Cambridge uni + average IGCSE grades

Original post by bibachu

It’s a common misconception that you need all or majority grades 7-9 to get into Cambridge. Many offer holders do have all grades 7-9 at GCSE, but this is a case of correlation rather than causation. Candidates with higher GCSEs are more likely to perform better in their A levels, admissions tests, interviews, so on. There are no required GCSE grades or hidden requirements for international students. The OP wouldn’t be competing in a pool of international applicants, they would be competing against everyone.

Of course, if 7-9 is the average, it means there'll be plenty with under 7 to balance out the many with over 9.

Also worth pointing out that that data is from 2020 and 2021, COVID years where A levels were cancelled and GCSEs probably played a far bigger role in acceptance than usual.

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by Rhinoo

Of course, if 7-9 is the average, it means there'll be plenty with under 7 to balance out the many with over 9.
Also worth pointing out that that data is from 2020 and 2021, COVID years where A levels were cancelled and GCSEs probably played a far bigger role in acceptance than usual.

thank you so much! all this is making me feel better about my results — thank you everyone for replying! im really happy now :smile:

))

Reply 7

Original post by Anonymous

thank you so much! all this is making me feel better about my results — thank you everyone for replying! im really happy now :smile:

))

These are my GCSE Grades:
9 - Religious Studies, English Language and Literature
8 - Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths
7 - Geography
6 - Biology and Physics (3 marks away from a 7 for both)

And my attainment 8 score (average GCSE grade) is 7.9, so could I still be a worthy candidate for Cambridge University and study medicine?

Reply 8

Original post by Rhinoo

Of course, if 7-9 is the average, it means there'll be plenty with under 7 to balance out the many with over 9.
Also worth pointing out that that data is from 2020 and 2021, COVID years where A levels were cancelled and GCSEs probably played a far bigger role in acceptance than usual.

These are my GCSE Grades:
9 - Religious Studies, English Language and Literature
8 - Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths
7 - Geography
6 - Biology and Physics (3 marks away from a 7 for both)

And my attainment 8 score (average GCSE grade) is 7.9, so could I still be a worthy candidate for Cambridge University and study medicine?

Reply 9

Paralove

21

Original post by A07236

These are my GCSE Grades:
9 - Religious Studies, English Language and Literature
8 - Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths
7 - Geography
6 - Biology and Physics (3 marks away from a 7 for both)
And my attainment 8 score (average GCSE grade) is 7.9, so could I still be a worthy candidate for Cambridge University and study medicine?

You'd be on the lower end for Medicine without top grades in sciences and maths which is the ones they will pay most attention to. But, GCSEs again aren't the only thing and if you're a UK student these will be considered in the context of the school you studied at. If you're on track for the necessary A-Level grades then continue to consider Cambridge.

Reply 10

A Light Lilt

8

Original post by A07236

These are my GCSE Grades:
9 - Religious Studies, English Language and Literature
8 - Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths
7 - Geography
6 - Biology and Physics (3 marks away from a 7 for both)
And my attainment 8 score (average GCSE grade) is 7.9, so could I still be a worthy candidate for Cambridge University and study medicine?

To be blunt there is a chance you are rejected pre-interview with these GCSEs given how competitive applications are and how high the average grades of applicants (not offer holders) are, and given the fact that not everyone will get an interview.

To continue being blunt these GCSEs are also below the automatic rejection line for a few other medical schools, at least historically.

I don't like telling you this but i think it would be worse for me to lie to you and say these grades are fine and you can make up for it elsewhere when the fact is that pre-A-Level results, there is so little else to go on for pre-interview assessment and there simply isnt enough time/money to interview everyone.

If you have a very serious ambition to study medicine at Cambridge then I think you will either have to apply post-results with achieved A*A*A* or whatever, or look at doing research/postgrad after doing an undergraduate degree somewhere else.

My first concern would be getting A*AA at A-Level though because with a 6 in biology at GCSE, you will have to improve if you want an A at A-Level. So, I would worry about this in a year's time and not right now. Right now you need to focus on working hard in year 12 so you can get A*AA+ predicted and also actually be on track to achieve it. Once you actually get good A-Levels, things can fall into place. Maybe that means reapplying - but thats no disaster. Maybe it means doing biomedical sciences and then postgrad medicine - but thats no disaster either. The road ahead is long but focus on the next immediate obstacle.

Reply 11

Original post by Paralove

You'd be on the lower end for Medicine without top grades in sciences and maths which is the ones they will pay most attention to. But, GCSEs again aren't the only thing and if you're a UK student these will be considered in the context of the school you studied at. If you're on track for the necessary A-Level grades then continue to consider Cambridge.

