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Did anyone get into cambridge economics without A Level economics ??

username20359

hi,

I just wanted to know if people do get into Cambridge for Economics without having the A Level, but say have Maths/F.maths. I'm in this sort of a position but am very passionate about economics, and could probably read the course over. If you did, or know someone who did, how was the interview? How are you finding the Cambridge course? How often (or rare) an occurrence is it that someone gets in without a level?

Thanks in advance, any helpful comments appreciated;

:smile:

Reply 1

toto8462

9

I guess im qualified to answer your question as i didnt do Eco.

I start at Johns in October so cant tell you much about how im finding the course. I didnt do further maths or eco. The interview was surprisingly easy (which made me worry immensely!) It was just some very simple theory about what causes a shifts in a demand curve e.g. changes in consumer taste, income, price changes of complement or substitutes etc. That was it!

I dont know how rare it is, but i know of at least one other on TSR who got in without Eco.

All you need is a reason why you didnt do eco. In my case, it was because my school doesnt offer eco and the nearest school that does is about 20 miles away.

I dont really know if its easy or hard to get in without eco, but for what its worth, i didnt get ripped to pieces in the subject interview.

Reply 2

toto8462

9

I cant comment of the rigor of the A level itself, but in my general interview i was asked why i didnt take Eco and was asked to explain why i wanted to take it at degree level with no formal experience of the subject. I think you have to be that little bit clearer in your reasoning for wanting to take the degree without having the A level. You should be fine though, so go for it...

Reply 3

N9ne

7

Basically, as long as you have a genuine passion for the subject, there shouldn't be a problem. That is essentially what they're looking for (as well as potential/ability) in the interview.

Reply 4

username20359

OP

thanks for the replies :smile:

any further comments appreciated

Reply 5

Ditting Suck

8

From an outsider's point of view, I would have guessed that they'd prefer someone to have done, for example, Maths, Further Maths and History, i.e. three very relevant subjects that are considered more academically rigorous (rightly or wrongly) than Economics. Clearly I was wrong, but I certainly don't think it will be a problem. I would do some research so you can talk specifically about Economics and 'show your passion' though :wink:

Reply 6

The Next Biggish Thing

It was for me.
As long as you've read some books on economics and know the basics of the course you should be able to give a good performance in the interview. I think I actually heard an economics don say that the main thing they'd ask was why you didn't do economics and that if you had an explanation it was OK.

Reply 7

$Avatar for sTe\/o$

sTe\/o

16

I didn't do either of these at A-level, but my brother needed to choose between them. The school were quite clear that History > Economics > Business Studies in terms of academic rigour. That's not to say Economics is not respected (unlike Business Studies).

Reply 8

lucho22

13

Economics A-Level isn't in the least bit rigorous - History isn't 'rigorous' but the exam technique is far more tricky - and the level of analysis is more advanced and in-depth.

Reply 9

Ditting Suck

8

lucho22

Economics A-Level isn't in the least bit rigorous - History isn't 'rigorous' but the exam technique is far more tricky - and the level of analysis is more advanced and in-depth.

your mum's rigorous.

i apologise for that.

Did anyone get into cambridge economics without A Level economics ??

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