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Applying for Mathematics to Oxbridge
Hello all,
Just wanted to ask what kind of grades at AS level would be needed for a solid offer from Oxbridge for Mathematics?
Also, do the uni's look at the particular marks of your modules. If so do you know what kind of UMS average is needed for modules?
Furthermore, would you recommend any particular preparation for applying for Oxbridge or any of the top Mathematics Universities?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
(N.B. my AS-Levels are Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Physics & Computing)
Just wanted to ask what kind of grades at AS level would be needed for a solid offer from Oxbridge for Mathematics?
Also, do the uni's look at the particular marks of your modules. If so do you know what kind of UMS average is needed for modules?
Furthermore, would you recommend any particular preparation for applying for Oxbridge or any of the top Mathematics Universities?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
(N.B. my AS-Levels are Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Physics & Computing)
Scroll to see replies
JimboBlue
Hello all,
Just wanted to ask what kind of grades at AS level would be needed for a solid offer from Oxbridge for Mathematics?
Also, do the uni's look at the particular marks of your modules. If so do you know what kind of UMS average is needed for modules?
Furthermore, would you recommend any particular preparation for applying for Oxbridge or any of the top Mathematics Universities?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
(N.B. my AS-Levels are Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Physics & Computing)
Just wanted to ask what kind of grades at AS level would be needed for a solid offer from Oxbridge for Mathematics?
Also, do the uni's look at the particular marks of your modules. If so do you know what kind of UMS average is needed for modules?
Furthermore, would you recommend any particular preparation for applying for Oxbridge or any of the top Mathematics Universities?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
(N.B. my AS-Levels are Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Physics & Computing)
Unless you've got particularly bad ASs then I wouldn't worry - Cambridge interview almost everyone and Oxford interview 95%. What will get you into Oxbridge though will be the overall picture they get from the performance on UCAS form (both), admissions test (Oxford), STEP (Cambridge), interviews (both) final A-level grades (both). But almost everyone would have A grades in Maths and Further Maths. An Oxford offer would be AAA - Cambridge's something along the line of AAB and 1,2 or 1,1, in STEP.
Cambridge (not just for maths) ask for module marks - Oxford currently don't. But Cambridge don't have a magic figure which your UMS marks all or in part need to better.
There's not a lot I'd be worrying about in year 12 in the way of prep - are you going to either/both open days? If you get an offer from Cambridge then STEP preparation will be an important part of your year 13.
Cambridge definitely request your UMS scores, and good ones help, but are by no means essential.
You will want to have As in all, or almost all, your AS subjects, and definitely be predicted As at A2.
As preparation, you will simply want to stretch yourself in maths, since I doubt there's much reading around you could do.
Ask your teachers for extra problems, have a look at some STEP papers to see what is expcted beyond A2. Mathmos can probably give you more specific advice.
Finally, I would suggest that you drop computing or economics at AS, since you'll want to focus on doing well in maths, and leave yourself time to prepare for STEP.
Hope this helps
You will want to have As in all, or almost all, your AS subjects, and definitely be predicted As at A2.
As preparation, you will simply want to stretch yourself in maths, since I doubt there's much reading around you could do.
Ask your teachers for extra problems, have a look at some STEP papers to see what is expcted beyond A2. Mathmos can probably give you more specific advice.
Finally, I would suggest that you drop computing or economics at AS, since you'll want to focus on doing well in maths, and leave yourself time to prepare for STEP.
Hope this helps
JimboBlue
Just wanted to ask what kind of grades at AS level would be needed for a solid offer from Oxbridge for Mathematics?
Not sure what you mean by this... You're not going to get an offer based on your AS grades. And I'm not sure what a "solid offer" is.
Anyway, see sig.
-mb-
Finally, I would suggest that you drop computing or economics at AS, since you'll want to focus on doing well in maths, and leave yourself time to prepare for STEP.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
Yeh, im gonna drop comuting. We had to take 5 AS-levels bcos the skl felt that takin f.maths & maths with 2 otha subjects wud b a disadvantage.
RichE
are you going to either/both open days?
No, i haven't as yet but i think i'll try to if possible as soon as.
Anyways thanks for the replies, e-unit, -mb- & RichE, i'll take your info on board. I'll be grateful if you've got any otha advice.
I'd say stick with all 5 ASs this year. If you're good enough to be planing to be applying to oxbridge for maths, then F maths and maths AS level should be no problem along with three other ASs.
For A2, I'd say drop Computing. You'll then be doing the same subjects as I am this year, which can't be a bad thing.
For A2, I'd say drop Computing. You'll then be doing the same subjects as I am this year, which can't be a bad thing.
YYYY
I'd say stick with all 5 ASs this year. If you're good enough to be planing to be applying to oxbridge for maths, then F maths and maths AS level should be no problem along with three other ASs.
For A2, I'd say drop Computing. You'll then be doing the same subjects as I am this year, which can't be a bad thing.
For A2, I'd say drop Computing. You'll then be doing the same subjects as I am this year, which can't be a bad thing.
Yeh, that what i meant in my previous comment, that im doing 5 AS's & i'll b dropping computing after doin that AS nd continue with f.maths, maths, eco, nd phys nxt yr.
And just out of interest 'YYYY' wot did u apply for (degree-wise)?
YYYY applied for maths...makes sense don't it? 
JimboBlue
Yeh, that what i meant in my previous comment, that im doing 5 AS's & i'll b dropping computing after doin that AS nd continue with f.maths, maths, eco, nd phys nxt yr.
