[coldfish]

I can't imagine that there's a correlation between schools and bad marking. Possibly in schools where very few achieve high grades predictions about those high grades will be less reliable. I got predicted an A ("no doubt") for my RS synoptic paper and got a D. These things happen.

[parkerpen]

Why would dodgy marking happen to people from poorer state schools? As far as I can remember your name and your school are not available to the examiners so they can't (sub)conciously mark up/down people from state schools or top public schools

[--]

I think he's saying that his school teacher told him he was going to get an A, and so didn't work harder/attempt to improve. And then he got a low grade in the exams/coursework. Which is still not really grounds for CSAS.

[warioland3]

(Original post by 3232)
I think he's saying that his school teacher told him he was going to get an A, and so didn't work harder/attempt to improve. And then he got a low grade in the exams/coursework. Which is still not really grounds for CSAS.

Dont worry these were not the grounds for my CSAS these were just things I was discussing here. I do think however that because of my school having a bad reputation is does make people not come to my 6th form - there was only 6 people in my english class and I was by far the most smartest so you can only imagine the rest of the grades in the class.

Someone hit the nail on the head in that if I was told my coursework AND my general essay work by the way was of C/D grade standard I would have strived to improve it but I was contantly told that it was of A grade standard so all I did was revise rather than try to improve my style/get additional help.

Take history for example, they produced A grade students before so I was told accurately at the beginning of the year that my work was crap (eg. a C grade) but because the teachers knew what A grade work was they helped me improve and in the end I ended up as a high A grade student.

All Im saying is in state schools there is no consistency amoungst departments and the teaching quality varies widely and we the students unwittingly pay in the long run.

[Lidka]

(Original post by warioland3)
All Im saying is in state schools there is no consistency amoungst departments and the teaching quality varies widely and we the students unwittingly pay in the long run.

I agree that in the state sector pupils can often be let down by bad teaching, but it's a big generalisation to say all state schools are like that. Not all students are hard done by in the state system. And private schools can have %%%%%%%% teaching too - it just makes it even more stupid that parents pay for it.

*sigh* When are they going to get rid of the santas? They rob my posts of all credibility!

[FadedJade]

Firstly, don't lump all state school in together. As Lidka points out, some state schools are better than some private schools. Just because it is a state school doesn't mean its rubbish.

Incidentally, there IS correlation between the standard of the school and the unreliability of predicted grades. The worse the school, the more likely teachers are to to underpredict students by 2 grades or more. (Yes I do have the figures to back this up, but i'm not sure if I'm allowed to share them or not!)

As for the 'snobby' colleges thing, I found that some colleges were extremely snobby when I emailed them prior to application. I explained my situation and one wrote back to say that I "should check the entrance requirements of the University of Cambridge before applying to the institution". Snobby gits. But most of them were encouraging so dont let that put you off!

[coldfish]

I knew about the unreliability with regard to grade predictions, but that's not the same as unreliability with regard to the grades for individual pieces of work. The two are related though, obviously.

Anyway, in this case Warioland is complaining about it being -the other way around-. He was overpredicted, and so didn't bother improving his work anymore. Incidentally, warioland, having small class sizes is normally seen as a benefit.

[iforgiveuforbeinganemo]

(Original post by warioland3)

All Im saying is in state schools there is no consistency amoungst departments and the teaching quality varies widely and we the students unwittingly pay in the long run.

I understand where you're coming from, I'm currently studying at the second worst A Level College in Oxfordshire (36/37), which is currently over 250 points below the national average for A level scores. Our teaching is terrible, some of my teachers last year, and this year, have inadvertently taught us the syllabus for the wrong exam board. However, if you're going to suceed at university, especially one like Cambridge, you have to learn to take things into your own hands
My psychology teachers marked my work originally as D grade at AS, I was skeptical, so I cheated and copied a sample essay from a website (that had already been given full marks), incidentally, it was given a D grade lol. AFter this I completely lost hope in my college, and never even conversed with any of the teachers ever again....ever.
A level teaching at most state underprivileged state schools is rediculous, my advice Wario, would just be get used to working independently, that what it's all about anyways, I do it with A Levels, and last year I got 100% in almost all of my exams. Also, if your an able student (if you're aplying to cambridge i'm guessing you are), then you should be able to eat through 2hours lessons work in about 10 or 15 minutes, as opposed to the grueling,lengthy,confused pseudo-lectures you get at most underpriviliged state schools. If you rely on independant work, you'll get better grades and it'll take far less effort.

[Lidka]

(Original post by iforgiveuforbeinganemo)
My psychology teachers marked my work originally as D grade at AS, I was skeptical, so I cheated and copied a sample essay from a website (that had already been given full marks), incidentally, it was given a D grade lol.

I like you.

[priya]

(Original post by -x-Nina-x-)
Firstly, don't lump all state school in together. As Lidka points out, some state schools are better than some private schools. Just because it is a state school doesn't mean its rubbish.

