GCSE Grades For Imperial

The subjects you have chosen are perfect if you want to study chemistry, what do you imperial?


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I couldn't find any information on the imperial website as to GCSE requirements, so I'm wondering if anyone can help me on here.

I want to study Chemistry at Imperial, and I've chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry at A-Leve.

My GCSEs are:


I would prefer it if the people that answered weren't sarcastic like some are on other threads, I just need to know where I can be aiming for before I start A-Levels.

Hi, i will be starting chemistry with molecular physics at imperial this september.
My IGCSE grades were: Chemistry - A*, English 1st Lang - A*, History - A*, Geography - A*, Economics - A, IT - A, English Lit - A, Maths - A, Physics - A

AS - Chem - A, Physics - A, Maths - A, Bio - B

A2 - A*s in Chem, Maths and Physics (dropped Bio after AS)
(i was also predicted these A2 grades when i was applying - i dont know to what extent that effected getting an offer)

So I think you can definitely get in with your grades so far. However you are taking a lot of AS subjects. Imperial requires 3 A levels only (offers this year were AAA, i dont know how likely this is to change) it might be easier for you to get the best grades if you drop one subject (you would still have 4 that way which is above the requirement anyway) as i really dont think its necessary to have this many, however only you can know whats best for you good luck with your application

Thanks. That's the subject I really want to do. They only offer it at imperial and nottingham, and there are only 20 places on the course at Imperial so congrats on getting in. Do you know how many people applied for the course?

I think I can get 5a's at AS if I try really hard, but I'm expecting myself to get AAAAB, and then drop biology.

Well i actually applied for the 4 year Msci Chemistry course and after i received my results and my place was confirmed i just asked to be transferred. anyone can transfer between the various chemistry courses until the the start of 3rd year provided the you taken the required ancillary subjects in year 1 and 2 (for molecular physics they are "maths and physics for chemists" - but to take this ancillary subject you should have physics at A level). so as far as i know it wont really matter which chemistry course you apply to initially, your chances of getting in will be the same. i think that rather than 20 places available this is just the number of chemistry students choosing to take the course.

Oh, well thats good. Have you been round Imperial yet? How good are the chemistry facilities?
And finally (I hate to bug you), but how completive is chemistry? Ie, what ratio of students actually get in?

Thanks.

I unfortunately havent been at imperial yet, i was outside of europe last year so i wasnt invited for an interview but im sure their facilities will be awesome (it is one of the richest universities after all and they carry out some of the best chemistry research in the world)

As far as i know chemistry is not especially competitive, about 3 applicants per place. i think if you get the AS grades you expect you will pretty much be guaranteed an offer unless you punch an interviewer or something similar

feel free to ask any more questions, i have absolutely nothing to do until i start the course at the end of september :P

Oh, well that's cheered me up. Did you do any chemistry-related work experience? (And how was chemistry and maths at A-level)

As far as i know chemistry is not especially competitive, about 3 applicants per place. i think if you get the AS grades you expect you will pretty much be guaranteed an offer unless you punch an interviewer or something similar

Hey, sorry - do you know about the statistics for Physics? I imagine they would be similar, but It'd be good to know

Thanks.

None at all :P (i think very few applicants would have)

my exam board for chemistry and maths was edexcel so im not sure if my experience will apply to all exam boards. i found chemistry relatively easy and straight forward but very interesting as well (i suppose these things go hand in hand :P) i dont think i needed to work much harder than i had to at GCSE. However I had friends who had A*s in chemistry at GCSE but then struggled at AS and A2, so this is very subjective. though i think if you enjoy the subject you should be fine.

Maths as well was quite easy in terms of understanding and amount of work. however with maths the grade boundaries are quite high, especially if you aim for an A* so it took quite a lot of practice to make sure i didnt lose more than 3 raw marks in an exam (though this may be different with other exam boards). what makes it even harder is that A*s are only the average of C3 and C4 (and not the third A2 module as well) so the margin for error is quite small. however an A is definitely achievable without too much difficulty if you go through enough past papers.

None at all :P (i think very few applicants would have)

my exam board for chemistry and maths was edexcel so im not sure if my experience will apply to all exam boards. i found chemistry relatively easy and straight forward but very interesting as well (i suppose these things go hand in hand :P) i dont think i needed to work much harder than i had to at GCSE. However I had friends who had A*s in chemistry at GCSE but then struggled at AS and A2, so this is very subjective. though i think if you enjoy the subject you should be fine.

Maths as well was quite easy in terms of understanding and amount of work. however with maths the grade boundaries are quite high, especially if you aim for an A* so it took quite a lot of practice to make sure i didnt lose more than 3 raw marks in an exam (though this may be different with other exam boards). what makes it even harder is that A*s are only the average of C3 and C4 (and not the third A2 module as well) so the margin for error is quite small. however an A is definitely achievable without too much difficulty if you go through enough past papers.

None at all :P (i think very few applicants would have)

my exam board for chemistry and maths was edexcel so im not sure if my experience will apply to all exam boards. i found chemistry relatively easy and straight forward but very interesting as well (i suppose these things go hand in hand :P) i dont think i needed to work much harder than i had to at GCSE. However I had friends who had A*s in chemistry at GCSE but then struggled at AS and A2, so this is very subjective. though i think if you enjoy the subject you should be fine.

Maths as well was quite easy in terms of understanding and amount of work. however with maths the grade boundaries are quite high, especially if you aim for an A* so it took quite a lot of practice to make sure i didnt lose more than 3 raw marks in an exam (though this may be different with other exam boards). what makes it even harder is that A*s are only the average of C3 and C4 (and not the third A2 module as well) so the margin for error is quite small. however an A is definitely achievable without too much difficulty if you go through enough past papers.

None at all :P (i think very few applicants would have)

my exam board for chemistry and maths was edexcel so im not sure if my experience will apply to all exam boards. i found chemistry relatively easy and straight forward but very interesting as well (i suppose these things go hand in hand :P) i dont think i needed to work much harder than i had to at GCSE. However I had friends who had A*s in chemistry at GCSE but then struggled at AS and A2, so this is very subjective. though i think if you enjoy the subject you should be fine.

Maths as well was quite easy in terms of understanding and amount of work. however with maths the grade boundaries are quite high, especially if you aim for an A* so it took quite a lot of practice to make sure i didnt lose more than 3 raw marks in an exam (though this may be different with other exam boards). what makes it even harder is that A*s are only the average of C3 and C4 (and not the third A2 module as well) so the margin for error is quite small. however an A is definitely achievable without too much difficulty if you go through enough past papers.

hi this link has all sort of stats related to imperial

https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/planning/Public/stats_card/Imperial%20Stats%20Guide%2011_12.pdf

the admission for physics is 4.9 applicants per place, chemistry is 4.8 so it is almost the same