REAPPLYING HELP: Maths A Level, UCAS Reference!?

Thanks for your reply!

My GCSE Maths teacher has confirmed he would be able to predict me an A Grade in Maths, but I would hardly know my maths tutor for him to predict me a grade.

The school are allowing my to be an external candidate, (i.e. to sit the papers at the school, yes)

Can anyone provide any information as to how the UNIs would react to this approach?

Thank you!

Is this your head of sixth?

Would the reference be suitable without change

I'm a parent so advice based on going through the mill - universities dont have anything against self-study, in fact they'll probably quite like it. However they may be a bit sceptical of an A grade prediction when you're doing self-study in a year and haven't studied maths for 2 years. What were your A levels as something like physics or economics might suggest you could pick maths back up faster? I've known people self-teach maths but not in a a year and also do a full A level in a year but at college. Isn't there a college you could attend?

It doesn't have to be head of 6th form who does the reference, you can ask anyone (preferably at your school). So you could ask the maths teacher to tweak last years reference. If you are using a tutor they should supply some input.

Now - considering Oxford and whether they will accept you they will want to see ongoing academic study and evidence of a genuine interest in the subject. They look for higher standards in reapplicants than in first time applicants. How were your GSCEs? Chose a college carefully and dont think 4 As means a place - they turned down someone with 7A*s this year.

You would need at least 1 A* to get into Oxford or LSE, your teacher would have to predict you an A* in maths.

The entry requirements for Oxford and LSE are both AAA.

Universities often quote the minimum they will consider but actually take only those with higher grades. Oxford publishes detailed figures about the average number of A* GSCEs applicants have and the A levels they go on to get. Based on that I would not rate your chances very highly but you have no chance unless you apply. Apply to 5 universities next time and you can afford to have aspirational choices but if you only apply to 2 you could be looking at clearing or no place next year. Of course if you went to the sort of school where few applicants get any A*s at GSCE you may pick up some allowance for that.

If there is another school or college where you could do A level maths in a year they would do a reference, using your last year's reference as a base. They could also send a letter later when they knew you better. It would be difficult to do A level maths in a year with no help.

To improve your chances at the best universities consider what you can do beyond academic study in terms of additional reading - you could also look at personal statements on here to see if there are things like essay competitions that students can do or courses that they attend.

Universities often quote the minimum they will consider but actually take only those with higher grades. Oxford publishes detailed figures about the average number of A* GSCEs applicants have and the A levels they go on to get. Based on that I would not rate your chances very highly but you have no chance unless you apply. Apply to 5 universities next time and you can afford to have aspirational choices but if you only apply to 2 you could be looking at clearing or no place next year. Of course if you went to the sort of school where few applicants get any A*s at GSCE you may pick up some allowance for that.

If there is another school or college where you could do A level maths in a year they would do a reference, using your last year's reference as a base. They could also send a letter later when they knew you better. It would be difficult to do A level maths in a year with no help.

To improve your chances at the best universities consider what you can do beyond academic study in terms of additional reading - you could also look at personal statements on here to see if there are things like essay competitions that students can do or courses that they attend.