The Student Room Group
Original post by Ssseenxyzz
I'm a year 11 student with okay gcse grades but I have a strong ambition to go to a top uni like Warwick or UCL. Do you guys think I have a chance with these grades if i do really well at a-levels?
English Language - 6
English Literature - 7
History - 7
Religious Studies - 6
Maths - 5
Combined Science - 5-5
French - 3

What specific degrees do you intend to study?
Hi there. If you were to get at least A's in your A levels, you should be fine. The main subjects that unis are concerned with are English and Maths, and you have strong passes in both of those subjects. You shouldn't worry too much. Just try hard in achieving good grades at A level. However, I must admit it all depends on what subject you want to study at Uni. For example, if you wanted to learn Science related degrees, you may have a more challenging time getting in as your science grades are between a B + C. I didn't want to mention this because it may allow you to become complacent. Still, the majority of the time, you'll be okay, even if you don't get the best grades at A level, because fewer and fewer people are going to Uni. You could honestly be able to study your course at any Uni if you apply through Clearing. (Only that you may not get to go to the Uni you want to).
Reply 3
Original post by MindMax2000
What specific degrees do you intend to study?

I was thinking maybe politics or history or law
Reply 4
Original post by Lawal2501
Hi there. If you were to get at least A's in your A levels, you should be fine. The main subjects that unis are concerned with are English and Maths, and you have strong passes in both of those subjects. You shouldn't worry too much. Just try hard in achieving good grades at A level. However, I must admit it all depends on what subject you want to study at Uni. For example, if you wanted to learn Science related degrees, you may have a more challenging time getting in as your science grades are between a B + C. I didn't want to mention this because it may allow you to become complacent. Still, the majority of the time, you'll be okay, even if you don't get the best grades at A level, because fewer and fewer people are going to Uni. You could honestly be able to study your course at any Uni if you apply through Clearing. (Only that you may not get to go to the Uni you want to).

Well for my degree I think I’d go into something essay based since that’s my strong point. I feel like I’ll do really well with a levels since I’m doing subjects that I enjoy unlike gcses where I’m forced to do subjects I’m not naturally as good at. Thanks for the help :smile:
Original post by Ssseenxyzz
I'm a year 11 student with okay gcse grades but I have a strong ambition to go to a top uni like Warwick or UCL. Do you guys think I have a chance with these grades if i do really well at a-levels?
English Language - 6
English Literature - 7
History - 7
Religious Studies - 6
Maths - 5
Combined Science - 5-5
French - 3

ur grades for the strong subject are good but I think maths and English language should be at least 6s for a top unis as well as passing all your gcse with all at least 5 including French to get that E BAC which will increase your chance for top uni. u kinda not do a less gcse which is less stressful than me. I;m doing 9.
here's my gcse predicted grades and
English language physics geography 4 should all be 6s but my teachers hate me.
English literature 6
chemistry biology 6
maths 7
computer science 7
spanish 8
well my teachers have been really ruthless considering these are my predicted grades from SEPTEMBER 2020 and still haven't changed. mine now would of been at least all predicted grade 6.
Original post by Ssseenxyzz
I was thinking maybe politics or history or law

These are the entry requirements for UCL:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/law-llb
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/political-science/study/undergraduate/politics-and-international-relations-bsc
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/political-science/study/undergraduate/philosophy-politics-and-economics-bsc
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/history-ba
With the exemption of law and PPE, your current GCSE grades should be OK, provided you get really high A Level grades (the lowest would be AAA for the above degrees, but A*AA required for PPE and law). Note you don't have to do history to do the history degree at UCL.

Requirements for Warwick:
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/historyba/
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/law/
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/politics/
The above degrees require AAA, with history requiring you do history at A Level. The maths requirement is 4 for law, but you meet the minimum requirement for English Language at 6 for all the degrees. See the following page for Band C degrees/subjects:
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/english-language-requirements

Should you wish to do either law or PPE at UCL, you would need to redo your maths GCSE and get it to at least a level 6. Since you have passed your GCSE, I doubt the school or college will allow you to redo it, but you should ask to check. Failing that, you can try to do the GCSE at a local adult college or online. You will need to pay for the GCSE yourself though.

You should check the other universities you wish to apply to for similar requirements.

