The Big "Are My Grades Good Enough for Cambridge?" Thread

Those GCSE's are perfectly fine, and very good if you went to a bad school. Getting AAAA or AAAB with those GCSE's and a reasonable PS and reference gives you a good chance of an interview (whether you get an offer also depends on your performance at interview and on the admissions test). This document gives Cambridge's guidance on subject choices. English Lit and History are typical strong subjects for law applicants (listed as "keystone" subjects), and Psychology and Law are "useful preparation for some of our arts and social sciences courses" -- you may be slightly unusual in lacking a language/maths, but you shouldn't be at any disadvantage. I would definitely drop English Lit if you are only likely to get an A or B at A2 and it is taking up too much of your time -- 4 subjects are not necessary for arts applicants.

Reply 6001

isabelle99

3

I want to apply to do English at either Oxford or Cambridge but I only had an A at GCSE however, at a level I am doing very well. Will my poor performance at GCSE affect my application?

P.S I am doing the reformed a level exams so I won't have an AS in English

Reply 6002

Doones

21

Original post by isabelle99

I want to apply to do English at either Oxford or Cambridge but I only had an A at GCSE however, at a level I am doing very well. Will my poor performance at GCSE affect my application?

P.S I am doing the reformed a level exams so I won't have an AS in English

An A is not "poor" :wink:

But your GCSEs are only looked at in the general context of your application anyway. They aren't hugely important for most courses at Cambridge.

Reply 6003

Gold-Confetti

12

Original post by sweeneyrod

Those GCSE's are perfectly fine, and very good if you went to a bad school. Getting AAAA or AAAB with those GCSE's and a reasonable PS and reference gives you a good chance of an interview (whether you get an offer also depends on your performance at interview and on the admissions test). This document gives Cambridge's guidance on subject choices. English Lit and History are typical strong subjects for law applicants (listed as "keystone" subjects), and Psychology and Law are "useful preparation for some of our arts and social sciences courses" -- you may be slightly unusual in lacking a language/maths, but you shouldn't be at any disadvantage. I would definitely drop English Lit if you are only likely to get an A or B at A2 and it is taking up too much of your time -- 4 subjects are not necessary for arts applicants.

Hey thank you so much for replying!

I was going to take maths as I am pretty good at it if I genuinely try, but I just have zero interest in it and a lot of people scaremonger about how hard A-Level maths is so I played to my strengths and took arts subjects.

Similar story with languages being that I was above average for my secondary school because they only taught to a C standard and I was bordering on getting a B. However, that standard was all they provided for and I didn't have the spare time or resources to teach myself. Taking on A Level German with only a C and it being 3 years after sitting the GCSE would've been a ridiculously hard workload. Especially because I have no connection to anyone taking or is good with languages to help me. Plus my sixth form focuses on Spanish and French.

I will happily pick up languages as an extra at uni if there is the provision to do so. It really irritates me that I'm not competent in another language.

Thanks for the advice, it's nice to be reassured about my GCSEs as they're not exactly the best going, and about my subject choices at A Level. I think for lit I'm going to see how things pan out in the summer. My literature teachers have already sought me out to lecture me when I showed signs of dropping. They want me to stay. But they also think I should be happy with Bs, which isn't exactly what I have in mind!

Reply 6004

mark_corrigan

7

Hey,

I would like to apply to Cambridge for History (2017 entry). I went to a good comprehensive but nonetheless in an area of inner London that tends to be associated with deprivation and got 8xA*, 1xA and 1xB at GCSE.

What's confusing me is the fourth AS level. People say you need 4xA at AS but I'm fairly sure that I'll get a B in Maths (taken C1 and C2 so far, dreadful papers) but get As in History (strong UMS), Geography (possibly full UMS) and French (UMS in the low to mid-80s).

Would I be OK if I get a B in Maths and then drop it after AS (an irrelevant subject for History), do lots (LOTS) of super-curricular stuff in my two-month summer - e.g. wide reading, university-run online courses - and do well at the interview? Obviously, the B won't do much damage on its own but I worry it'll be used against me vs someone with 4xA.

Cheers

Reply 6005

sweeneyrod

15

Original post by conor_muller

Hey,

I would like to apply to Cambridge for History (2017 entry). I went to a good comprehensive but nonetheless in an area of inner London that tends to be associated with deprivation and got 8xA*, 1xA and 1xB at GCSE.

What's confusing me is the fourth AS level. People say you need 4xA at AS but I'm fairly sure that I'll get a B in Maths (taken C1 and C2 so far, dreadful papers) but get As in History (strong UMS), Geography (possibly full UMS) and French (UMS in the low to mid-80s).