Incidentally, there IS correlation between the standard of the school and the unreliability of predicted grades. The worse the school, the more likely teachers are to to underpredict students by 2 grades or more. (Yes I do have the figures to back this up, but i'm not sure if I'm allowed to share them or not!)

I'd be tempted to back this up by adding that the worse the school, the lower the standard of teacher, thus a decrease in their ability to accurately predict grades. But it's by no means typical.

As for the 'snobby' colleges thing, I found that some colleges were extremely snobby when I emailed them prior to application. I explained my situation and one wrote back to say that I "should check the entrance requirements of the University of Cambridge before applying to the institution". Snobby gits. But most of them were encouraging so dont let that put you off!

True, don't let them put you off. In terms of 'snobbyness' nina might have just been unlucky and caught an admissions person on PMT/ in a mid-life crisis or something. Admissions offices have a LOT to cope with over Michaelmas Term - they're stressed and can't cope with the floods of emails they get on a daily basis. Obviously it's not a an excuse to be snappy with applicants, but it's not always indicative that the college is 'snobby'.

[FadedJade]

Hi Priya!

Yes you are quite right. This college in particular is normally viewed as particularly 'unsnobby', for want of a better word. But either way, with specific circumstances, particularly if it will have an ongoing effect on your education (I'm meaning the illness side here rather than the other one) it is important that you apply to a College that understands your needs, so don't be afraid to ask questions and make sure you are happy with your decision.

[priya]

(Original post by warioland3)
Im sorry NickkO I didnt mean to offend you or anyone from Caius but sometimes the articles I find online coupled with advice from career teacher etc lead me to beleive that some Cambridge colleges were more snobby than others.

In my opinion, bad teacher advice is one of the biggest problems Oxbridge face with admissions. Admissions criteria, university lifestyles etc have changed greatly since the 80s. To say a college is 'snobby' is one person's opinion, it's not hard fact, and it is probably the case that you will actually like the look of what you get, if you go there.

There's far too much misinformation and prejudice on the part of staff. A lot of colleges run workshops for teachers, but unfortunately it's the same ones that always participate - the ones who should never go.

There's a lot of opinion about oxbridge all over the internet - as a student, I think the best thing any applicant can do is get the FACTS from the institution itself, speak to actual students (the grapevine never did anyone any favours) and, if you can, visit before applying.

[warioland3]

(Original post by coldfish)
I knew about the unreliability with regard to grade predictions, but that's not the same as unreliability with regard to the grades for individual pieces of work. The two are related though, obviously.

Anyway, in this case Warioland is complaining about it being -the other way around-. He was overpredicted, and so didn't bother improving his work anymore. Incidentally, warioland, having small class sizes is normally seen as a benefit.

Like you said "normally a benifit" I agree. But not when your being taught by some inexperienced moody cow. I was by the smartest in that english clasee with near AA at gcse and ended up with a C so imagine the other grades - half the class dropped out lol

[--]

AA ---> C at A Level is not a spectacular drop. It was about average for my college.

[warioland3]

(Original post by 3232)
AA ---> C at A Level is not a spectacular drop. It was about average for my college.

True but I beleive in gettint AA in my other A Levels it is clear that I think I was clever enough to at least get a B. Just really pissed me off because it cost me dearly in the long run.

[--]

(Original post by warioland3)
True but I beleive in gettint AA in my other A Levels it is clear that I think I was clever enough to at least get a B. Just really pissed me off because it cost me dearly in the long run.

??

Your profile says you got ABC, not AAC?

[warioland3]

Practically AA it was 6 marks from an A after being a low U grade the year before so I make myself feel better by saying it was an A lol

[Es*]

(Original post by -x-Nina-x-)
As for the 'snobby' colleges thing, I found that some colleges were extremely snobby when I emailed them prior to application. I explained my situation and one wrote back to say that I "should check the entrance requirements of the University of Cambridge before applying to the institution". Snobby gits. But most of them were encouraging so dont let that put you off!

I had similar experiences when considering applying through the scheme; some colleges were very negative and others very positive about applications through CSAS. One tutor said that 'all colleges are obliged to participate in it, so we do', but another tutor suggested it before I asked, when they found I had done my A levels over more years than normal, because of health. In the end I did not use it (because I chose to apply to a mature college, where you cannot use CSAS).

[evilmoo]

I've emailed admissions to ask whether I'd be eligible to be entered under CSAS.

Year 10, 11 & 12 have all been badly disrupted by illness, but I'm paranoid people will think I'm a doss, and just using that as an excuse.

Probably just worrying too much but meh

[warioland3]

(Original post by evilmoo)
I've emailed admissions to ask whether I'd be eligible to be entered under CSAS.

Year 10, 11 & 12 have all been badly disrupted by illness, but I'm paranoid people will think I'm a doss, and just using that as an excuse.

Probably just worrying too much but meh

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%s mate you have every right to apply via the CSAS as long as your school is willing to put it in official writing on the required forms that go with the CSAS.