Do Oxford see module grades?

No-one I know did any work for General Studies, that isn't an excuse. If you're capable of getting into Oxford you're probably capable of getting more than 5% (and it was just an off-day before or something), no matter how little work you do, so just do it.

Reply 121

angelmxxx

14

Well you don't have to put your module scores on your ucas form. But also, they really won't mind I wouldn't think, general studies is pretty irrelevant really.

Reply 122

Bethan-AtTheDisco

i've had an offer from oxford & some of my AS grades last year were appalling.. a, b, c, d.
so, if your grades are expected to be good, i really wouldn't worry about general studies, seeing as they don't count it anyway !

:biggrin:

Dont bother

Oxford really, really, wont care. They don't mind about students resitting subjects that count (god knows I needed to...), let alone subjects like general studies.

Reply 125

Izzen

7

Don't re-sit and don't declare it. Waste of time / space.

Reply 126

passthelemon

Successful applicants to Oxford (to PPE in particular), did you do ANY resits at all? The reason I'm worried is that I majorly screwed up my S1 exam this January, having taken it earlier than most people as I'm doing further maths (awful decision on my part) and only just got a C. UMS mark 61/100...

I have 2 options, and a number of dilemmas as well as contradictory advice. I could either resit the exam this summer, which I have already applied to do, and ensure that I get around full marks (perhaps to compensate for the fact that I had to retake it?), OR let it lie as an ugly mark on my academic records... and not have to 'declare' the resit.

Having spoken to the head of 6th form/oxbridge applications at my school, she very firmly advised me to retake the module, on the grounds that there would be no way of 'hiding' the fact that I got a C in one of the maths modules anyway, so it would be better to give the university the impression that I had tried to make amends by retaking the exam with flying colours. She also assured me that it would not ruin my chances of at least getting an interview from Oxford as my GCSE results (12 A*s, 1 A) would be taken into consideration, even more so than AS results (surely I misheard that?!?).

The Oxford website does not mention resits, and states that module results are not compulsory to reveal... but would it be incredibly fishy if I were to choose not to include them? Did you include them?

Recently a representative of Claire College from Cambridge visited our school and did a talk to the Oxbridge group. I wasn't around for the meeting but what I gathered from a friend was that resitting exams was a ,and I quote,: 'no'.

Also, I'd always generally 'heard' that universities cared much more about AS results than predicted grades, seeing as the AS is actually set in stone whereas predicted are subject to change. Aren't predicted grades fundamentally based on your AS results anyway?

I suppose it really just boils down to the lesser of two evils: a resit (with great results) or no resits (and a bad module score - but an achieveable 90% minimum for the overall A level).

Additionally I got 91/100 for C1 and 90/100 for Unit 1 of economics. Not fantastic I know, but regardless of whether I'm to resit my S1 or not I know I'll pretty much have to get around full marks for the rest of my maths and economics modules to compensate for my January 'blip'.

Can anybody help? Cheers.

Reply 127

Draconis

2

Oxford don't even see module marks.. :confused:

Reply 128

JayAyy

14

You got 91/100 in C1 and 90/100 in economics and it's not fantastic? :rolleyes:

Just resit further maths.

Reply 129

yesioo

15

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=847480

:smile:

Reply 130

inksplodge

17

Just resit. You might not even get into Oxford anyway (PPE is ridiculously competitive, so I hear) so just resit and be done with it.

Reply 131

Cirsium

19

1. Cambridge have asked for details of module results and resits for a long time on the CAF. Oxford haven't. So I wouldn't take the Cambridge advice 100% literally

2. I don't know how good you generally are at Maths, but we're not talking a low A, we're talking a C. If that had ever happened to me I wouldn't even think about not resitting that, because I wouldn't want to jeopardise my overall grade. Your chances of getting in for PPE aren't that high anyway (because they're really low for everyone - not a judgement on you personally) so even if Oxford were gonna go NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RESIT :eek:

*bin*, which I don't think they would bearing in mind how much other stuff they have to judge you on, do you really want to risk your overall Maths grade - which every OTHER university will still care about as well as Oxford, for the sake of not doing a resit?

I would say just sit the thing and make sure you do well.

Reply 132

TomLeigh

2

Bekaboo

1. Cambridge have asked for details of module results and resits for a long time on the CAF. Oxford haven't. So I wouldn't take the Cambridge advice 100% literally

2. I don't know how good you generally are at Maths, but we're not talking a low A, we're talking a C. If that had ever happened to me I wouldn't even think about not resitting that, because I wouldn't want to jeopardise my overall grade. Your chances of getting in for PPE aren't that high anyway (because they're really low for everyone - not a judgement on you personally) so even if Oxford were gonna go NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RESIT :eek:

*bin*, which I don't think they would bearing in mind how much other stuff they have to judge you on, do you really want to risk your overall Maths grade - which every OTHER university will still care about as well as Oxford, for the sake of not doing a resit?

I would say just sit the thing and make sure you do well.

This is the best advice so far. Remember you're going to be up against others with 12 A*s and so the chances of entry aren't going to be high even for the most excellent candidates. Based on that, you NEED to consider your other options and how your choices are going to affect the entry to those institutions. Oxford will of course PREFER no resits, but they understand that no candidate is perfect, and they're not looking for someone who scores 100% in every module every time, as exams aren't always the best indicator of ability, hence their reasoning for requiring multiple interviews as well as an overview of your academia. The best thing is to resit, get a very high A (which a 90/91% IS by the way) and be done with it. If you truly are what they're looking for, they most definitely wouldn't turn you down on the basis that you got a C in a subject that isn't even directly related to the subject you wish to read.

Reply 133

passthelemon

Thanks for the help, everyone :smile:

Reply 134

yesiambored

1

Tbh you don't deserve to get a place at Oxford if you can't get an A in General Studies!

Surely if you were applying to do Physics you would get 100% on the Science Maths and Technology paper.

Noone I knew revised or did any work for GS and most of us got near 100% UMS.

Reply 135

daniLL

yesiambored

Tbh you don't deserve to get a place at Oxford if you can't get an A in General Studies!

Surely if you were applying to do Physics you would get 100% on the Science Maths and Technology paper.

Noone I knew revised or did any work for GS and most of us got near 100% UMS.

Whilst this may be true- success in gen studies depends on the Alevels/ GCSEs you did- unless you bother revision
for example my friend (who has an offer from oxford) got a C in the science maths paper- having get an A in GCSE and taken english and languages at A level- she just hadn't done ratios and stuff for a year

and honstly- i don't think oxford- or most good unis for that matter care at all about it- the fact that no one revises makes it pointless

Reply 136

yesiambored

1

Yep fair point!!
Still I don't really see how you can fail General Studies, but then again different people find different things challenging!!!

Reply 137

Nimbus

12

hey guys, may I ask, if you do want to declare your UMS marks for Oxford, how do you actually do that? xD

@yesiambored:
I didn't do general studies but some can do badly sometimes because of the vague-ness of questions and style might be unfamiliar to some people? Sometimes what people write are right but not accepted by the mark scheme. there are endless possibilities.

Reply 138

mizzbusby2510

i'm sure there is a pretty broad mark scheme for gs.
i got 95/100 on sci & society, and 70/100 on culture & society.. the only "revision" i did was to read through 2 past papers & their mark schemes, whilst shamelessly flirting with a guy i'd just met by text! :blush: