game, UMS/grades or subject? (I remember someone saying if they wanted to win they'd just pick arch&anth or classics applicants, which made me a tad defensive)
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012I think the assumption comes from the entrance stats. For Maths, 1 in 5 get in; for Architecture, 1 in ~8-9 get in.(Original post by strawberryjellybaby)
That's because of an unfair assumption that mostly only private school students apply for classics and arch&anth therefore they have a good chance of getting in as only a few people are applying. Totally not true as well.
For Classics, 1 in 2 get in, and 1 in 3 for Arch+Anth.
Those figures seem very different to the ~1 in 5 average
Yeah, it's a bit frightening to be honest! Even a "Yes" at this stage is still only a ticket to the next round
Last edited by Xero Xenith; 30-12-2011 at 00:07. -
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012(Original post by strawberryjellybaby)
That's because of an unfair assumption that mostly only private school students apply for classics and arch&anth therefore they have a good chance of getting in as only a few people are applying. Totally not true as well.
Also, something like 70% of Classics students are in fact privately educated according to statistics. This is much more than in all the other subjects offered by Oxford or Cambridge. Personally, I've no issue with this, I'm just pointing out that when it comes to Classics it wouldn't be wrong or unfair to say the majority come from public schools.(Original post by Xero Xenith)
I think the assumption comes from the entrance stats. For Maths, 1 in 5 get in; for Architecture, 1 in ~8-9 get in.
For Classics, 1 in 2 get in, and 1 in 3 for Arch+Anth.
Those figures seem very different to the ~1 in 5 average
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012I think people get that but it'll make us feel temporarily badass so who cares!(Original post by Xero Xenith)
Yeah, it's a bit frightening to be honest! Even a "Yes" at this stage is still only a ticket to the next round
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Although, the four year course (for people without Latin at A-level, which I'm applying for, basically a foundation year and then you take the normal course) is >70% state school, if memory serves. It's odd.(Original post by lk2011)
Also, something like 70% of Classics students are in fact privately educated according to statistics. This is much more than in all the other subjects offered by Oxford or Cambridge. Personally, I've no issue with this, I'm just pointing out that when it comes to Classics it wouldn't be wrong or unfair to say the majority come from public schools. -
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Ahh that is pretty interesting! I doubt Latin and Greek and such are offered as subjects at most state schools though while at public schools those intending to do Classics would have taken them for A- Level and so don't need the foundation year! I'm only guessing here though.(Original post by Aesc)
Although, the four year course (for people without Latin at A-level, which I'm applying for, basically a foundation year and then you take the normal course) is >70% state school, if memory serves. It's odd. -
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012I've got a friend who ended up applying for Oxford maths, on the advice of the school, who I'm sure feels very jammy now that his offer doesn't involve STEP. Which won't stop him taking it, of course...(Original post by Xero Xenith)
Looking at the list, a load of people just went for top UMS
Subject is important - maths people get double the number of offers they should, since about half fail STEP, so count them along with you And I don't think pooled applicants get counted, so someone who went for Emma, Kings, Trinity etc is more likely to get pooled (i.e. not counted as an offer) than an applicant to Churchill, Robinson etc.
Ah, I was wondering if pooling would be taken into consideration. I can't help feeling a pool offer should count... -
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Ah yes, a pool offer should count, but quite a few people are pooled and then not contacted for a few weeks / left with no offer. I think (cpdavis could fill us in I think?) last year anyone who was pooled was used as a tie-breaker only to avoid this wait(Original post by Aesc)
I've got a friend who ended up applying for Oxford maths, on the advice of the school, who I'm sure feels very jammy now that his offer doesn't involve STEP. Which won't stop him taking it, of course...
Ah, I was wondering if pooling would be taken into consideration. I can't help feeling a pool offer should count...
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Pretty sure that would be it, although I (almost certainly unfairly) would have thought all private schools give Latin as an option and therefore 4-year would be 100% state school. I can't remember the figures, but the size of the foundation year cohort is much smaller than that of the 3-year course, so it doesn't balance it out much. Although I think Oxford is the university of choice for classics if you have Greek (usually as well as Latin), and that may indicate something about private schools on different levels?(Original post by lk2011)
Ahh that is pretty interesting! I doubt Latin and Greek and such are offered as subjects at most state schools though while at public schools those intending to do Classics would have taken them for A- Level and so don't need the foundation year! I'm only guessing here though.
My brain is too tired, and my Pratchett too tempting, for me to make sense now
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012I'm very proud to be at one of the only state schools in the country offering both Latin and Greek (even if I am *the* only A2 Greek student(Original post by lk2011)
Ahh that is pretty interesting! I doubt Latin and Greek and such are offered as subjects at most state schools though while at public schools those intending to do Classics would have taken them for A- Level and so don't need the foundation year! I'm only guessing here though. )!! I think your assumption holds pretty well actually. The three year course is also open to those who have taken A Level Latin, but not Greek, which may include a few more state schools (mine until a couple of years ago, actually).
And I am honoured to have 2 votes! (^_^) Although not too sure how much that will help me over the next few days... Roll on Thursday.
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012You'd have to do pretty badly at interview not to get an offer with your grades, I suspect! I'd be surprised if you didn't get in, at least...(Original post by Cupid93)
I'm very proud to be at one of the only state schools in the country offering both Latin and Greek (even if I am *the* only A2 Greek student )!! I think your assumption holds pretty well actually. The three year course is also open to those who have taken A Level Latin, but not Greek, which may include a few more state schools (mine until a couple of years ago, actually).
And I am honoured to have 2 votes! (^_^) Although not too sure how much that will help me over the next few days... Roll on Thursday.
I take solace, however, in a really childish sort of way in the fact that in the only subject we both do i beat you by 4 ums!!!Last edited by LeSacMagique; 30-12-2011 at 22:14. -
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Pools will only be used as tiebreakers (though that's secondary tiebreaker if people are still tied after kicker).(Original post by Xero Xenith)
Ah yes, a pool offer should count, but quite a few people are pooled and then not contacted for a few weeks / left with no offer. I think (cpdavis could fill us in I think?) last year anyone who was pooled was used as a tie-breaker only to avoid this wait
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012How many people have got votes?(Original post by hassi94)
Pools will only be used as tiebreakers (though that's secondary tiebreaker if people are still tied after kicker). -
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Re: Cambridge Applicants Game 2012Looked at your sig, jaw dropped at 7As and then I realised you did the same trick I did; including General Studies(Original post by Cupid93)
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Still mighty impressive, wish everyone the best of luck - not that you'll pay attention to that
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It says it's out of 100 raw marks? Unit 4 right? (EDIT: I'm doing Physics B, it looks like you're doing Physics A)
And I don't think pooled applicants get counted, so someone who went for Emma, Kings, Trinity etc is more likely to get pooled (i.e. not counted as an offer) than an applicant to Churchill, Robinson etc.