And just out of interest 'YYYY' wot did u apply for (degree-wise)?
And just out of interest 'YYYY' wot did u apply for (degree-wise)?
'tsall in the sig.
or as in KAISER MOLE's post.
http://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad/admissionsinfo/readinglist/text/text.html is a link to the Cambridge reccomendations.
I personally liked 'Fermat's Last Theorem' and 'The Code Book' both by Simon Singh. Really well explained and interesting.
I personally liked 'Fermat's Last Theorem' and 'The Code Book' both by Simon Singh. Really well explained and interesting.
Godel Escher Bach is quite good if you can be bothered get through all his crazy psychology theories and occasional tedious computer stuff, and I think its a fairly impressive book to put on your statement. This book inspired the whole "angle" of my personal statement to talk about proof, and they certainly picked up on it at interview (Here's a piece of advice, only put a book that you've read, not one that you intend to read or have started and intend to finish on your personal statement). The music of the primes is apparently recommended, and its good for giving a bit of background on the general history of maths, but its actaul maths content is pretty small.
In general though, I'd say a lot of maths applicants will have read books like Simon Singh's, and although this is fine and there's nothing wrong with them, if you want to stand out a bit then I'd think about looking for less mainstream ones like G,E,B.
In general though, I'd say a lot of maths applicants will have read books like Simon Singh's, and although this is fine and there's nothing wrong with them, if you want to stand out a bit then I'd think about looking for less mainstream ones like G,E,B.
G,E,B is a bigun though, I stopped as soon as I saw 50 dense pages of biological nonsense (about page 500?) , some interesting bits in there, and in parts very well written, but a lot of stuff which I didn't really need to know.
I'm starting to read a random book on Degree level algebra that I found, on congruence classes at the moment, the layout of the mathematics is quite different, head tends to ache in places.
I'm starting to read a random book on Degree level algebra that I found, on congruence classes at the moment, the layout of the mathematics is quite different, head tends to ache in places.
i thought GEB was a pretty mainstream book. I finished it about a month ago, and it's really changed the way i think. I didn't think it would be impressive enough to put on the PS though. Currently i'm reading A Mathematician's Apology, which is really really... romantic.
anyway, i suppose it is my place to be asking questions in this thread. I have somehow ended up being entered to resit C1 this summer. I got 95 first time... should i resit? or will the university think i'm a horrible person who just resits everything? if i just don't turn up to the exam, will it show up that i was ever entered for it?
anyway, i suppose it is my place to be asking questions in this thread. I have somehow ended up being entered to resit C1 this summer. I got 95 first time... should i resit? or will the university think i'm a horrible person who just resits everything? if i just don't turn up to the exam, will it show up that i was ever entered for it?
Any opinions on the following books,
•
Ian Stewart From Here to Infinity. (OUP, 1996)
•
P.J. Davis & R. Hersh The Mathematical Experience. (Penguin, 1990)
•
D. Wells The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers.(Penguin, 1997)
•
N. Hall (ed.) The New Scientist Guide to Chaos. (Penguin, 1991)
•
H. Lauwerier Fractals. Images of Chaos. (Penguin, 1991)
chewwy
anyway, i suppose it is my place to be asking questions in this thread. I have somehow ended up being entered to resit C1 this summer. I got 95 first time... should i resit? or will the university think i'm a horrible person who just resits everything? if i just don't turn up to the exam, will it show up that i was ever entered for it?
I can understand why you mite wanna re-take C1 (to go for the full 100UMS) but it mite b betta to jus tell ur examinations organiser (so that there's no probs with not turning up) that u'd like to withdraw because u mite as well focus on your other modules and work hard for them insted of spending time on even preparing a bit for C1. And plus 95 isn't bad man, lol. But it's up to u?
I liked the Mathematical Experience, not a huge amount of maths in it, but some nice bits, very readable.
And that would be something to ask school/exam officers about....it is not really worth the bother resitting at 95 UMS
And that would be something to ask school/exam officers about....it is not really worth the bother resitting at 95 UMS
JimboBlue
Any opinions on the following books,
•
Ian Stewart From Here to Infinity. (OUP, 1996)
•
P.J. Davis & R. Hersh The Mathematical Experience. (Penguin, 1990)
•
D. Wells The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers.(Penguin, 1997)
•
N. Hall (ed.) The New Scientist Guide to Chaos. (Penguin, 1991)
•
H. Lauwerier Fractals. Images of Chaos. (Penguin, 1991)
I actually bought From Here to Infinity in Year 12 but could not understand it and did not read much of it.
I found "The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers" in my local library and it was quite interesting. I've not really read any of the others.
David Acheson's "From Calculus to Chaos" would be a good one too (at the start of each course he lectures on, he seems to advertise that and "1089 and all that".
JimboBlue
Any opinions on the following books,
•
Ian Stewart From Here to Infinity. (OUP, 1996)
•
P.J. Davis & R. Hersh The Mathematical Experience. (Penguin, 1990)
•
D. Wells The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers.(Penguin, 1997)
•
N. Hall (ed.) The New Scientist Guide to Chaos. (Penguin, 1991)
•
H. Lauwerier Fractals. Images of Chaos. (Penguin, 1991)
from here to infinity is an important read to give you some idea as to what is going on in maths at the moment, however you won't understand it. i felt as if i was just reading words, deriving no meaning from the vast majority of them.
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