Can I get into Cambridge with good a levels really bad GCSEs?

So for my GCSEs I got three 3s four 4s a 5 and 6. Terrible IK. I’m not stupid but I was extremely depressed in school. I was bullied and it was hell so I slept in every single lesson o could to make the time pass by. I only tried revising for English as I want to do law and it’s relevant but I never finished the paper hence my 5 in lit ( 1 mark from a 6. :/ ) and 6 in Lang which I was only 3 marks from a 7….

Anyways I know this sounds hella stupid but for some reasons I still think if I try super hard at a level there’s a chance (slim Ik) Cambridge could accept me.

If I could get A*s at a level do I stand a chance. I’ve seen a few other pple that didn’t get any As at gcse just like me mad really bad GCSEs but got triple A*s and got in. Do I stand a chance? I was thinking of resitting my GCSEs especially math as I only got a 4 but most RG unis I’m looking at needed a 6 only in English lang which thankfully I have.
Also on Cambridge’s website it says they like to see people that have massive improvement from gcse to a level as it shows improvement in work ethic. So me going from Ds Cs and only 1/2 Bs ( a 5 is technically a B-) to triple As/A*s at a level would be pretty sick….

Would it be stupid for me to apply? Or do I have a chance if I try hard at a level. Thankfully I’m doing subjects I like. The other reason I failed so miserably at gcse was I was forced to do half my subjects. I hated hr all and struggled especially with triple science which i was forced to do. Revising something you hate is hell. Atleast now I do stuff I actually don’t despise.

Anyways.. am I stupid for thinking I have shot at Cambridge with my GCSEs? Or can triple A*s cover it.

Again I’m not stupid. I feel like I can acheiebe it if I fully put the work in.

So for my GCSEs I got three 3s four 4s a 5 and 6. Terrible IK. I’m not stupid but I was extremely depressed in school. I was bullied and it was hell so I slept in every single lesson o could to make the time pass by. I only tried revising for English as I want to do law and it’s relevant but I never finished the paper hence my 5 in lit ( 1 mark from a 6. :/ ) and 6 in Lang which I was only 3 marks from a 7….

Anyways I know this sounds hella stupid but for some reasons I still think if I try super hard at a level there’s a chance (slim Ik) Cambridge could accept me.

If I could get A*s at a level do I stand a chance. I’ve seen a few other pple that didn’t get any As at gcse just like me mad really bad GCSEs but got triple A*s and got in. Do I stand a chance? I was thinking of resitting my GCSEs especially math as I only got a 4 but most RG unis I’m looking at needed a 6 only in English lang which thankfully I have.
Also on Cambridge’s website it says they like to see people that have massive improvement from gcse to a level as it shows improvement in work ethic. So me going from Ds Cs and only 1/2 Bs ( a 5 is technically a B-) to triple As/A*s at a level would be pretty sick….

Would it be stupid for me to apply? Or do I have a chance if I try hard at a level. Thankfully I’m doing subjects I like. The other reason I failed so miserably at gcse was I was forced to do half my subjects. I hated hr all and struggled especially with triple science which i was forced to do. Revising something you hate is hell. Atleast now I do stuff I actually don’t despise.

Anyways.. am I stupid for thinking I have shot at Cambridge with my GCSEs? Or can triple A*s cover it.

Again I’m not stupid. I feel like I can acheiebe it if I fully put the work in.

Not too sure about this. There's a lot of blaming others, being a victim and refusing to take any responsibility for your poor performance at GCSE, which isn't a good sign. Also, is it in any way realistic to aim for A*A*A* at A level - is there any evidence, either currently or previously, that you've ever managed to consistently produce work at this level? What do your teachers think of your current attainment level?

You'll probably think I"m just saying this to be horrible: I'm not. I'm trying to manage expectations and perhaps be a bit more realistic about things.

theyre right to blame others. they were literally bullied. i'm sure they feel very down about it and do take the responsibility, but its very important to realise that their situation affected their performance a lot

theyre right to blame others. they were literally bullied. i'm sure they feel very down about it and do take the responsibility, but its very important to realise that their situation affected their performance a lot

Haven't you answered this question yourself when you say, "I’ve seen a few other pple that didn’t get any As at gcse just like me mad really bad GCSEs but got triple A*s and got in." If "a few" other people have done it, then it's certainly possible. It would be unusual, however, but perhaps not for the reason you think.

