GCSE grades vs A2 predicted, what will they value more?

Two weeks ago I went to Cambridge with my soon-to-be sixth form; we visited the botanical gardens, went punting, and of course, the university.

I loved the place; It was everything I thought it would be, calm and composed, sophisticated while beautiful and exciting. We also got the chance to speak to some current students there; there was a 2nd year Politics student(or so I recall) and he told us what he got at AS, AABB. Those didn't sound like stellar grades and came as a great surprise to me, and wondered if the GCSE grades he got 'compensated' for his AS levels.

I want to do chemical engineering at university, and going to Cambridge is a dream for me. But I'm not sure If I'll achieve it, I feel like I'll do better at sixth form than secondary education.

I'm in year 11, and feel that I could comfortably get 5 A*'s at GCSE (maths, 3 sciences, and Polish) with the rest at A grade, perhaps with a minuscule chance of a B here or there. However when I look at A-levels, I will be only doing work I enjoy and therefore feel completely knowledge driven; this causes me to make the complacent conclusion that I could ace A2's, and even maybe, just maybe, get A*A*A*A* at A-level.

Would this be 'good' enough for Cambridge? Say I apply for them when the time comes and my application has this;
GCSE:
5 A*'s
5 A's
1 B

A2(predicted)
A*A*A*A

It's really been messing with my mind recently and just wanted to get this weight off my shoulders, what do you guys think?

Reply 1

sweeneyrod

Yes, those grades would be more than good enough. Those GCSE's certainly wouldn't weaken your application at all. Will you be doing AS's? If so, high UMS in them is much more important than either GCSE's or predicted A2's. It is worth realising that Cambridge's engineering course is different to other universities' - you study engineering in general (rather than e.g. chemical or mechanical specifically) at the start. Alternatively for chemical engineering you can start out studying natural sciences and then switch.

Reply 2

Doones

Original post by Mayhem™

It's really been messing with my mind recently and just wanted to get this weight off my shoulders, what do you guys think?

Considering the typical offer is A*A*A, if you are on target to achieve or exceed that you will be competitive. You will need both Maths & FM (at least to AS), and for ChemEng you apply via Engineering or Natural Sciences and then swap across into ChemEng after the first year.

For entry via Engineering you will have a pre-interview admissions assessment:

Assessment format
Maths/Physics MCQs (80 minutes)
Engineering specific questions (40 minutes)
http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/engineering

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 3

ComputerMaths97

Just do your best in everything :wink:

Reply 4

Mayhem™

Original post by sweeneyrod

Original post by jneill

I don't know If I'm seeing things incorrectly, but there is now a separate undergraduate course for chemical engineering(it then says you go via engineering or natural science route).

Reply 5

Doones

Original post by Mayhem™

I don't know If I'm seeing things incorrectly, but there is now a separate undergraduate course for chemical engineering(it then says you go via engineering or natural science route).

Yes you apply for ChemEng via either of those 2 routes.

And, just by the by, you could actually decide not to swap during the first year if you wanted to stay in the facilitating route.

For example, many engineers change their mind about their orginally preferred specialisation during the first year or two, and Cambridge's general approach enables those changes to happen. :smile:

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 6

Mayhem™

Original post by jneill

Yes you apply for ChemEng via either of those 2 routes.

And, just by the by, you could actually decide not to swap during the first year if you wanted to stay in the original route.

Many engineers change their mind about their orginally preferred specialisation during the first year or two, and Cambridge's general approach enables those changes to happen. :smile:

oh okay, thanks for letting me know :smile:

Reply 7