The Student Room Group

bad gcses oxford?

hey everyone I was thinking of applying to oxford but I'm realising my gcses are so behind compared to everyone else, I got 9877776666 and I was just seeing if it's still worth applying anyways?
(no extenuating circumstances apart from maybe covid ig)
Oxford contextualises GCSEs, so it basically compares your GCSEs with your school's historical average GCSE grades. Without knowing your school's average performance in GCSEs it's hard to tell, but you might still have a chance!
Original post by Scotland Yard
Oxford contextualises GCSEs, so it basically compares your GCSEs with your school's historical average GCSE grades. Without knowing your school's average performance in GCSEs it's hard to tell, but you might still have a chance!
Ah okay thanks! My school is a grammar school, and I know a lot of people that have done better than me, I'm guessing it would lower my chances right? In the year I probably performed average/slightly lower end if anything
"GCSEs
GCSEs will be taken into account when we consider your application but they are just one aspect that we look at. GCSE results will be considered alongside your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades and performance in any written work or written test required for your course.
If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account. Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context.
If you feel that you did less well in your GCSEs than you might otherwise have done because of extenuating circumstances, you may still be able to make a competitive application. Examples would include disruption caused by change of school or system, severe discontinuity of teachers, bereavement, and debilitating illness.
We take care to treat each application individually and would always take such extenuating circumstances into account, if they are brought to our attention. You may like to mention any such circumstances in your personal statement, and your referee should make sure to mention them clearly in their reference."


https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications
Original post by SixthFormerAgain
Ah okay thanks! My school is a grammar school, and I know a lot of people that have done better than me, I'm guessing it would lower my chances right? In the year I probably performed average/slightly lower end if anything


I'm afraid it does lower your chances. But it doesn't make your chances 0. And since you sat your GCSEs during Covid, that will be kept in mind!
Original post by Scotland Yard
I'm afraid it does lower your chances. But it doesn't make your chances 0. And since you sat your GCSEs during Covid, that will be kept in mind!

If the OP is currently in year 12 or year 13, then it appears unlikely that the OP took GCSEs during Covid.

OP, your chances of a successful application are likely to depend on all of the other factors which Oxford take into account, as noted in the extract from the Oxford website above.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Stiffy Byng
If the OP is currently in year 12 or year 13, then it appears unlikely that the OP took GCSEs during Covid.
OP, your chances of a successful application are likely to depend on all of the other factors which Oxford take into account, as noted in the extract from the Oxford website above.

Yep year 13, but I did realise that I did have some personal issues happening during GCSEs which would count as extenuating circumstances

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