[ashton.gibbs]

Do Oxford and Cambridge look down on resits? Or do they kind of appreciate the determination?

Unfortunately I went through sixth form thinking I could wing it without revision and hard study, and although I came out with good grades, they weren't sufficient for Oxbridge. I'm now resitting exams and am (according to my teachers) on my way to coming out with A*s and As so I'd like to know if anyone knows what their take is on resits?


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[h2shin]

Apparently, some people didn't write the fact that they had re-sat exams... just the final units and their ums on the SAQ...

If you do have to declare resits, they have said that they don't mind one or two, as long as the score increased quite a bit, so it really shouldn't be a problem.

[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by h2shin)
Apparently, some people didn't write the fact that they had re-sat exams... just the final units and their ums on the SAQ...

If you do have to declare resits, they have said that they don't mind one or two, as long as the score increased quite a bit, so it really shouldn't be a problem.

Ahh hopefully I'll be okay then! Thank you


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[beaver_tron]

cambridge -

If your retaking year 12 then chances are extremely slim

they dont mind retakes generally though, providing you arnt resitting in order to scrape the grade requirements, as in resitting the easiest module loads of times.

showing a major improvement is obviously a good one. If you are predicted and are getting the grades, then i dont see a reason for not applying. you have to tell them the resits etc. and if your getting the grades then i dont see why not, but remember you are at the mercy of the other applicants who havent got resits, if they have the grades and no resits, chances are they will have it.

If i were you. i would still go for it

[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by beaver_tron)
cambridge -

If your retaking year 12 then chances are extremely slim

they dont mind retakes generally though, providing you arnt resitting in order to scrape the grade requirements, as in resitting the easiest module loads of times.

showing a major improvement is obviously a good one. If you are predicted and are getting the grades, then i dont see a reason for not applying. you have to tell them the resits etc. and if your getting the grades then i dont see why not, but remember you are at the mercy of the other applicants who havent got resits, if they have the grades and no resits, chances are they will have it.

If i were you. i would still go for it

Thanks! Yeah, I'm not resitting same exam over and over again! Resitting the year though, so each exam once!

No harm in trying I guess


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[beaver_tron]

(Original post by ashton.gibbs)
Thanks! Yeah, I'm not resitting same exam over and over again! Resitting the year though, so each exam once!

No harm in trying I guess


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Then yeah, the tutor I have had talks with at cambridge just repeats, its the 3 we care about, you need A*AA. but i would say obviously try to do more to stand out, such as get the 4th relavent A level if possible, and shine in the interview.

especially if you will get more than the requirements. good luck and i hope it goes well. what are you applying for? I will hopefully be going for it too, but have to see what i get in august i geuss.

[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by beaver_tron)
Then yeah, the tutor I have had talks with at cambridge just repeats, its the 3 we care about, you need A*AA. but i would say obviously try to do more to stand out, such as get the 4th relavent A level if possible, and shine in the interview.

especially if you will get more than the requirements. good luck and i hope it goes well. what are you applying for? I will hopefully be going for it too, but have to see what i get in august i geuss.

I'll have 5 A2s by the end so hopefully they'll appreciate that I'll be applying for Maths! Yourself? I'm not applying until next year though, waiting to see what my grades are before applying anywhere


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[Alex Bampton]

(Original post by ashton.gibbs)
Do Oxford and Cambridge look down on resits? Or do they kind of appreciate the determination?

Unfortunately I went through sixth form thinking I could wing it without revision and hard study, and although I came out with good grades, they weren't sufficient for Oxbridge. I'm now resitting exams and am (according to my teachers) on my way to coming out with A*s and As so I'd like to know if anyone knows what their take is on resits?


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I emailed the Cambridge admissions officer at Sidney college with a similar question, as I am looking to apply next year and flopped a Maths and Chemistry unit.

I can't find the reply to give you an exact quote but she said "we understand that many schools use their January modules as a trial for the summer so as long as you demonstrate improvement in the summer it will not hinder your application" so do well this summer if your re-doing modules!

[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by Alex Bampton)
I emailed the Cambridge admissions officer at Sidney college with a similar question, as I am looking to apply next year and flopped a Maths and Chemistry unit.

I can't find the reply to give you an exact quote but she said "we understand that many schools use their January modules as a trial for the summer so as long as you demonstrate improvement in the summer it will not hinder your application" so do well this summer if your re-doing modules!

