The Big &quot;Are My Grades Good Enough for Cambridge?&quot; Thread

Original post by Colmans

http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/teachers/docs/student_conference_teacher_forum_presentation.pdf Scroll down to the average UMS/GCSEs for applicants/offers

It's doable-but it's not common. What we don't know are the other aspects of the students who got offers. Some may have had extenuating circumstances. Most were probably from disadvantaged schools or areas. Some did outstandingly well at BMAT, some only took a few GCSEs and did AS early in their better subjects or came from different educational systems.

If your B is in an important subject such as Maths or English it may be a problem. Good luck.

No my B is only in art, which I hated, although I got an A in English language and english lit. (Both of which I hated - seeing a pattern?)
I am fairly committed to trying to get a high UMS average - two of my teachers have already suggested that I'm in for 100% in their respective subjects. I just need to get some good work experience and a good BMAT score. Putting some pressure on myself aren't I? :smile:

Reply 3982

Boople

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1687923

Original post by L'Evil Fish

BMAT will play quite a big role too.

Oh yes, is Cambridge just BMAT then, no UKCAT?

Reply 3983

smile:D

16

Original post by Boople

Oh yes, is Cambridge just BMAT then, no UKCAT?

Yep

Reply 3984

Dexterous

14

I have 20 A*'s at GCSE and 100% UMS average between AS level: Maths, F.Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Latin, Geography.
Predicted 7 A*s at A level applying for Medicine at Trinity, I don't think I stand a chance...

Spoiler

Reply 3985

iwishiwasclever

4

Original post by H.Ibrahim

I have 20 A*'s at GCSE and 100% UMS average between AS level: Maths, F.Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Latin, Geography.
Predicted 7 A*s at A level applying for Medicine at Trinity, I don't think I stand a chance...

Spoiler

You really should have taken some more a levels also your gcses are on the lower side for medicine applicants so I guess it all depends on weather you can get a 9,9 5A on the bmat

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Reply 3986

Dexterous

14

Original post by iwishiwasclever

You really should have taken some more a levels also your gcses are on the lower side for medicine applicants so I guess it all depends on weather you can get a 9,9 5A on the bmat

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Even with all that, I think it's impossible to get into Bath :lol:

Reply 3987

Ayooo

So if i don't or can't study music at A-level then i still have a chance of studying it in uni if i have grade 8 theory???

Reply 3988

ComputerMaths97

17

Original post by Ayooo

So if i don't or can't study music at A-level then i still have a chance of studying it in uni if i have grade 8 theory???

If you can't, yes you still have a great chance, if you don't(i.e you decided not to) you still have a chance but they will question it.

Reply 3989

Ayooo

Original post by joe12345marc

If you can't, yes you still have a great chance, if you don't(i.e you decided not to) you still have a chance but they will question it.

Would i need to be grade 8 on an instrument aswell?

Reply 3990

ComputerMaths97

17

Original post by Ayooo

Would i need to be grade 8 on an instrument aswell?

The higher grade you are the better, i would never say you NEED to. It's about showing passion for a subject.

Reply 3991

Original post by Ayooo

So if i don't or can't study music at A-level then i still have a chance of studying it in uni if i have grade 8 theory???

It is pretty difficult to study music at better universities if you don't have grade 5 keyboard skills although theoretically possible. In my experience grade 8 musicians were pretty thick on the ground even outside of music degrees.

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Reply 3992

lilymint212

Can I study Maths at cambridge without taking physics at a-level? I'm in Year 12 at the moment, so there's not much I can do about it now :/

Reply 3993

Original post by lilymint212

Can I study Maths at cambridge without taking physics at a-level? I'm in Year 12 at the moment, so there's not much I can do about it now :/

You can although most applicants do offer it. Can you take any extra maths mechanics modules instead?

Reply 3994

davros

16

Original post by lilymint212

Can I study Maths at cambridge without taking physics at a-level? I'm in Year 12 at the moment, so there's not much I can do about it now :/

You can, although part IA of the Tripos is slightly more skewed towards applied topics than some other universities, so make sure you're happy that you're choosing the course that is right for you!

The important thing is to get as much Mechanics under your belt as you can - M1-M3 as a minimum - even if it means self-studying.

(I believe Cambridge do now offer a "catchup course" for people who haven't gone as far as M3, but in general I'd advise trying to get familiar with the concepts before you get to uni!)

Reply 3995

lilymint212

Original post by Colmans

You can although most applicants do offer it. Can you take any extra maths mechanics modules instead?

Original post by davros

You can, although part IA of the Tripos is slightly more skewed towards applied topics than some other universities, so make sure you're happy that you're choosing the course that is right for you!

The important thing is to get as much Mechanics under your belt as you can - M1-M3 as a minimum - even if it means self-studying.

(I believe Cambridge do now offer a "catchup course" for people who haven't gone as far as M3, but in general I'd advise trying to get familiar with the concepts before you get to uni!)

I'm definitely doing up to M3. I think I will self-study M4 and M5 but I'm not sure I'll be able to take the exams. If I also teach myself the mechanics module in the physics a level, do you think I have a realistic chance of an offer (assuming I do well in my exams and do well in the interview - also assuming that I get an interview)?

Reply 3996

Original post by lilymint212

I'm definitely doing up to M3. I think I will self-study M4 and M5 but I'm not sure I'll be able to take the exams. If I also teach myself the mechanics module in the physics a level, do you think I have a realistic chance of an offer (assuming I do well in my exams and do well in the interview - also assuming that I get an interview)?

Impossible to say until you have some UMS scores.

Reply 3997

shamika

16

Original post by lilymint212

I'm definitely doing up to M3. I think I will self-study M4 and M5 but I'm not sure I'll be able to take the exams. If I also teach myself the mechanics module in the physics a level, do you think I have a realistic chance of an offer (assuming I do well in my exams and do well in the interview - also assuming that I get an interview)?

A bigger priority is probably learning how to solve hard problems. Once you've done C1 and C2, check out the MAT (administered by Oxford - Google for past papers and solutions). You should also aim to learn C3 and C4 in your first year, even if your school teaches them in year 13. This will allow you to start trying AEA and STEP I questions, which is good preparation for a Cambridge interview. Note that if you are taking C3 and C4 in year 13, Cambridge can't expect you to know stuff just for your interview, but it's easier to try harder problems with the full core.

Do learn M4 and M5 too, but you want to be sure that you are completely on top of the material Cambridge expects you to know because you're taking exams in those modules. You won't be asked anything which requires it unless you make it clear that you've sekf taught it in the interview

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 3998

ccfctom

1

I got terrible GCSE's grades in school 6 years ago (2B's in maths and english, and the rest C's)

But I'm predicted to get 4 A's at AS... in Maths, Economics, Politics and Psychology.

Regardless of my AS results is it still pointless for me to apply at Cambridge to do Economics?

Tempted to retake some cause I know now I could get A*'s but heard this is pointless.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 3999