Would I be OK if I get a B in Maths and then drop it after AS (an irrelevant subject for History), do lots (LOTS) of super-curricular stuff in my two-month summer - e.g. wide reading, university-run online courses - and do well at the interview? Obviously, the B won't do much damage on its own but I worry it'll be used against me vs someone with 4xA.

Cheers

With ~100 UMS% in Geography, ~95 UMS% in History, ~85 UMS% in French and ~75 UMS% in Maths you would actually be guaranteed an interview under the autopooling system, as the average of your best three subjects would be above 93 UMS%. Even with slightly lower percentages, you would still stand a good chance. But as you say, a B in Maths might compare unfavourably with other applicants -- I don't think it would be too much of a disadvantage though. As long as you have >90 UMS% in two subjects, and >80 UMS% in another, putting you on track for the A*A*A that successful arts applicants typically achieve, you will have a good chance.

Reply 6006

Doones

21

Original post by conor_muller

Hey,

I would like to apply to Cambridge for History (2017 entry). I went to a good comprehensive but nonetheless in an area of inner London that tends to be associated with deprivation and got 8xA*, 1xA and 1xB at GCSE.

What's confusing me is the fourth AS level. People say you need 4xA at AS but I'm fairly sure that I'll get a B in Maths (taken C1 and C2 so far, dreadful papers) but get As in History (strong UMS), Geography (possibly full UMS) and French (UMS in the low to mid-80s).

Would I be OK if I get a B in Maths and then drop it after AS (an irrelevant subject for History), do lots (LOTS) of super-curricular stuff in my two-month summer - e.g. wide reading, university-run online courses - and do well at the interview? Obviously, the B won't do much damage on its own but I worry it'll be used against me vs someone with 4xA.

Cheers

Original post by sweeneyrod

With ~100 UMS% in Geography, ~95 UMS% in History, ~85 UMS% in French and ~75 UMS% in Maths you would actually be guaranteed an interview under the autopooling system, as the average of your best three subjects would be above 93 UMS%. Even with slightly lower percentages, you would still stand a good chance. But as you say, a B in Maths might compare unfavourably with other applicants -- I don't think it would be too much of a disadvantage though. As long as you have >90 UMS% in two subjects, and >80 UMS% in another, putting you on track for the A*A*A that successful arts applicants typically achieve, you will have a good chance.

No UMS in history because of the reforms. And probably no auto-pooling this cycle either. But 3 good grades will likely land an interview.

Reply 6007

Tuffyandtab

16

Hello,
I'm thinking of applying to Cambridge to do Natural sciences.
I went to a pretty bad school, which is slowly improving where I got 5 A*s (maths, further maths, biology, chemistry, physics), 3 As, 3Bs and 1C.
At the moment I am in my first year of doing a levels in maths (where I think I am the mid-90s ums in c1 and c2), biology, chemistry and computing. In other three subjects I will be doing mock exams as they are now linear. I've been getting As in class tests, but weakest would be biology.
I will doing a summer research placement on ecology in the summer, which could result in a Gold CREST award.
Should I apply to Cambridge?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 6008

chemari1

2

please please answer
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=65182561&highlight=

Reply 6009

azimkader6678

Original post by llbnlwtsr

I don't really think they mind which subjects you do at GCSE. We were just told to pick what we wanted to do. As long as you have English, Maths, Sciences and a modern language to a high standard then it's fine. If you're interested I got an interview for Oxford (rejected after though) and I have 7A*s (English lit, english lang, maths, core science, additional science, french, graphic design) and 2.5As (history, german, RS short course).

Did you finishe top of your year at GCSE?

Reply 6010

chemari1

2

To get an interview with entry in 2017 from Cambridge for electronic and electric engineering,
GCSEs
Mathematics A
Additional Science A
Core Science B
Spanish A*
French A*
English Language (before remark B) C
English literature B
ICT B
History B
Geography C
RE C

AS Levels

-Maths A 97 UMS
C1 90 UMS A
C2 100 UMS A
M1 100 UMS A
-Physics A 95 UMS
Breadth A 90 UMS
Depth A 100 UMS
-Psychology A 90 UMS
Introduction to psychology 89 UMS
Psychology in context 91 UMS
-Spanish A 100 UMS
-Biology A 88 UMS
Paper 1 B 75 UMS
Paper 2 A 100 UMS
- Further Maths C 64 UMS
Further Pure 1 B 70 UMS
Mechanics 2 B 71 UMS
Mechanics 3 D 50 UMS

