Cambridge with a 6

Hi, im in yr11 right now and amwanting to go to cambridge. I have got predicted 9s in 10 gcses (one being a BTEC in IT and one being further maths) but a 6/7 in art. I am planning to engineering and I was wondering if having a lower grade in a design subject like art would impact my chances for an offer (espscailly since lots of other candidates will have all 9s).

I am planning to do maths, further maths, physics and computer science in A-Level if that helps

Reply 1

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, im in yr11 right now and amwanting to go to cambridge. I have got predicted 9s in 10 gcses (one being a BTEC in IT and one being further maths) but a 6/7 in art. I am planning to engineering and I was wondering if having a lower grade in a design subject like art would impact my chances for an offer (espscailly since lots of other candidates will have all 9s).
I am planning to do maths, further maths, physics and computer science in A-Level if that helps

Nope, no difference at all.

Reply 2

Dipsta8

Thanks for replying! And would you say that I would have a competitve gcse portfolio for cambridge if I meet all my predictions?

Reply 3

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Dipsta8

Thanks for replying! And would you say that I would have a competitve gcse portfolio for cambridge if I meet all my predictions?

There's no such thing as a competitive profile with just GCSEs. it your A levels that count. Take appropriate A levels, not BTECs, and get As/A*s and you stand a chance of being interviewed.

Reply 4

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

I do Maths at Cambridge and I have a 6 at GCSE and two 5s (in English Language, Drama and RS, respectively); probably won't make a difference

Reply 5

Dipsta8

Original post by threeportdrift

There's no such thing as a competitive profile with just GCSEs. it your A levels that count. Take appropriate A levels, not BTECs, and get As/A*s and you stand a chance of being interviewed.

Thanks, would A-Level Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and computer sciecne be good a level or do i have to take a design subject?

Reply 6

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Dipsta8

Thanks, would A-Level Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and computer sciecne be good a level or do i have to take a design subject?

I think that's a pretty conventional subject convo for Engineering. You can probably Google to find the common subject combinations. There is some research that shows people who take an essay subject, at least to AS level, do better at degree level, so you might consider English or History rather than CompSci - only a small consideration though.

Reply 7

Anonymous #2

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, im in yr11 right now and amwanting to go to cambridge. I have got predicted 9s in 10 gcses (one being a BTEC in IT and one being further maths) but a 6/7 in art. I am planning to engineering and I was wondering if having a lower grade in a design subject like art would impact my chances for an offer (espscailly since lots of other candidates will have all 9s).
I am planning to do maths, further maths, physics and computer science in A-Level if that helps

Please tell me this is a wind up. You are heading for 10x 9s and 1x 6, and you are worried if this will impact you chances of getting in?

Reply 8

Dipsta8

Original post by Anonymous

Please tell me this is a wind up. You are heading for 10x 9s and 1x 6, and you are worried if this will impact you chances of getting in?

sorry if i came off that way, I recently moved to the UK and am still getting used to the school system and university admissions as its different from where i used to live.

Reply 9

JustBenjamin

Original post by Dipsta8

Thanks, would A-Level Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and computer sciecne be good a level or do i have to take a design subject?

That’s a perfectly good subject combination, not sure what do you mean by design subject, but in general as long as you do maths further mathematics and physics and a 4th subject you should be fine, and computer science is engineering related to some extend as well.

Reply 10

Dipsta8

Thanks again for the help!

Reply 11

anonymousakhi

Original post by melancollege

I do Maths at Cambridge and I have a 6 at GCSE and two 5s (in English Language, Drama and RS, respectively); probably won't make a difference

No way! How is this possible

Reply 12

JustBenjamin

Original post by anonymousakhi

No way! How is this possible

GCSEs are not at all the be all end all for Cambridge, they care more about more recent performance, especially if its a subject with admissions or pre interview tests. Though a good GCSE performance is a better indicator, you can still get in if you can show you have improved and now perform well.

Reply 13

anonymousakhi

Original post by JustBenjamin

Yh but i wanna do law and it is so competitive

Reply 14

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by anonymousakhi

No way! How is this possible

It's not that I got a 6 and two 5s at GCSE and nothing else. I overall got 999999888655 and an A in FSMQ at a not particularly high-performing school.

I also had much better grades at A-Level, did well at my subject and the interview, and had lots of relevant supercurriculars.

At the end of the day, it really is how good you are at your subject that makes the difference.

Reply 15

anonymousakhi

Original post by melancollege

It's not that I got a 6 and two 5s at GCSE and nothing else. I overall got 999999888655 and an A in FSMQ at a not particularly high-performing school.
I also had much better grades at A-Level, did well at my subject and the interview, and had lots of relevant supercurriculars.
At the end of the day, it really is how good you are at your subject that makes the difference.