[Hashshashin]

(Original post by chairboy1)
Ok, i asked my school for a solid answer, and they said that you should get higher UMS marks and put them in your application as it does give you a large advantage

Yeah, that's definitely sound advice - especially with regards to the subject you're applying for.

[Emily_Dri]

Hi.

I'm wanting to apply for French at Ox for 2009 entry. I'm in Year 12 and doing AS in Eng Lit, French, Performance Studies and a full A Level in Maths (studying further maths too).

I got an A in my ASmaths in January, but have just had a terrible Core 4 paper for A2 and wondered if Oxford were likely to reject me on the basis of a resit, if I were to resit the A2module again in Year13, when the other Y13 mathematicians would be taking them?

Maths is unrelated to French, which I want to study, and I wondered if they would mind me retaking an A2 module at the 'normal' time (Y13) having got a bad grade in Year 12 (this is an assumption but undoubtably true).

This is also assuming I would get As in A2 french and english.

Thanks.

[Derek_the_Sheep]

They won't even know unless you tell them! .. and I doubt the Modern Languages tutors will really care that much about the details of how you got a grade A in maths. It's how you are likely to do on your course at Oxford that really interests them, and the scope for maths in that is a bit limited. (Though they'd still probably prefer that as one of your 3As rather than performance arts, I should think, being on the whole old-fashioned about such things.)

DtS

[Emily_Dri]

Thanks

[alpesh24]

(Original post by Emily_Dri)
Hi.

I'm wanting to apply for French at Ox for 2009 entry. I'm in Year 12 and doing AS in Eng Lit, French, Performance Studies and a full A Level in Maths (studying further maths too).

I got an A in my ASmaths in January, but have just had a terrible Core 4 paper for A2 and wondered if Oxford were likely to reject me on the basis of a resit, if I were to resit the A2module again in Year13, when the other Y13 mathematicians would be taking them?

Maths is unrelated to French, which I want to study, and I wondered if they would mind me retaking an A2 module at the 'normal' time (Y13) having got a bad grade in Year 12 (this is an assumption but undoubtably true).

This is also assuming I would get As in A2 french and english.

Thanks.

I was in the same situation as you.

I did AS maths in the january of year 12. did C4 in the june of year 12, and got 69! I was planning to apply to oxford for Maths.

Luckily, my school did not certificate full A2 Maths in the first year [by default], meaning that i did not have to put that i got a C in C4 in my UCAS. They did however write in my reference i got an average of xx% in my first 8 maths modules.

I did retake that C4 module in jan of year 13, got an A in it [i need an A in C4 for my insurance choice].

[Emily_Dri]

Wow... good... that makes me feel a little better. It was a horrible paper Even my friend who is amazing at maths was close to tears.

I really don't think I got even anywhere near to 69, probably nearer 45-55ish

Oh well, i guess I'll retake next year.

[Greatleysteg]

(Original post by Emily_Dri)
Hi.

I'm wanting to apply for French at Ox for 2009 entry. I'm in Year 12 and doing AS in Eng Lit, French, Performance Studies and a full A Level in Maths (studying further maths too).

I got an A in my ASmaths in January, but have just had a terrible Core 4 paper for A2 and wondered if Oxford were likely to reject me on the basis of a resit, if I were to resit the A2module again in Year13, when the other Y13 mathematicians would be taking them?

Maths is unrelated to French, which I want to study, and I wondered if they would mind me retaking an A2 module at the 'normal' time (Y13) having got a bad grade in Year 12 (this is an assumption but undoubtably true).

This is also assuming I would get As in A2 french and english.

Thanks.

I don't think they'd mind that much that you didn't do very well in one Maths module, although if you choose to enter your unit results on your application, it may concern them that you mighn't be capable of meeting an AAA offer (as has been said.. they won't like Performance Studies all that much).

[thomasjtl]

no point speculating until the results come out. If it were a horrible paper it'll be scaled up anyway...