Just to note, I don't think you need to do a law degree to get into law considering the changes to the SQE if you want to be a solicitor, but you might want to check on that. Also note that you don't need to do law at A Level to get into law at degree level. This applies to politics as well.
Original post by Ssseenxyzz
Well for my degree I think I’d go into something essay based since that’s my strong point. I feel like I’ll do really well with a levels since I’m doing subjects that I enjoy unlike gcses where I’m forced to do subjects I’m not naturally as good at. Thanks for the help :smile:

Np. I assumed you already completed your exams. You still have time to improve on your grades. Predicted grades honestly mean nothing. I was predicted 4's in English and C's in RE, Russian and Business Studies, and I achieved 7's in English and A's in rest. You'll be fine. Don't fret too much; focus on doing your best now in your upcoming exams and continue to do so in your A levels.
Reply 8
Original post by MindMax2000
These are the entry requirements for UCL:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/law-llb
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/political-science/study/undergraduate/politics-and-international-relations-bsc
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/political-science/study/undergraduate/philosophy-politics-and-economics-bsc
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/history-ba
With the exemption of law and PPE, your current GCSE grades should be OK, provided you get really high A Level grades (the lowest would be AAA for the above degrees, but A*AA required for PPE and law). Note you don't have to do history to do the history degree at UCL.

Requirements for Warwick:
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/historyba/
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/law/
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/politics/
The above degrees require AAA, with history requiring you do history at A Level. The maths requirement is 4 for law, but you meet the minimum requirement for English Language at 6 for all the degrees. See the following page for Band C degrees/subjects:
https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/english-language-requirements

Should you wish to do either law or PPE at UCL, you would need to redo your maths GCSE and get it to at least a level 6. Since you have passed your GCSE, I doubt the school or college will allow you to redo it, but you should ask to check. Failing that, you can try to do the GCSE at a local adult college or online. You will need to pay for the GCSE yourself though.

You should check the other universities you wish to apply to for similar requirements.

Just to note, I don't think you need to do a law degree to get into law considering the changes to the SQE if you want to be a solicitor, but you might want to check on that. Also note that you don't need to do law at A Level to get into law at degree level. This applies to politics as well.

Woah thanks for all the links and stuff. I still have time to improve my maths grade and try get it up to a 6 but idk how it’ll work since exams are cancelled but yh. Yhhh I think I might do politics or history at a top uni and then do a law conversion since I don’t think there’s a lot of careers available with those degrees. Thanks.
Reply 9
Original post by Lawal2501
Np. I assumed you already completed your exams. You still have time to improve on your grades. Predicted grades honestly mean nothing. I was predicted 4's in English and C's in RE, Russian and Business Studies, and I achieved 7's in English and A's in rest. You'll be fine. Don't fret too much; focus on doing your best now in your upcoming exams and continue to do so in your A levels.

I think it’s gonna be a lot harder to improve my grade since exams are cancelled and our grade is going to be evidence based and most of my evidence for maths and science is around the lower grades but then again it hasn’t got much to do w my a levels or degree.
search up gcse maths tutor on youtube because he can gurantee a 7 and above for gcse maths if you work through the topics you're struggling on in his playlists.
Original post by Ssseenxyzz
I'm a year 11 student with okay gcse grades but I have a strong ambition to go to a top uni like Warwick or UCL. Do you guys think I have a chance with these grades if i do really well at a-levels?
English Language - 6
English Literature - 7
History - 7
Religious Studies - 6
Maths - 5
Combined Science - 5-5
French - 3

If you meet the minimum quoted GCSE threshold online you have a shot, university & course dependant GCSEs tend to not be a big focus once you meet the minimum standard.

The bigger issue will be the jump to A-levels and performing their. I mean you've got 5s, 6s & 7s. To study at elite universities programs you need As & A*s at A-level and most people getting those grades likely have a heavier distribution of 8s & 9s at GCSE.
Reply 12
Original post by e1alop123
search up gcse maths tutor on youtube because he can gurantee a 7 and above for gcse maths if you work through the topics you're struggling on in his playlists.

Thanks rn I just use mathsgenie and mathswatch. I’ll check them out
Reply 13
Original post by Ssseenxyzz
I'm a year 11 student with okay gcse grades but I have a strong ambition to go to a top uni like Warwick or UCL. Do you guys think I have a chance with these grades if i do really well at a-levels?
English Language - 6
English Literature - 7
History - 7
Religious Studies - 6
Maths - 5
Combined Science - 5-5
French - 3


I'll be honest, most of the top universities I have done research about only accept students with gcse grades of 6 - 7's & above, but my advice is to try and get the best grades you can and you should be in a pretty comfortable position if you get 6's. Hope this helps :smile:
I think it is rather important to make sure every subject that is related to your key interest such as history and English. Because these can be the only proof for academic performance if anything go wrong for AS level. For example I now study earth science so i put the most attention into geography, physics, maths and biology

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