Are my GCSE/AS grades good enough for Oxbridge?

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  1. Helenia's Avatar
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    Are my GCSE/AS grades good enough for Oxbridge?
    Rather than have lots and lots of threads cluttering up the place and annoying users, anyone who is wondering/worried that their grades are not good enough for an application to Oxford or Cambridge should post in here. Any future threads made will be merged into this one.

    Firstly, let me refer you to H&E's FAQs which should answer most of your questions.

    If you are still worried, ask away in here, rather than making a thread which will probably get you a more negative response than anything you might say in here. I understand that applying to Oxbridge is a nerve-wracking procedure, but there are also a lot of very similar threads and current posters are running out of patience, thus keeping it all in one place will hopefully help to tidy up the place and make it all more understandable!
    Last edited by Helenia; 29-04-2006 at 12:46.
  2. darthsidious's Avatar
    • Junior Member
    PPE GCSE results question
    hey guys...i'm thinking of applying to oxford for ppe. my A-levels are maths, further maths, economics, eng lit, philosophy, and i've done really well in all of them this year. i have 9 A*, an A, and a B at GCSE, but the problem is that the A is in Economics.

    Now before you say 'well, maybe you should reconsider' it was only in year 12 that i actually starting taking an interest in economics, and then started doing well. so my question is, will that result prevent me from getting an interview?

    thanks
  3. Che!'s Avatar
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    (Original post by skidjzu)
    hey guys...i'm thinking of applying to oxford for ppe. my A-levels are maths, further maths, economics, eng lit, philosophy, and i've done really well in all of them this year. i have 9 A*, an A, and a B at GCSE, but the problem is that the A is in Economics.

    Now before you say 'well, maybe you should reconsider' it was only in year 12 that i actually starting taking an interest in economics, and then started doing well. so my question is, will that result prevent me from getting an interview?

    thanks
    NOT AT ALL! You'll def. get an interview with those results. They may question your Economics GCSE, to which you can say you weren't as motivated as you are now etc. But still, an A is bloody good! You've nothing to worry about

    Good luck
  4. Helenia's Avatar
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    And there's the first one.
  5. El Stevo's Avatar
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    i was hopin this was gonna be tongue in cheek, ie need 9 billion A* 63 A's mensa member, already world reknowned in field JUSt to get an interview etc..
  6. Johnny 5's Avatar
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    (Original post by El Chueco)
    i was hopin this was gonna be tongue in cheek, ie need 9 billion A* 63 A's mensa member, already world reknowned in field JUSt to get an interview etc..
    What? Will my membership of MENSA count against my application? I'm so worried!
  7. El Stevo's Avatar
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    (Original post by 2 + 2 = 5)
    What? Will my membership of MENSA count against my application? I'm so worried!
    mine didn't and neither did my my being a NAGTY regional councillor. just be genuine and you'll be fine.
  8. Johnny 5's Avatar
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    (Original post by El Chueco)
    mine didn't and neither did my my being a NAGTY regional councillor. just be genuine and you'll be fine.
    Cheers, because I felt that that really needed answering.
  9. **noooni**'s Avatar
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    I also have a question.., my gcse's where 10 A*-A, but i just finished my AS exams and was shocked with how low my results where, i had a pretty bad year but i didnt think i would do that badly ,, i got BBCC, after remarking that will probably go up to ABBC (as some marking was odd) and i plan to resit some modules and so it should go up to AABB
    therefore next year i will probably be predicted AAB.... honestly do i stand any chance? .... i have alot of really good extra stuff from out side school work like,,tutouring key stage 3 student, writing for the school news letter and local newspaper, helping in class rooms with englsih as second language students, head of school council, constantly organising events in and outside school...etc
    and even though my grades were only BBCC they were th highest in my whole school... i was thinking of applying to SPS at cam ,,, but if i dont stand a chance someone please tell me as i dont want to waste one of my valuable 6 places for uni.. thnx
  10. smsmasters's Avatar
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    • Location: London, UK
    Are my GCSEs good enough...for Oxford / Cambridge?
    Are my GCSEs good enough...for Oxford / Cambridge? (see sig) I know I have 12 GCSEs, but are they looking for students with straight A*s??? :confused:
  11. jpowell's Avatar
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    Your AS and predicted A level grades are far more important.
  12. thefish_uk's Avatar
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    (Original post by smsmasters)
    Are my GCSEs good enough...for Oxford / Cambridge? (see sig) I know I have 12 GCSEs, but are they looking for students with straight A*s??? :confused:
    They look alright. It depends on more things though like your background and enthusiasm - do you go to a state school?

