Ask an Admissions Tutor III - 3 March -18 April

I will be applying from Australia, so since we don't do any public examinations (except one for mediating final results) will I be asked for my grade transcripts for each term?

Thank you in advance

Thank you very much

I shall ask any further questions when I have them!

Thank you for your reply. She is very focused and I believe she would spend the time gained by dropping her fourth subject on extra reading etc. However, I am still not clear if she would put herself at a disadvantage compared to those taking 4 A2s. Obviously, doing 4 A2s and still getting good grades would demonstrate an ability to cope with a heavy workload whilst working at the highest level.

Hello,

I was wondering how this advice changes for a medical applicant. Does taking a fourth subject to A2 give you an advantage even if the fourth is a non-science subject? I am currently taking biology, chemistry, maths and geography and am unsure whether to drop geography next year. Also, if I dropped geography I might be able to take As French. Would this be viewed in the same way, as regards to coping with a heavy workload or would I just be best to take three and have the extra time for supracuricular such as reading?

Thanks a lot for your time.


Posted from TSR Mobile

Having FM is not a condition for any option in Part IA of Natural Sciences with the partial except of the Physics option for which you need either FM A Level or Physics A Level. You are also strongly recommended to have FM A Level if you choose the Maths B option.

Overall, I would say that the majority of successful NSP applicants do have FM A Level or AS Level. At Christ's I would say the proportion is around 2/3 to 3/4 with FM and I would expect that to be reflected at most colleges.

In general, my advice if you are considering NSP is that if you want to do mainly Chemistry modules then not have FM is not going to be a problem, it is something that we would notice if you do not have it and you want to do mainly Physics options. If you do want to do Physics, then I would encourage you, as much for course preparation as admission, to undertake at least FM AS Level if you can.

Hi there, you need to choose a particular pathway at admissions but we will not hold you to that on entry. Providing you have the required A Levels or equiavlent any of the options are open to you for Part IA whether you have described yourself at admissions at being NSB or NSP. The purpose of the Natural Sciences is to allow students that flexibility and every college has at least one or two people every year who are admitted as NSP and switch to mostly doing NSB and vice versa.

What difference it will make is at interview. If you choose NSP you will be interviewed usually by physicists and chemists who will test you on physical chemistry. If you apply for NSB you will be interviewed on biology and usually the more biological side of chemistry, though the chemistry content in a NSB or an NSP interview need not be very different. It's up to you, once you have your AS results, to think about which form of interview will suit you best. Closer to application, ask the college/s you are interested in about how best you might be classified if you are still unsure and they will help you.

I understand that some medicial schools are quite keen on a 'contrasting' fourth A Level. At Cambridge it doesn't do you any harm but it doesn't do you any good either as it isn't counted in the calcaulation of the Science UMS average that helps to determine your position on the Subject Moderation Spreadhseet that compares all applicants across the the university in each subject and ranks them if they are taking A Levels.

What will matter for Cambridge in your case in terms of your A Level performance is your Biology, Chemistry and Maths, beyond that we are agnositic but you have to consider the attitude of other universities other than us.

Thank you so much for your very thorough and useful response!

I do have a further question though. How would I be able to convey to Cambridge that I intend to focus on Chemistry (which you say would not require FM) and therefore ensure that admissions understand that not taking FM would not be problematic?


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Dear admissions tutor,
I am wondering if my grades (as detailed below) are too low for it to be worth applying to cambridge. Also which courses would suit my subject combination better than others? I am interested in architecture, design, and also engineering subjects, but do say if my subjects would fit well with something else.

I achieved an IB score of 41/45 in November 2013, after retaking physics, maths and the core elements.

This breaks down as:
HL English 6
HL physics 7
HL visual arts 6

SL Maths 6
SL Psychology 6
SL Spanish ab initio 7

TOK A
Extended essay B
Core 3

(Originally in May 2013 I achieved 31/45 with a 4 in SL maths, a 4 in HL physics and 0 in core)

At GCSE level I achieved 5 A*'s, 2 A's and a B

I hope I don't sound silly writing this, I would really appreciate your opinion,
Many thanks
Brooke

Hello,

I wish to apply to Cambridge (providing I do well in the summer) for History, but my AS levels are completely split between science and humanities. I take History, Philosophy, Chemistry and Physics, and I plan to drop Chemistry next year.

Does this combination hinder my application?

Thanks for your time,
Bonnie.

Hello again,

Thanks for your help. When you say science UMS, do you mean the UMS of all your As science subjects added together?

Thanks again


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Would 6A*s, 4As and 3Bs at GCSE be enough to apply with?