Cambridge

Original post by TheNerdxP

Hey! So I really want to get accepted into Cambridge and I'm doing my GCSE's next week and I'm just wondering what would approximately be the grades I need to just "tick the GCSE box". I go to a comprehensive school and hopefully will be in the top 10% of results but I'm just wondering what would exactly just look "okay" in their eyes. Would realistically 5A* 4A 1B look okay at worst? But if I pushed myself I think I can achieve 7A* 2A 1B. Advice would be appreciated :smile:

Cambridge don't really care about your GCSEs (Oxford do), either would be perfectly fine as long as you did well at A Level

Reply 2

Student403

19

@jneill would be able to answer this well

Reply 3

Original post by TheNerdxP

Hey! So I really want to get accepted into Cambridge and I'm doing my GCSE's next week and I'm just wondering what would approximately be the grades I need to just "tick the GCSE box". I go to a comprehensive school and hopefully will be in the top 10% of results but I'm just wondering what would exactly just look "okay" in their eyes. Would realistically 5A* 4A 1B look okay at worst? But if I pushed myself I think I can achieve 7A* 2A 1B. Advice would be appreciated :smile:

Your GCSEs are absolutely fine. And not that important for Cambridge anyway. Do well in them, and then concentrate on your A-levels. Which course are you considering?

Original post by Gingerbread101

Cambridge don't really care about your GCSEs (Oxford do), either would be perfectly fine as long as you did well at A Level

Oxford doesn't care for GCSEs as much as TSR thinks. For most courses their pre-interview admissions tests are a much more important criteria for shortlisting for interview.

Original post by Student403

@jneill would be able to answer this well

Reply 4

OP

Original post by jneill

Your GCSEs are absolutely fine. And not that important for Cambridge anyway. Do well in them, and then concentrate on your A-levels. Which course are you considering?

Oxford doesn't care for GCSEs as much as TSR thinks. For most courses their pre-interview admissions tests are a much more important criteria for shortlisting for interview.

:hat2:

That's good to hear, what do you think would be the minimum for me to get for reassurance? and I want to take Physics, Mechanical Maths and English Literature for A-Level and Law for a degree

Reply 5

Original post by TheNerdxP

That's good to hear, what do you think would be the minimum for me to get for reassurance? and I want to take Physics, Mechanical Maths and English Literature for A-Level and Law for a degree

There is no minimum.
http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/entrance-requirements/gcse-and-a-level-requirements-facts

Although for Law, 1 or 2 colleges do put some weight on GCSE's - e.g. Churchill. But for most colleges it really doesn't matter.

Reply 6

OP

Original post by jneill

There is no minimum.
http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/entrance-requirements/gcse-and-a-level-requirements-facts

Although for Law, 1 or 2 colleges do put some weight on GCSE's - e.g. Churchill. But for most colleges it really doesn't matter.

Ah I see

Well in your opinion roughly what would you consider to be the least amount of GCSE grades for my application to still be strong (including Churchill etc)

Reply 7

Original post by TheNerdxP

Ah I see

Well in your opinion roughly what would you consider to be the least amount of GCSE grades for my application to still be strong (including Churchill etc)

Honestly, people get offers with no A*s. I've told you the position and given you the link to Cambridge's page:

GCSEs
With the exception of those for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (grade C or above in GCSE Double Award Science and Mathematics), there are no GCSE requirements for entry to Cambridge. Applicants have generally achieved high grades in subjects relevant to their chosen course, and most students who apply have at least four or five As or A*s at GCSE. However, there are always exceptions and one of the strengths of the Cambridge admissions system is its ability to assess all applicants individually.

Our research shows that post-16 examination performance is a much better predictor of degree success at Cambridge. While GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, this is within the context of the school/college performance and strong performance in Years 12 and 13 can make up for a less stellar performance at GCSE.

It's not your GCSEs that make or break your application, it's the whole package: AS-levels (if taken), A-levels, interview, Law Test, PS, reference, etc, etc. Everything. GCSEs are just one part, and not the most important.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 8

OP

Original post by jneill

Honestly, people get offers with no A*s. I've told you the position and given you the link to Cambridge's page.

It's not your GCSEs that make or break your application, it's the whole package: AS-levels (if taken), A-levels, interview, Law Test, PS, reference, etc, etc. Everything. GCSEs are just one part, and not the most important.

*Phew* Thankyou very much for your help! Do you know much about the Law test? I'm just afraid incase others have an advantage against me if they're doing it at A-Level and I have no idea what to write. Is it just general knowledge or an essay?

Reply 9

Original post by TheNerdxP

*Phew* Thankyou very much for your help! Do you know much about the Law test? I'm just afraid incase others have an advantage against me if they're doing it at A-Level and I have no idea what to write. Is it just general knowledge or an essay?

Applicants with A-level Law do not have an advantage, and it is not a prerequisite for Law at Cambridge. (Most applicants don't do A-level Law).

http://ba.law.cam.ac.uk/applying/cambridge_law_test/

http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/law

http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/laa_specification.pdf

Reply 10

OP