    I wouldn't rule them out.
  13. smsmasters's Avatar
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    (Original post by AMM)
    Your AS and predicted A level grades are far more important.

    But do they also ask what GCSE grades you have achieved? :confused:
  14. N9ne's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    (Original post by AMM)
    Your AS and predicted A level grades are far more important.
    Precisely. smsmasters, do you go to a state school? If so, and it is poor performing then Oxbridge will take this into account; they are looking for potential.
  15. smsmasters's Avatar
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    • Location: London, UK
    (Original post by thefish_uk)
    They look alright. It depends on more things though like your background and enthusiasm - do you go to a state school?

    I wouldn't rule them out.
    Yes, I go to a state school/college... Have been my whole life...
  16. El Stevo's Avatar
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    (Original post by **noooni**)
    I also have a question.., my gcse's where 10 A*-A
    nice. tres bien and the rest.
    (Original post by **noooni**)
    but i just finished my AS exams and was shocked with how low my results where, i had a pretty bad year but i didnt think i would do that badly ,, i got BBCC, after remarking that will probably go up to ABBC (as some marking was odd) and i plan to resit some modules and so it should go up to AABB. therefore next year i will probably be predicted AAB.... honestly do i stand any chance? ....
    of course you still have a chance, but decline your grades if they dont go up as much as you expect. grades going up that much is a bit opimistic just on re-marks. however, whatever your AS's, your teachers should have recognised your potential and you could even be predicted straight A's, though they would tell you you need to get your derriere in gear. if you resit enough and work hard enough there is no porblem you getting the grades you need. if you want an anecodte pm me.
    (Original post by **noooni**)
    i have alot of really good extra stuff from out side school work like,,tutouring key stage 3 student, writing for the school news letter and local newspaper, helping in class rooms with englsih as second language students, head of school council, constantly organising events in and outside school...etc
    i suppose the questio is this; is the above what caused the disappointing grades? in which case all this good stuff is not actually all that good...
    (Original post by **noooni**)
    and even though my grades were only BBCC they were th highest in my whole school...
    that is very useful if its true, especially if your school is not reknowned academically...
    (Original post by **noooni**)
    i was thinking of applying to SPS at cam ,,, but if i dont stand a chance someone please tell me as i dont want to waste one of my valuable 6 places for uni.. thnx
    waste? how can applying to cambridge be a waste? chances are you wont go to the uni you applied to in place of cam, as its not one of your top 6.
  17. homoterror's Avatar
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    (Original post by AMM)
    Your AS and predicted A level grades are far more important.
    No they're not.
  18. homoterror's Avatar
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    they're good, your biggest problem applying to Oxbridge (and other high end universities) is that you're doing AVCE IT? This is untraditional, and more importantly you'll end up taking it next year aswell to have 'three alevels' and they won't be impressed when two thirds of your offerings are AVCE IT.

    If you want to do compsci at Cambridge at least you should do:
    Alevel Maths
    Alevel Further Maths
    Alevel Physics
    Alevel something-else (I guess you could do IT if you wanted, but I'd choose a language)
  19. Gaz031's Avatar
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    Applied A-Level ICT - Double Award
    I don't think they would like that very much though i could be wrong.
  20. NDGAARONDI's Avatar
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    (Original post by smsmasters)
    Are my GCSEs good enough...for Oxford / Cambridge? (see sig) I know I have 12 GCSEs, but are they looking for students with straight A*s??? :confused:
    No they're not. :rolleyes:

    Try their website first before I think of two pieces of wood.
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