Oxford Law GCSE Grades

OP

Original post by thegeek888

Which A-Level subjects are you choosing to study this September 2024 in Sixth Form or College? 😧

College as my current private school is an hour from my house and my county has shut down all sixith forms. Ancient history, philosophy, english literature, law and advance skills (its compulsory in wales)

Reply 5

OP

Original post by Username123ab

Oxford considers 8s and 9s to be of equal weight and their only GCSE requirement is that they're looking for candidates with mostly 8s and 9s so your GCSEs are fine

Oh wow! Thank you I did not know that

Reply 6

OP

Original post by tm485

Hi there. Your grades look good, but I must say that university entry is more about A Levels than GCSE’s. The requirements for Oxford Law are AAA and I would encourage you to take up extracurriculars or a summer school before you apply. Oxbridge like well rounded candidates with good, consistent grades who also engage with things outside of study. That said, I know people who got 4 A*s, were head girl etc, and were rejected. Oftentimes, Oxford rejects people because they know that their uni isn’t best suited to the candidate. Work out which universities suit you best and apply to those as well.

Thank you for the advice

Reply 7

Oxford colleges offer places based on the assessment of academic potential, and the likelihood that a candidate can do well in the tutorial system.

The workload at Oxford is high, but not so high that students cannot relax and have fun.

There is no prejudice against private school students. The supposed prejudice is a myth spread by the media and by disgruntled applicants and their parents. Private school students still obtain approximately 30% of the places at Oxford, despite being a much smaller percentage of school students across the UK.

Oxford colleges are not interested in a candidate's extra-curricular activities, but may be interested in super-curricular activities. They are interested in commitment to the subject, and signs of reading and thinking around and beyond the courses taken at sixth form. Success in music or sports, being Head Girl/Boy, and all that sort of thing, are of no relevance to the Oxford admission process. That is not to say that such things are not worth doing in their own right.

A successful candidate will have good predicted or actual grades in A levels or the IB, a good personal statement, a glowing reference from a teacher, will do well in any subject-specific aptitude test, and will perform well under pressure at interviews. GCSE grades are of lesser importance, but good grades do no harm.

For humanities subjects, social sciences, and life sciences, there is no need to take four A levels unless you really want to. A level law is frankly a bit of a waste of time.

Please do not obsess about choice of college. There are no bad colleges at Oxford. Most people who go to Oxford end up loving or at least liking the college they go to, and many develop lifelong affection for their college. A successful applicant may be offered a place at a college other than the college applied to in maybe 25% of cases.

Oxford does not work for everyone, Some people don't like it and drop out. Some finish the degree but can't wait to leave and never go back. The dreaming spires can make dreams come true, but not in every case.

Oxford does not always give you a golden ticket to a perfect postgraduate life, but the education, more than the name, can enhance your chances of finding a job that makes you happy, regardless of how well or badly the job pays.

Good luck!

Miss S Byng MA (Oxon), barrister.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 8

PS: You might like to check out the Oxford Demystified threads curated by the wonderful @Oxford Mum, if you haven't done so already.

PPS: I am naturally biased towards Oxford, but Cambridge is fab too. Don't rule it out too soon.

PPPS: Lots of good candidates don't get in because the places available are limited and the competition is tough. The UK has many very good universities apart from Oxford and Cambridge, so don't be downhearted if you try but don't get in. Most people good enough to have a go at Oxbridge end up studying somewhere good.

Reply 9

OP

Original post by Stiffy Byng

PS: You might like to check out the Oxford Demystified threads curated by the wonderful @Oxford Mum, if you haven't done so already.
PPS: I am naturally biased towards Oxford, but Cambridge is fab too. Don't rule it out too soon.
PPPS: Lots of good candidates don't get in because the places available are limited and the competition is tough. The UK has many very good universities apart from Oxford and Cambridge, so don't be downhearted if you try but don't get in. Most people good enough to have a go at Oxbridge end up studying somewhere good.

Thank you so much for your replies they have both been very informative!

Reply 10

Original post by Gracegarden

Thank you so much for your replies they have both been very informative!

You are very welcome and I wish you all the best. Read, read, read!

Reply 11

thegeek888

18

Original post by Gracegarden

College as my current private school is an hour from my house and my county has shut down all sixith forms. Ancient history, philosophy, english literature, law and advance skills (its compulsory in wales)

English Literature, Ancient History and Philosophy should be sufficient and A-Level Law is very different to degree level Law. Perhaps do Politics or Sociology or even Psychology or Economics instead of Law? 🙂

Reply 12

Or just do three A levels. There is no advantage to be gained by taking a fourth A level, if applying to study law.

Reply 13

Ieva strolyte

7

Original post by Username123ab

Oxford considers 8s and 9s to be of equal weight and their only GCSE requirement is that they're looking for candidates with mostly 8s and 9s so your GCSEs are fine

Oh no. Do you think 9,8,8,7,7,7,7,6 is good for Oxford or oxbridge overall. With 4 A*. I’m so worried about my gcse results because I only started revising 3 days prior to the start of GCSEs and I know I wasted my academic potential due to laziness. But going hard on a levels So hopefully.

Reply 14

Original post by Ieva strolyte

Oh no. Do you think 9,8,8,7,7,7,7,6 is good for Oxford or oxbridge overall. With 4 A*. I’m so worried about my gcse results because I only started revising 3 days prior to the start of GCSEs and I know I wasted my academic potential due to laziness. But going hard on a levels So hopefully.

"GCSEs
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."

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications

Reply 15

Ieva strolyte

7

Original post by Stiffy Byng

"GCSEs
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."
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications

I know but I’m so worried about my maths grade that I got a 6 in. I feel like my grades aren’t the typical successful applicants because most if not all have 9-8 grades.

Reply 16