Bad GCSEs, good A levels

I got bbbbcccddf at gcse, but am predicted A*AA at A level after getting for straight As at AS. I am applying to York, Exeter, Kent, Surrey and Leeds. The courses generally ask for AAA at A level and some ask for grade B maths at GCSE, which I have got!

Do you think my bad gcse results will hold me back?

Reply 1

Robbie242

No, I am in a similar situation and even institutions such as Cambridge and Warwick have reassured me that my GCSEs (2B 5C 4Dist* 1 Merit) are enough. They will clearly notice that you have made a significant improvement and I'd be surprised (apart from on competitive courses like medicine) for your GCSEs to hold you back. Also you need your Cs in English so make sure you have them!

AS grades > GCSEs any day of the week

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 2

Zhy

17

Original post by reebok96

I got bbbbcccddf at gcse, but am predicted A*AA at A level after getting for straight As at AS. I am applying to York, Exeter, Kent, Surrey and Leeds. The courses generally ask for AAA at A level and some ask for grade B maths at GCSE, which I have got!

Do you think my bad gcse results will hold me back?

It depends on the university. Some unis, like Imperial, do not like to see anything below an A at GCSE and it can be a hindrance to your application, too.

Reply 3

Octohedral

16

I seriously doubt they would be a problem.

You got maths, and it should be obvious to anyone that with straight As at AS your GCSEs didn't show your full potential, for whatever reason. If anything it makes it more impressive in terms of your attitude and drive. :smile:

Edit: I can't speak for universities though - some of the very top ones are unreasonably picky (Imperial told me not to bother applying because I got one mark below an A in one AS module of my chosen subject). Also, they might want to know why you underachieved. Might be worth contacting a few admission departments.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 4

TheOncomingStorm

A lot of universities like to see potential so if you've shown an impressive improvement from GCSE to A-Level like you have then it's probably not much of a hindrance although it's probably best to check with your specific university options

Reply 5

Zhy

17

Original post by Robbie242

AS grades > GCSEs any day of the week

Original post by Octohedral

Edit: I can't speak for universities though - some of the very top ones are unreasonably picky (Imperial told me not to bother applying because I got one mark below an A in one AS module of my chosen subject). Also, they might want to know why you underachieved. Might be worth contacting a few admission departments.

See Octohedral's post -- there are some unis that are quite picky. I had 3A*s at A2 at the end of year 12, and after applying to Imperial was told I was probably going to be rejected for having 2 Bs at GCSE.

Reply 6

Robbie242

Original post by Zhy

See Octohedral's post -- there are some unis that are quite picky. I had 3A*s at A2 at the end of year 12, and after applying to Imperial was told I was probably going to be rejected for having 2 Bs at GCSE.

Good thing I'm not applying to Imperial for Maths then :tongue:

Reply 7

famguyfan33

OP

7

Cheers guys for such good and helpful responses.

Reply 8

mrhedgehog

14

I am in the same problem :frown:

I got just one A in GCSE and for A levels I got A*A*A*, I guess the university should take into account how much the student has improved, right?

Reply 9

famguyfan33

OP

7

Original post by mrhedgehog

I am in the same problem :frown:

I got just one A in GCSE and for A levels I got A*A*A*, I guess the university should take into account how much the student has improved, right?

Have you applied and got offers? If so from which unis?

Reply 10

HelpTheInnocent

9

Original post by mrhedgehog

I am in the same problem :frown:

I got just one A in GCSE and for A levels I got A*A*A*, I guess the university should take into account how much the student has improved, right?

What degree you looking at and which Universities? What subjects did you achieve these grades in?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 11

famguyfan33

OP

7

Original post by HelpTheInnocent

What degree you looking at and which Universities? What subjects did you achieve these grades in?

Posted from TSR Mobile

I'm looking at doing politics courses (one with philosophy and one with sociology). I'm also applying to an English language and liguistics course at kent.

Reply 12

mrhedgehog

14

Original post by reebok96

Have you applied and got offers? If so from which unis?

I'm going to apply again this year but last year I applied but failed after interview. I want to study medicine and I am trying to find universities that look at GCSEs less, like Cambridge, Manchester.

Wow, well done!

Well done, you're in pretty much the same boat as I was, I put my foot down in Y12. To be honest there's always some universities who will be really picky and could reject you on the basis of your performance in GCSE (e.g your lack of A*/A and you D's and under), I have the feeling Durham might be one of these as my friend got the same as you in A level but slightly better in GCSE and got rejected from there because of his GCSE's. Most universities though will over look your GCSE's :smile:

Reply 15

Noodlzzz

21

I got offers from UCL and Durham and interview at Oxford without any A*s.

Reply 16

cdoyle

2

I feel my transferring of school boosted my A levels beyond what I would of been predicted based on GCSES.

Reply 17

hslakaal

17

In general, it wouldn't make a large difference, but obviously, competition is going to affect the university's stance. If there's a large pool of applicants, then universities will of course tend to pick the best (as you'd already know).

But it won't make a large difference at all. Good luck :smile:

Reply 18

Table dust

17

Original post by Zhy

It depends on the university. Some unis, like Imperial, do not like to see anything below an A at GCSE and it can be a hindrance to your application, too.

depends on the department, there was a thread a while ago about a chemistry admissions guy being impressed by someone going from C at gcse to A at as.

Reply 19

Halo9275

1

Help please !! I got A*AAAAC at igcse and then at As level I got
AAAA - chem, bio, math and arabic(first lang).. and at A2 am really doing good and my teachers expect me to get A*'s so do u think i have a chance for medicine ?
thanks a lot !! and yes it doesn't have to be oxford or cambridge !! any uni for medicine !!

Bad GCSEs, good A levels

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