Extra
DELF (French Language Studies Diploma) B1, equivalent to a 100 UMS AS level in French

Reply 6011

chemari1

2

To get an interview with entry in 2017 from Cambridge for electronic and electric engineering,is this sound?
GCSEs
Mathematics A
Additional Science A
Core Science B
Spanish A*
French A*
English Language (before remark B) C
English literature B
ICT B
History B
Geography C
RE C

AS Levels
-Maths A 97 UMS
C1 90 UMS A
C2 100 UMS A
M1 100 UMS A
-Physics A 95 UMS
Breadth A 90 UMS
Depth A 100 UMS
-Psychology A 90 UMS
Introduction to psychology 89 UMS
Psychology in context 91 UMS
-Spanish A 100 UMS
-Biology A 88 UMS
Paper 1 B 75 UMS
Paper 2 A 100 UMS
- Further Maths C 64 UMS
Further Pure 1 B 70 UMS
Mechanics 2 B 71 UMS
Mechanics 3 D 50 UMS

Extra
DELF (French Language Studies Diploma) B1, equivalent to a 100 UMS AS level in French _{I've been looking for ways to improve my Further maths grades, any qualifications I can take between now and October?}_{I'm gonna get a tutor in maths to resit M3 FP1 and M2 to get top grades in them at A2 (this would still not appear in my UCAS application)}

Reply 6012

Doones

21

Original post by chemari1

To get an interview with entry in 2017 from Cambridge for electronic and electric engineering,is this sound?

AS Levels
-Maths A 97 UMS
C1 90 UMS A
C2 100 UMS A
M1 100 UMS A
-Physics A 95 UMS
Breadth A 90 UMS
Depth A 100 UMS
-Psychology A 90 UMS
Introduction to psychology 89 UMS
Psychology in context 91 UMS
-Spanish A 100 UMS
-Biology A 88 UMS
Paper 1 B 75 UMS
Paper 2 A 100 UMS
- Further Maths C 64 UMS
Further Pure 1 B 70 UMS
Mechanics 2 B 71 UMS
Mechanics 3 D 50 UMS

Extra
DELF (French Language Studies Diploma) B1, equivalent to a 100 UMS AS level in French _{I've been looking for ways to improve my Further maths grades, any qualifications I can take between now and October?}_{I'm gonna get a tutor in maths to resit M3 FP1 and M2 to get top grades in them at A2 (this would still not appear in my UCAS application)}

Your current FP1, M2 and M3 marks would have to be declared though. And Cambridge doesn't mind 1 resit, but 3 is likely to be a problem.

Also there is no EEE course at Cambridge. It's a general engineering course with specialisation in years 3 & 4.

There's no harm in applying for 2017, but realistically you may have more success in 2018 with grades achieved. Only physics, maths and FM are really relevant .

Posted from TSR Mobile

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 6013

chemari1

2

Original post by jneill

Your current FP1, M2 and M3 marks would have to be declared though. And Cambridge doesn't mind 1 resit, but 3 is likely to be a problem.

Also there is no EEE course at Cambridge. It's a general engineering course with specialisation in years 3 & 4.

There's no harm in applying for 2017, but realistically you may have more success in 2018 with grades achieved. Only physics, maths and FM are really relevant .

Posted from TSR Mobile

cheers, what course do you think I could do that would take into account most of the others?

Reply 6014

_Jess_123

4

Is AABB good enough ?

Reply 6015

sweeneyrod

15

Original post by _Jess_123

Is AABB good enough ?

At AS? In what subjects, for what course, with what GCSE's, and with any extenuating circumstances?

Reply 6016

lolatmaths

2

Im looking at cambridge economics and im in yr 12. Is 7A*s enough at gcse?

Reply 6017

_Jess_123

4

Original post by sweeneyrod

At AS? In what subjects, for what course, with what GCSE's, and with any extenuating circumstances?

Yes, at AS
For International studies with gov and pol, econ, philosophy and eng lit taken at AS

I got 8 As and a C in my GCSEs all the rest were Bs

Reply 6018

sweeneyrod

15

Original post by _Jess_123

Yes, at AS
For International studies with gov and pol, econ, philosophy and eng lit taken at AS

I got 8 As and a C in my GCSEs all the rest were Bs

I think they are likely to be too low, unless you have extenuating circumstances (really bad school, illness etc). You have a better chance if you apply post-A2 with A*AA (the standard offer) or above.