Hi there, I actually just did some research, and I found that the average Cambridge University applicant has "4 or 5 grade 7-9s at GCSE" and that the subjects needed to study medicine are Chemistry and two of these subjects: Maths, Further Maths, Biology and Physics
And I achieved 7/9 Grade 7-9s, and got 8s in Chemistry, Maths and Further Maths
P.S. could I also be considered for Imperial College London

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 12

I think your research is way off there. The average accepted Cambridge candidate is going to have way more than 4/5 grades 7-9 (A or A* in the old money) at GCSE.

Medicine applicants are very likely to have all 9s in Maths/Sciences at least. I know GCSEs aren't the defining factor for admission, but unless there's some heavy context or you have all A*s predicted at A level (which will supersede the GCSEs) then you'll struggle to get an interview with those grades, unfortunately. Same with Imperial which is, if anything, even more competitive than Cambridge.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 13

Just to follow up on the research point. If you go here, you can see the average number of GCSE A* and A by Cambridge applicant and acceptance in every subject:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/average_gcse_grades_of_applicant/response/1994993/attach/3/FOI%202022%20116%20Bowman%20data.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

Sorry to disappoint, but for Medicine it's:

2020 Applicants A* 7.63, A 1.57
2020 Offers A* 9.35, A 0.80

2021 Applicants A* 7.65, A 1.45
2021 Offers A* 9.69, A 0.60

Reply 14

BugsBunny1940

12

Original post by Rhinoo

I think your research is way off there. The average accepted Cambridge candidate is going to have way more than 4/5 grades 7-9 (A or A* in the old money) at GCSE.
Medicine applicants are very likely to have all 9s in Maths/Sciences at least. I know GCSEs aren't the defining factor for admission, but unless there's some heavy context or you have all A*s predicted at A level (which will supersede the GCSEs) then you'll struggle to get an interview with those grades, unfortunately. Same with Imperial which is, if anything, even more competitive than Cambridge.

If you don't believe me, take a look at this:

Reply 15

I have no idea what that source is. Try the actual stats, from a Freedom of Information request to Cambridge University. There is *no* course where the "average" applicant has "4 or 5 GCSEs at 7-9" (A* or A in the old money). Even the lowest course (Education) has over 7 GCSEs at those grades. Medicine's standard is considerably higher.

Average GCSE A* of A*

Medicine 2020 Applicants
A* 7.63, A 1.57

Medicine 2020 Acceptances
A* 9.35, A 0.80

Medicine 2021 Appllicants
A* 7,65, A 1.45

Medicine 2021 Acceptances
A* 9.69, A 0.60

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/average_gcse_grades_of_applicant/response/1994993/attach/3/FOI%202022%20116%20Bowman%20data.pdf

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 16

Original post by Rhinoo

I have no idea what that source is. Try the actual stats, from a Freedom of Information request to Cambridge University. There is *no* course where the "average" applicant has "4 or 5 GCSEs at 7-9" (A* or A in the old money). Even the lowest course (Education) has over 7 GCSEs at those grades. Medicine's standard is considerably higher.
Average GCSE A* of A*
Medicine 2020 Applicants
A* 7.63, A 1.57
Medicine 2020 Acceptances
A* 9.35, A 0.80
Medicine 2021 Appllicants
A* 7,65, A 1.45
Medicine 2021 Acceptances
A* 9.69, A 0.60
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/average_gcse_grades_of_applicant/response/1994993/attach/3/FOI%202022%20116%20Bowman%20data.pdf

Yes, and I asked my school about my average GCSE grade across all my subjects, and they said it was 7.9

Reply 17

BugsBunny1940

12

Original post by A07236

Yes, and I asked my school about my average GCSE grade across all my subjects, and they said it was 7.9

Just please try not to get your hopes, too high

Reply 18

Original post by A07236

Yes, and I asked my school about my average GCSE grade across all my subjects, and they said it was 7.9

I think you might be misunderstanding here. Your school says your average grade was 7.9 and you have 6 GCSEs at 8 or 9. The average medical student at Cambridge got 9.5 GCSEs at top grade, which was A* then so could be at 8 or 9, but let's face it, their average score will be very close to 9. And with 10/10 GCSEs at A*/A.

(Also, if your GCSEs were 999888766, your average is 7.77. I'm not trying to pick on you here, but be avare that this particular course at this particular university has a very high threshold)

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 19