Having 1 'low' GCSE for applying to Oxford
If I were to say get:
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
Reply 1
Original post by Alireza2060
If I were to say get:
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
Since you said ‘If I were to get’, there is no point worrying about it now. This is a discussion to have when you have your GCSE results.
Reply 2
2
Original post by BankaiGintoki
Since you said ‘If I were to get’, there is no point worrying about it now. This is a discussion to have when you have your GCSE results.
True and I do very much agree however my issue is that my teacher is placing me in the Foundation tier for French and despite trying to convince them they seemed not to budge so the most I can reach with that is a 5
Reply 3
Original post by Alireza2060
True and I do very much agree however my issue is that my teacher is placing me in the Foundation tier for French and despite trying to convince them they seemed not to budge so the most I can reach with that is a 5
Reply 4
2
Original post by Felynalanine
Make sure you get put on higher tier. Be more insistent.
Would I be at a significant disadvantage if I'm still taken to foundation? Most people in my school do 10 GCSEs and I do an extra one being another language (not MFL) so I assumed it would in a sense make up for it if all else goes wrong
Reply 5
Original post by Alireza2060
Would I be at a significant disadvantage if I'm still taken to foundation? Most people in my school do 10 GCSEs and I do an extra one being another language (not MFL) so I assumed it would in a sense make up for it if all else goes wrong
If it is causing that much angst, and if its additional, you may as well drop French now if they won't let you do higher tier.
Reply 6
If a hypothetical Physics tutor at a hypothetical Oxford college were to be looking at the hypothetical application of a hypothetical student who has a hypothetical nine GCSEs at grade nine, and one hypothetical GCSE at grade five in French, and who has otherwise (hypothetically) presented a strong application, that hypothetical tutor might well (hypothetically) say "this hypothetical student had a hypothetical bad day at the office, but let's still interview him/her".
TL/DR? The presence of one five amidst a sea of nines would not be a hypothetical deal breaker.
The hypothetical French tutor at the very same hypothetical Oxford college might say (en manière hypothétique) "Vous plaisantez, n'est-ce pas ? Aller se faire cuire un œuf!"; but you would not be applying to study French, so who cares what that hypothetical croissant-botherer thinks?
But, as suggested above, why not bin French if you are not making progress? Or (no joke) go and live in deep rural France for a month - the best way to learn any language is by speaking it. Better still, go and live in North or West Africa for a month. African people in "La Francophonie" speak clearer and more grammatically correct French than many Parisians do.
I add to what a previous poster said (and this is a lesson for all of life) - worry about problems when they become real, or imminently real. Don't worry about problems that have not yet materialised, and might never materialise.
Bonne chance, et vive le sport!
Mademoiselle S Byng MA (Oxon), Avocate au Barreau de Londres.
TL/DR? The presence of one five amidst a sea of nines would not be a hypothetical deal breaker.
The hypothetical French tutor at the very same hypothetical Oxford college might say (en manière hypothétique) "Vous plaisantez, n'est-ce pas ? Aller se faire cuire un œuf!"; but you would not be applying to study French, so who cares what that hypothetical croissant-botherer thinks?
But, as suggested above, why not bin French if you are not making progress? Or (no joke) go and live in deep rural France for a month - the best way to learn any language is by speaking it. Better still, go and live in North or West Africa for a month. African people in "La Francophonie" speak clearer and more grammatically correct French than many Parisians do.
I add to what a previous poster said (and this is a lesson for all of life) - worry about problems when they become real, or imminently real. Don't worry about problems that have not yet materialised, and might never materialise.
Bonne chance, et vive le sport!
Mademoiselle S Byng MA (Oxon), Avocate au Barreau de Londres.
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 7
Original post by Alireza2060
If I were to say get:
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
Can't you enter for Higher tier as a Private Candidate at another school or Sixth Form College?
Or perhaps even retake it next year?Reply 8
2
Original post by thegeek888
Can't you enter for Higher tier as a Private Candidate at another school or Sixth Form College? Or perhaps even retake it next year?
