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Are my GCSES good enough for GCSEs heavy unis?

I got all 9s in my GCSE except in English Literature in which I got an A (I took Cambridge exam board for English Lit and Lang). Would this impact my chance of getting into unis that place a heavy emphasis on GCSEs? In total, I have nine 9s and one A.

Thanks.
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Original post by jaychi
I got all 9s in my GCSE except in English Literature in which I got an A (I took Cambridge exam board for English Lit and Lang). Would this impact my chance of getting into unis that place a heavy emphasis on GCSEs? In total, I have nine 9s and one A.
Thanks.

It would impact your application positively as those are strong results.
It's always hard to say a couple of years ahead whether something will be the case, as application policies change.

But generally speaking you have strong GCSEs, and if you do well in your UCAT you should have a good range of choice.

Don't worry about it now, focus on your A levels and in thinking about work experience, both medical and public facing, both of these take time to arrange and undertake.
(edited 3 months ago)
Reply 4
Original post by sound-famous-
It would impact your application positively as those are strong results.

Thanks!
Reply 5
Original post by George&Mary
It's always hard to say a couple of years ahead whether something will be the case, as application policies change.
But generally speaking you have strong GCSEs, and if you do well in your UCAT you should have a good range of choice.
Don't worry about it now, focus on your A levels and in thinking about work experience, both medical and public facing, both of these take time to arrange and undertake.

Thanks for your response. When you say 'public facing' - are you talking about work experience that uses communication skills?
Original post by jaychi
Thanks for your response. When you say 'public facing' - are you talking about work experience that uses communication skills?

Yes. Any job that allows you to work with the public. So will help communications skills, Teamwork etc. Anything that will help you reflect on working with members of the public, when it goes well and when it doesn't.

Ideally you could also gain some experience in a caring environment, but I know that work in a care home is hard to get when under 18, but some volunteering options exist too.

Look up the RCGP reflective diary. The first bit about applications is out of date but the rest is useful so you can build your own reflection diary. And look for medical work experience.
Reply 7
Original post by George&Mary
Yes. Any job that allows you to work with the public. So will help communications skills, Teamwork etc. Anything that will help you reflect on working with members of the public, when it goes well and when it doesn't.
Ideally you could also gain some experience in a caring environment, but I know that work in a care home is hard to get when under 18, but some volunteering options exist too.
Look up the RCGP reflective diary. The first bit about applications is out of date but the rest is useful so you can build your own reflection diary. And look for medical work experience.

Hey!
Also, do the GCSE heavy universities look at all your GCSES? (I saw on a website some consider 8,9,10 etc.)
Original post by jaychi
Hey!
Also, do the GCSE heavy universities look at all your GCSES? (I saw on a website some consider 8,9,10 etc.)

Admissions policies vary and you would have to check closer to the time.

For example, some of the ways in which they use them might be ;-

only look at certain subjects,

look at top 8, or top 6 or top x number,

score them all and expect you to meet a threshold,

Score 9s and 8s differently, or the same.

use GCSEs in a matrix with UCAT scores,

look at the number of 9s you have as a percentage of them all

look at the number of high grades and total gcse score in comparison to others taking GCSEs in your school that year

Look at your GCSEs in the context of how well your school performs overall.

A mixture of all of the above

So it's a) really hard to be specific and b) subject to change year on year.
(edited 3 months ago)
Reply 9
Original post by George&Mary
Admissions policies vary and you would have to check closer to the time.
For example, some of the ways in which they use them might be ;-

only look at certain subjects,

look at top 8, or top 6 or top x number,

score them all and expect you to meet a threshold,

Score 9s and 8s differently, or the same.

use GCSEs in a matrix with UCAT scores,

look at the number of 9s you have as a percentage of them all

look at the number of high grades and total gcse score in comparison to others taking GCSEs in your school that year

Look at your GCSEs in the context of how well your school performs overall.

A mixture of all of the above

So it's a) really hard to be specific and b) subject to change year on year.

Thanks for the detailed answer! I really appreciate it.
Reply 10
Original post by jaychi
I got all 9s in my GCSE except in English Literature in which I got an A (I took Cambridge exam board for English Lit and Lang). Would this impact my chance of getting into unis that place a heavy emphasis on GCSEs? In total, I have nine 9s and one A.
Thanks.

They are good enough

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