Cambridge offer-holders tend to have very good GCSEs not because that's specifically what Cambridge are looking for, it's because Cambridge are looking for candidates who perform very well at A levels (predicted or actual), entrance test scores, submitted work, interviews, etc. - and those people tend to also have have good GCSEs. So it's more correlation than causation. As you say, "a few" people don't follow this pattern.

I assume you're in lower 6th (year 12) right now, and will be applying next year for entry in 2024, right? I mention this because the Cambridge deadline for this year passed a few weeks ago.

A 5 isn't a B- it's a high C... sorry

if you are really worried about your GCSEs, I would suggest retaking a few during summer 2023. Remember that you are applying to other universities besides Cambridge and although Cambridge doesn't have any specific GCSE requirements, majority of universities prefer you pass all of your gcses, and a good amount ask for a 6 and above in gcse english and gcse maths.

Furthermore, it seems from your reasoning behind the grades being so low is due to you being bullied and depressed. Although I sympathise with you on that, universities do not consider that as impactful enough to be a valid excuse for your performance. If you apply to top unis with these grades and no mitigating circumstance stated, this means you will have a very low chance of getting in as they will compare your grades to the likes of top students with all 9s. As law is a very competitive field, I think it would be a good reason for you to resit any GCSEs that you failed, as well as your maths and english.

Absolutely agree. Bullying can affect you both mentally & physically but the OP would need proof of that to be able to show that was the reason. Cambridge won’t accept resits without good reason & documented proof.

Additionally, it’s a big ask to sit 3 A-Levels to get all A* in 2 years AND resit 2/3/4 GSCEs in a year. Not impossible.

First off, sorry to hear you were bullied, doing well in situations like that can be hard.

But honestly, a law degree is not a walk in the park. There will be at least one, probably more being realistic, compulsory modules that you have to study & won’t enjoy. Ask any law grad. It can be tedious, monotonous, hard work & stressful, especially if you have little interest in that module. The key is to show you have the determination & tenacity to get on & study it & do well in it, even if you find it boring or don’t like it.

IMO saying you didn’t work or revise because you don’t like a subject isn’t going to sell you to any Uni let alone Cambridge. Sorry to be harsh but that’s the way I read it. So that’s not something I’d be saying out loud to admissions.

Perhaps if you did ‘wipe the slate clean’ & resit some GCSEs & do well in them (as well as your A-levels, which is a big ask) you might have a case for showing you’ve matured. But whether that Uni would be Cambridge, I don’t know. Check out pg 15 of attached re resits, it appears you’d need documented proof of your issues during your exams to allow any resits to be considered.

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/sites/www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/uoc_2023_teachers_guide.pdf

Not too sure about this. There's a lot of blaming others, being a victim and refusing to take any responsibility for your poor performance at GCSE, which isn't a good sign. Also, is it in any way realistic to aim for A*A*A* at A level - is there any evidence, either currently or previously, that you've ever managed to consistently produce work at this level? What do your teachers think of your current attainment level?

You'll probably think I"m just saying this to be horrible: I'm not. I'm trying to manage expectations and perhaps be a bit more realistic about things.

Cambridge do state on their website GCSEs are looked at as a performance indicator in context of the school so if you went to an underperforming school you have more of a shot than if you went to a grammar and just did badly.
I also wouldn’t try and explain to them the reason you did badly was because you didn’t like certain subjects, everyone is forced to do science at gcse just like there will be modules in your degree you are forced to do, not liking it isn’t an excuse to do badly in it lol
If you have doctors notes about your depression then that would also strengthen your case as that’s an extenuating circumstance.
Obviously wanting to study law, you will have to sit the LNAT which for most people is make it break anyway, if you do really well then your bad GCSEs become less relevant!

It’s actually accounted as both.

Can I get a doctors note after or? Like idek how to do that. Would it count if I was going to therapy because of my situation like would it be proof?