[xxlawyergirlxx]

Did you think it was really hard? I found it quite easy compared to the past papers, and so did the rest of my class! Which bit didn't you like, the synoptic or the main exam?

[Emily_Dri]

(Original post by sarah1990)
Did you think it was really hard? I found it quite easy compared to the past papers, and so did the rest of my class! Which bit didn't you like, the synoptic or the main exam?

The synoptic? What do you mean?

It was a Core 4 maths exam on OCR. The whole of my class found it hard compared to past papers, but anyway, everyone has different levels of competence at different subjects. Yes, I found it hard.

[xxlawyergirlxx]

(Original post by Emily_Dri)
The synoptic? What do you mean?

It was a Core 4 maths exam on OCR. The whole of my class found it hard compared to past papers, but anyway, everyone has different levels of competence at different subjects. Yes, I found it hard.

Oh sorry I meant the comprehension. I'm not implying that you aren't as compentent at maths if that's what you mean, I was just interested to see how you and your class found it more difficult than past papers, whilst mine found it easier than past papers. It's down to the luck of the type of paper you get I guess. If I'd had last year's paper I would have found it terrible, you may have found it easy.

[Hashshashin]

(Original post by sarah1990)
Oh sorry I meant the comprehension. I'm not implying that you aren't as compentent at maths if that's what you mean, I was just interested to see how you and your class found it more difficult than past papers, whilst mine found it easier than past papers. It's down to the luck of the type of paper you get I guess. If I'd had last year's paper I would have found it terrible, you may have found it easy.

There are two OCR Maths syllabi - standard OCR, and MEI. I imagine this is the source of the confusion here.

[Emily_Dri]

Oh yea... I don't understand all that technical stuff :P

Oh well, thanks everyone

[random18]

I'm taking the whole of A2 Economics this year (year 12) as I've already completed the AS in Jan. Is it more advisable to ask not to be certificated for the A2 as yet (is this possible if I'm already down to be certificated for it), just in case disaster strikes? =\

[Emily_Dri]

From my experience with the same situation in maths, i'd say yes. Unless you think that the universities seeing that you've managed a full A level in one year would put you at an advantage over other candidates.

[EducatingBrogan]

I hope that Oxford can't see my module grades from January after the Keats disaster ¬_¬ I'll be kicked off the undergrad list before you can say "paradoxical metaphor"

.....which incidentally is a good phrase to use in my resit, come to think of it *makes mental note*



*is becoming more and more of an English Lit geek by teh day *

[Athena]

(Original post by EducatingBrogan)
I hope that Oxford can't see my module grades from January after the Keats disaster ¬_¬ I'll be kicked off the undergrad list before you can say "paradoxical metaphor"

.....which incidentally is a good phrase to use in my resit, come to think of it *makes mental note*

I wouldn't worry, as even if they did see it (and they don't), I'm fairly sure admissions tutors know how much of a lottery arts marking can be - my English AS level grades are AADAAA - four of those are full marks, and I have AEA English (from Y12, sat about a week after the Chaucer paper that came back a D). Even if you had a bad day, if you still get an A overall, it doesn't really matter.

[EducatingBrogan]

Yes, I'm carrying high marks from AS level anyway so am unlikely to drop to a B even if my resit is appalling and by some disaster my Faustus goes wrong.
One subject safe then.... only three more to worry about ¬_¬

[Vjyrik]

Question about aggregation/cashing-in: do schools send the request to cash in your grades before exams? Or after exams? Or after results? Do we have the permission to request not to aggregate, even though the subject is not going to be continued onto A2? UCAS clearly states that we must put aggregated ones, so an unaggregated subject would mean that you don't have to show it?
Would seem an easy way to escape an unrelated subject's horrid results - but possible?

[thomasjtl]

correct, if your school doesn't cash in AS levels, you put the grade as pending. If you really want to go talk to your school's exam office. They'll tell you if it's possible now.