Ooh this is interesting, thank you!


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[beaver_tron]

(Original post by Alex Bampton)
I emailed the Cambridge admissions officer at Sidney college with a similar question, as I am looking to apply next year and flopped a Maths and Chemistry unit.

I can't find the reply to give you an exact quote but she said "we understand that many schools use their January modules as a trial for the summer so as long as you demonstrate improvement in the summer it will not hinder your application" so do well this summer if your re-doing modules!

yeah a lot of private schools dont even take january modules because they know people flunk them, they are seen as a practise - my information comes from kings college

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

Cambridge requires you to state module grades and resits too, I think. Whereas Oxford don't (unless things have radically changed very recently)

[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by beaver_tron)
yeah a lot of private schools dont even take january modules because they know people flunk them, they are seen as a practise - my information comes from kings college

Ah this has made me feel quite a bit better, thank you haha


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[beaver_tron]

(Original post by ashton.gibbs)
I'll have 5 A2s by the end so hopefully they'll appreciate that I'll be applying for Maths! Yourself? I'm not applying until next year though, waiting to see what my grades are before applying anywhere


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Then there you have it, just work hard, my mum always says the tv and internet will still be there when im at university.

Probably applying kings college(that way, if im not good enough for them they can just pool me, ill take any college tbh) , natural sciences hopefully, then ill stick to the chemistry and materials modules. and yeah i havent got anywhere for certain just wait and see how i do really.

[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by beaver_tron)
Then there you have it, just work hard, my mum always says the tv and internet will still be there when im at university.

Probably applying kings college(that way, if im not good enough for them they can just pool me, ill take any college tbh) , natural sciences hopefully, then ill stick to the chemistry and materials modules. and yeah i havent got anywhere for certain just wait and see how i do really.

Ah that sounds cool what A-Levels are you doing?


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[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Cambridge requires you to state module grades and resits too, I think. Whereas Oxford don't (unless things have radically changed very recently)

Alrighty! I don't mind stating resits, just wondered whether they friend upon them


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[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by ashton.gibbs)
Alrighty! I don't mind stating resits, just wondered whether they friend upon them


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Here's the official line from the horse's mouth:

"
Resits

Once at the University, students are regularly assessed by examination and there is no opportunity to resit any exams (with the exception of professional qualifying examinations in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine). Therefore, applicants should recognise the importance of being able to cope with the pressures associated with taking exams and use them as an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and progress by achieving as highly as possible first time in any form of assessment.
However, we appreciate that even very capable students may have 'bad days' when an exam does not go quite to plan. As such, a student's application is unlikely to be adversely affected by their resitting one or two modules. However, there would be concern about an applicant's potential to be successful at Cambridge if they need to resit numerous exams, particularly where only a marginal improvement is achieved.
Applicants should indicate their intention to resit any exams in their SAQ. Where there are particular reasons for underperformance in qualifications it is useful if these can be outlined in the school/college reference."

http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergrad.../academic.html

So I guess it depends how many resits we're talking here

[Madmachine]

Your work ethic may mean that Oxbridge is not suitable for you.

[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by Madmachine)
Your work ethic may mean that Oxbridge is not suitable for you.

My work ethic?


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[ashton.gibbs]

(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
Here's the official line from the horse's mouth:

"
Resits

Once at the University, students are regularly assessed by examination and there is no opportunity to resit any exams (with the exception of professional qualifying examinations in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine). Therefore, applicants should recognise the importance of being able to cope with the pressures associated with taking exams and use them as an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and progress by achieving as highly as possible first time in any form of assessment.
However, we appreciate that even very capable students may have 'bad days' when an exam does not go quite to plan. As such, a student's application is unlikely to be adversely affected by their resitting one or two modules. However, there would be concern about an applicant's potential to be successful at Cambridge if they need to resit numerous exams, particularly where only a marginal improvement is achieved.
Applicants should indicate their intention to resit any exams in their SAQ. Where there are particular reasons for underperformance in qualifications it is useful if these can be outlined in the school/college reference."

http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergrad.../academic.html

So I guess it depends how many resits we're talking here

Ahhh I'll just have to see how it goes and then there's no harm in trying if I think it's worth it after August


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[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by ashton.gibbs)
My work ethic?


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I think the point being made is that you can't wing it without revision at Oxford or Cambridge. You do that and you get what I got... and that's if you're extremely lucky