If you used Clearing in 2024, how did you find it?

I just learned that my IB predicted grade is 39/45.

I just learned my IB predicted is 39/45.

I’m still going to apply to Oxford (and other UK unis) for Physics with this round of grades, because I’m no longer fixated on studying in the UK. Regardless, could you guys give me your honest opinion on my chance of getting in? My core got really screwed over, and I won’t go into it because that won’t change anything, but I do admit I could’ve done things better too. Anyway, the rest of my portfolio is as below:

IB predicted breakdown is:

Math AA HL: 6
Physics HL: 7
Chemistry HL: 7
Psychology SL: 7
Spanish B SL: 6
English SL: 6
TOK: C
EE: D (in PHYSICS by the way)

My other problem is GCSEs apparently matter quite a bit but I was going through a lot at the time I was taking them so they're as follows: (Edexcel Board):
Maths Higher Early Entry - 9
Further Maths - 9
Science (Double Award) - 99
English Lang - 9
English Lit - 9
Global Citizenship - 9
ICT - 8
Spanish - 7
Drama - 6😭

I took a practice PAT when I was 14 and scored 90%, and intend on taking another one soon. My PAT is really strong.

I've participated in numerous maths competitions as below:
SASMO - Securing 22nd and 27th Globally, both Gold medals, and getting a full Scholarship to participate in the exclusive SIMOC where I got 2nd nationally and 17th globally.
UKMT - Gold in SMC while in Y11, Gold in IMC that took me to the next round, Maclaurin Olympiad (so top 600), Gold in SMC again in Y12
ICAS - I have various distinctions in Maths, Science and English, but they're all from like Grade 3 to 6 so they probably don't really matter

International Junior Honours Society - Inducted for free due to my achievements

I was the youngest speaker at World Speech Day at one of the years (I'll stay anonymous).
I've hosted the 20th Anniversary of the Annual Convention for an international speaker's organisation as a 17-year-old Emcee (I'll stay anonymous here too).
Hosted a book launch for a book about ADHD and creative thinking

I have a Physics website called 'PhysicsSim' but it’s still kinda being developed
I may also create a YouTube channel about Physics but is there any real point this late?
I have a powerful Personal Statement.
I think I have very positive letters of reference, and also very well-written ones
I founded a maths club at my school and intend on founding a physics one too
I ALMOST had the chance to work with the Professor Rajdeep Rawat Singh, but unfortunately, it fell through at the last second because he had IPhO stuff to tend to. I’m reaching back out to him now as well as other professors to see if I can work on a research project.
I also co-authored an unpublished mathematical paper on Treesums.
I’ve read a lot of physics books and watched stuff?? But I’m assuming that doesn’t matter
I can do stuff like online courses from Coursera for example but again I don’t know how much those matter

Additionally, how much do they care about cognitive things?
In the humblest way possible, because I know that IQ tests are BS and don't test 'intelligence' besides one weird, rigid measure of it, but I tested an IQ of 140+, and this was an actual clinical assessment because I was also being tested for ADHD, Anxiety, OCD, and dysgraphia. I tested very mildly for OCD, but I have dysgraphia, attenational difficulties, and severe anxiety (a score of 15 would've been significant, I tested at 57😭).
Also, when taking my CAT4 tests at the start of Sixth Form, in each of the 4 sections I tested at the maximum possible 141/141, so I, along with most people in my life, am quite disappointed with my current portfolio.
I’m also only getting my access arrangements starting now which is quite annoying because that could’ve helped me a lot.

Anyway, can you give me an honest opinion on my chances? (I’ll try to get my EE grade changed without directly asking for it, because it really should be higher)

Reply 1

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Firstly just quoting Oxford's standard physics offer as I couldn't see that you'd included it:

"39 (including core points) with 766 at HL (the 7 should be in either Physics or Mathematics)"

Caveat to everything I'm about to say; I've worked in admissions for years, but not at Oxbridge. So take this with a pinch of salt.

Academic-wise, you're going to be at notable disadvantage to the majority of applicants. Ultimately, beyond getting the EE bumped, there is nothing you can do about this before the application deadline. It's inherently going to be risky, (and it's Oxford, I'd have told you it was risky it you were predicted 45 overall), but the only way to give yourself no chance at all is to not apply. If you have options in your home country, then really all you are potentially wasting is a nominal application fee and some time putting an app together.

That said, you've got some interesting x-curriculars / super curriculars. The stuff I've put in bold in the spoiler section below is what I would focus on in your personal statement, again, noting that I have never seen Oxford's scoring criteria. You don't need to address all of these, and it is way better to go into detail about fewer examples than just list things. Basically you are demonstrating critical thinking about the subject at hand. "I read 20 books" is meaningless, "I recently enjoyed BOOK XYZ and the content covering XYZ. This was a point of discussion at EVENT and I'm looking forward to explanding on this in MODULE XYZ or with PROF. X who speicialises in this field..." is better.

That sentence is just a starting point. I don't know anything about physics and struggled to answer a question about why the pitch of a washing machine varies depending on the spin speed. I am sure you can go a bit a bit more into the academic side. Basically demonstrate motivation and suitability.

Get your referee to list other, less directly related achievements.

NB. Don't start anything now. They'll be looking for insight into things you've done, not a laundry list of things that are just underway.

Spoiler