Can i get into Cambridge with low gsces ?

Ive had quite severe extenuating circumstances
and believe my gsces dont reflect my ability should i rule out applying to cambridge

Reply 1

Picnicl

17

Cambridge are known for regarding GCSES as less important than Oxford and than some other top universities too. However Cambridge make up for this by requiring slightly higher A-Level grades than Oxford for most courses. If your GCSE grades are truly low, you generally stand a better chance of getting in Cambridge than in Oxford, if the course is the same.

Reply 2

Anonymous #2

They are called GCSEs, it might help to know the name of the qualification you have... but no cambridge do not care about your GCSEs if you are strong enough at A level

Reply 3

Anonymous #3

cambridge applicant here - they actually do place significant value on GCSEs when considering interviews - in my feedback letter they said i got my interview due to my very strong gcses and personal statement. however they are not the deciding factor and if you have very good extenuating circumstances which you explain to them then it shouldn't be a problem

Reply 4

gscestudies222

2

Original post

by Anonymous

cambridge applicant here - they actually do place significant value on GCSEs when considering interviews - in my feedback letter they said i got my interview due to my very strong gcses and personal statement. however they are not the deciding factor and if you have very good extenuating circumstances which you explain to them then it shouldn't be a problem

What were your gsce results

Reply 5

plausiblethis

Original post

by Picnicl

Cambridge are known for regarding GCSES as less important than Oxford and than some other top universities too. However Cambridge make up for this by requiring slightly higher A-Level grades than Oxford for most courses. If your GCSE grades are truly low, you generally stand a better chance of getting in Cambridge than in Oxford, if the course is the same.

Yes, I'm sure this has happened before, but it's probably very rare for Oxford. Cambridge usually doesn't care much about your GCSE grades and considers your A levels, personal statement, and admissions test to be far more valuable than some exams you had to take two years ago. Simply have fair GCSE grades but outstanding A level results, and you'll be fine dinosaur game. Oxford is a bit trickier. They place a high value on GCSEs and will most likely reject you if you do not have a significant number of A*s (8/9). This does not necessarily imply that you will be rejected if you do not have many A*s, but it will put you at a distinct disadvantage. Grades 5-7 are unlikely to be sufficient for admission to Oxford. Overall, if you get 5-7 at GCSE, I'd recommend applying to Cambridge rather than Oxford. If you have 5-7s at GCSEs, you are much more likely to receive an offer from Cambridge than from Oxford.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 6

Anonymous #4

Original post

by Anonymous

Ive had quite severe extenuating circumstances
and believe my gsces dont reflect my ability should i rule out applying to cambridge

depends what you mean by 'low'. If you count mostly 7s and a couple 8s as low then you still have a good chance provided with all A* at a levels. If count mostly 5s and a couple of 6s as low then probably no chance sorry. Cambridge and Oxford are the most prestigous unis in the world - dont underestimate their standards.

Reply 7

Anonymous #5

Do I have a chance to get into engineering in Oxford or Cambridge as I have 9888766665 in gcse and if I get 4 a* in a level will I get in?

Reply 8

Anonymous #6

Original post

by Anonymous

depends what you mean by 'low'. If you count mostly 7s and a couple 8s as low then you still have a good chance provided with all A* at a levels. If count mostly 5s and a couple of 6s as low then probably no chance sorry. Cambridge and Oxford are the most prestigous unis in the world - dont underestimate their standards.

And yet there has been cases where people have gotten 4’s at GCSE and ended up at Oxford. It’s not impossible

Reply 9

Anonymous #7

GCSE results shouldn’t be overstated when applying to either Oxford or Cambridge. While Oxford does consider GCSEs more closely, they are still only one part of a holistic admissions process that prioritises admissions tests, interviews, and A-level performance. Applicants without a large number of 8s and 9s are not automatically rejected, and strong academic potential shown later can outweigh earlier exam results. Cambridge, on the other hand, also values GCSEs and does not ignore them entirely. Ultimately, students with GCSEs in the 5–7 range shouldn’t rule out Oxford, nor assume Cambridge is guaranteed; success depends far more on subject suitability, test scores, interview performance, and predicted A-level grades than GCSEs alone.

Reply 10

zabettyyy

9

yh i got an interview w 888877666

Can i get into Cambridge with low gsces ?

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