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exceptional GCSEs

hamsterman

What sort of grades are considered very very good for Oxbridge.

10A*+ ?

Reply 1

sugar_cane

14

Surely they'd be considered very good anywhere?

Reply 2

parkerpen

I think even that wouldn't be hugely exceptional, although it would be towards the upper range of results.

Also remember that bad GCSEs and very good a-levels are a far better combination than excellent gcses and poor alevels (without extenuating circumstances obviously) 10A*s and ABB is less likely to get you an offer than A*AAABBBBB at GCSE and AAAA at a-level

Reply 3

Drarren

1

Surely 10+ A*s is even pretty good for Oxbridge?

Reply 4

ExRx123

17

Drarren

Surely 10+ A*s is even pretty good for Oxbridge?

The average number of A*s for Oxbridge is 6 I believe.

10 A*s isn't exceptional though, I know so many people who have that amount of A*s, I'd say if you have around 12+ A*s you'd be getting into the exceptional range.

As parkerpen mentioned though, there is a lot more weight on your A Levels, quite a lot of people don't really work hard for their GCSE's and kind of get on track when they start their AS Levels.

Reply 5

D-503

1

Cambridge defines 7 A* and over 90% in each of 3 AS-Level subjects as an "exceptional" academic record, and those who have such grades get automatically pooled if they do not receive an offer after interview. However, this is usually a formality as I believe most successfully pooled applicants are those who may or may not have this record and have performed well at interview.

Reply 6

calcium878

18

Is there much difference between 10 and, say, 13 A*s - the latter candidate having been at a school which simply offers more GCSEs.

Reply 7

Chewwy

17

calcium878

Is there much difference between 10 and, say, 13 A*s - the latter candidate having been at a school which simply offers more GCSEs.

^^

no GCSE grades are exceptional really. however, some GCSE grades can be bad.

i.e. an interviewer may say "oh look, crap GCSEs, this guy's rubbish", but i doubt they ever say "wow, look at those GCSEs. gotta have this guy"

Reply 8

epitome

11

Is there much difference between 10 and, say, 13 A*s - the latter candidate having been at a school which simply offers more GCSEs.

Interesting question. My instinct would be to say that there is a fair degree of difference, because if they're full GCSEs (not these ridiculous "half" things) then there is a fairly large volume of work for each subject, for someone of that age.
But the Universities are aware that some schools actually don't allow students to do more than, say, 9; whereas others actively encourage or permit 12+.

Reply 9

Mathemagician. Funny?

You have to remember exceptional GCSEs and exceptional AS and A-levels do not gurantee you an offer.

Reply 10

FadeToBlackout

15

Pechorin

Cambridge defines 7 A* and over 90% in each of 3 AS-Level subjects as an "exceptional" academic record, and those who have such grades get automatically pooled if they do not receive an offer after interview. However, this is usually a formality as I believe most successfully pooled applicants are those who may or may not have this record and have performed well at interview.

I wish you'd told me that when I was applying (aaaages ago, though!) because it would have taken a LOT of the stress off! :p:

Reply 11

hobnob

14

FadeToBlackout

I wish you'd told me that when I was applying (aaaages ago, though!) because it would have taken a LOT of the stress off! :p:

You mean you wouldn't have bothered with that What's the Time, Mr Wolf-retake then? :wink:

Reply 12

D-503

1

FadeToBlackout

I wish you'd told me that when I was applying (aaaages ago, though!) because it would have taken a LOT of the stress off! :p:

Lol that's all that got me through the period. I'm soooo cool :p:

Regulations make me smile.

Reply 13

thursday

In one of my interviews, the tutor asked me questions about my GCSEs and commented on them (9A* 3A) and seemed to say that these were a major factor in considering my application. I know someone who used to work with the Oxford access scheme and she told me that GCSEs are considered to be the best indication of how you'll do at A Level, not AS marks. Does anyone know if this is true? Besides, I didn't put my AS results on my application form, so GCSEs are the only thing they have to look at and I would say they're pretty important, but it varies. For example, I know a boy with an offer for Law at Oxford with about 2 A* and 8 As, and I know a girl with 11 A* and an A who was rejected for medicine at Cambridge. I think GCSEs must play a part in getting you to interview, but once you get that far its all down to the interview then.

I heard once that 6A* will automatically put you in the pool in Cambridge, does anyone know if this is true at all?

Reply 14

Piggy

1

All my teachers seemed to think that exceptional GCSEs meant that you'll get in, so when I got rejected from Cambridge for medicine they were really shocked. I guess I just want people to realise that don't be complacent if you have outstanding GCSEs - they're looking for a lot more (obviously it doesn't hurt though!) I got 12A*s.

Reply 15

kizer

15

epitome

Interesting question. My instinct would be to say that there is a fair degree of difference, because if they're full GCSEs (not these ridiculous "half" things) then there is a fairly large volume of work for each subject, for someone of that age.
But the Universities are aware that some schools actually don't allow students to do more than, say, 9; whereas others actively encourage or permit 12+.

I would say there is almost no difference, as school policy will generally be the difference between 10* and 13*. It's unlikely that someone with 10A* is just at breaking point and likely to crack with any more GCSEs - on the contrary, they have proved that they can easily cope with many subjects at that level, so you would expect them to get A*s in at least a few more subjects before the strain bit.

In answer to the original question, to get exceptional GCSEs you have to have gone to a school that is at best average nationally. From such a school, 8A* or better is really exceptional and would impress. From good to top schools though, 10A* would be good but not exceptional. Context is crucial.

Reply 16

thomasjtl

9

I had 6a*, 4as and a b in art. My interviewer commented that i'd let myself down with the b. Could've smacked him one.

Reply 17

parkerpen

thursday

In one of my interviews, the tutor asked me questions about my GCSEs and commented on them (9A* 3A) and seemed to say that these were a major factor in considering my application. I know someone who used to work with the Oxford access scheme and she told me that GCSEs are considered to be the best indication of how you'll do at A Level, not AS marks. Does anyone know if this is true? Besides, I didn't put my AS results on my application form, so GCSEs are the only thing they have to look at and I would say they're pretty important, but it varies. For example, I know a boy with an offer for Law at Oxford with about 2 A* and 8 As, and I know a girl with 11 A* and an A who was rejected for medicine at Cambridge. I think GCSEs must play a part in getting you to interview, but once you get that far its all down to the interview then.

I heard once that 6A* will automatically put you in the pool in Cambridge, does anyone know if this is true at all?

Some research a few years ago indicated that GCSEs were a better indicator of success at university than A-levels. I can't remember much more than this except also apparently there is a better correlation between final degree mark at cambridge based on the relationship between final grade and GCSEs rather than UMS scores