Or perhaps even retake it next year?I don't know, from what others have told me here it just seems too much effort in trying further as it's not like it'd significantly impact a future Oxford application of mine; besides I'm also doing an additional language which can kind of replace the impact of French.
Reply 9
It’ll make 0 difference. Forget about it. 👍
Reply 10
In your position I’d drop French if they won’t move you to a higher tier. You have enough other GCSEs so you don’t need it. If you are capped at a 5 it won’t make a positive difference to an application and it may make a negative one - not having it at all means not having that risk.
Reply 11
Original post by thegeek888
Can't you enter for Higher tier as a Private Candidate at another school or Sixth Form College? Or perhaps even retake it next year?
Or perhaps even retake it next year?No, you can't do that.
Reply 12
Oxford's policy towards GCSE's is explained here:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications
Relevant bit (emphasis mine)
"GCSEs will be taken into account when we consider your application but they are just one aspect that we look at. GCSE results will be considered alongside your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades and performance in any written work or written test required for your course.
If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account.
Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context."
So hypothetically if our thread starter achieved 99999999995, we could say that they had a high proportion of grades 7-9 and are likely to be fairly considered.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications
Relevant bit (emphasis mine)
"GCSEs will be taken into account when we consider your application but they are just one aspect that we look at. GCSE results will be considered alongside your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades and performance in any written work or written test required for your course.
If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account.
Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context."
So hypothetically if our thread starter achieved 99999999995, we could say that they had a high proportion of grades 7-9 and are likely to be fairly considered.
Reply 13
17
They look at your GCSEs relative to the rest of your year group, but you can’t really get much higher than those grades. Maybe if you wanted to study French it would be an issue but you’re fine. Those grades are remarkable.
Reply 14
16
Original post by Alireza2060
If I were to say get:
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
I'd drop it if I were you. Most applicants will only have 9 or 10 GCSE, so having 11 will add nothing, and although having one 5 will almost certainly make little/no difference to your application, it will be annoying having to explain it to people.
Reply 15
Original post by Alireza2060
If I were to say get:
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
I wouldn't worry, Oxford look at number of A*s (8/9s) not particularly your GCSEs as a whole. Your grades are excellent, try not to stress.
Reply 16
Original post by Alireza2060
If I were to say get:
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
99999999995
Would I be disadvantaged when applying to Oxford if despite getting 10 grade 9s I get 1 grade 5 in GCSE French?
It's probably worth noting that 1 of those 9s would be a foreign language just simply not an MFL one and I intend to do physics in particular at Oxford
Depends on the course, for physics I gather it's a non-factor. As I understand things like physics, maths, CS, materials science and similar tend to not focus so much on GCSEs at Oxford.
It would possibly be more of a factor for e.g. medicine or E&M or something.
(edited 1 year ago)
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- LSE/Oxford PPE rejection
- Oxford - should I bother?
- Medicine at Oxford with low GCSES?
- Can i get into Cambridge with low gsces ?
- UCL Economics with four A*
- Where and how likely am I to get into medicine?
- GCSE grades for Oxford PPE
- Gcse grade too low to study at a Russel Group / Oxbridge
- Oxford medicine
- Lowest predicted grades for Oxford
- Gcse results were disappointing
- How do I decide which medical schools to apply to?
- pls helpp mee for Cambridge med
- URGENT - PPE/Econ+Politics at OXFORD/LSE/Warwick/KCL/EXTER chances
- HELP! I don't know what med schools to pick!
- On GCSE results in relation to getting into Oxford/Cambridge
- how much do oxford and cambridge consider GCSEs?
- Oxford or Cambridge Medicine for me
- Oxford medicine
- bad gcses oxford?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 1 week ago
Astrophoria Oxford Foundation Year 2025(Official Thread)University of Oxford
68
1014
Last reply 2 weeks ago
Is it possible to Reapply to Oxford after being rejected?