Written Work - Classics @ Oxford

Hey,
Just received confirmation from Magdalen College that they are reviewing my application, and that they are also now taking our written work (deadline 10th Nov).

I was wondering if I can write these on topic I like, or if they have to be questions from my Classical Civ. exam board, and if not, do I have to get my teachers to write the questions?
I feel like if its just exam board questions, that's really boring, but if not then how are we meant to write questions, and how will my teacher know how to grade/assess them as Oxford requires?

I have two topic ideas for the essays, both discussed in my personal statement. I think it would be really valuable for the admissions team to see me argue these same ideas in a more fleshed out medium.
Thanks!

Reply 1

xyz1234567

9

You are meant to submit original marked work you have already done. You are not meant to write something specially for Oxford. This is very clear on the Classics faculty website.

It doesn’t have to be exam board work - it can be anything you have written in the context of your schooling. Eg homework essays, part of an EPQ, a summer project a teacher set you. But don’t make up a new title, look back at your work in the last year and think about what is the strongest.

Reply 2

meadowwulff

OP

5

I'm confused.

So I can submit essays I wrote about texts outside of my study? I wrote, but never submitted, for an oxford college essay writing competition about the journeys of Epics - do you think I could submit this?

Thank you for your help !!

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

xyz1234567

9

Have a look here: https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/written-work

What they would like is work marked by your teachers, normally written during the course of your studies. So go back over your past work and think about which pieces you feel are the strongest and show your skills best.

Reply 4

elilast

12

Original post by meadowwulff

I'm confused.
So I can submit essays I wrote about texts outside of my study? I wrote, but never submitted, for an oxford college essay writing competition about the journeys of Epics - do you think I could submit this?
Thank you for your help !!

Potentially, but usually they are looking for more typical pieces of school work. You can also use work from other subjects eg English, History. I suggest emailing your college if you have any specific questions like this.

Reply 5

medea09

12

Original post by elilast

Potentially, but usually they are looking for more typical pieces of school work. You can also use work from other subjects eg English, History. I suggest emailing your college if you have any specific questions like this.

I’m also applying for Classics, what kind of marks do you think are strong enough? Would around 21/25 in an English essay be okay? I do AQA English Literature, this mark is in the top band and would be an A or A*.

Reply 6

xyz1234567

9

They aren’t looking at the marks - Oxford tutors don’t really care about A Level mark schemes. They want to see the work that best illustrates your writing skills, ie ability to construct an argument, clarity of writing, ability to close read or to use evidence to support your argument.

Reply 7

medea09

12

Original post by xyz1234567

They aren’t looking at the marks - Oxford tutors don’t really care about A Level mark schemes. They want to see the work that best illustrates your writing skills, ie ability to construct an argument, clarity of writing, ability to close read or to use evidence to support your argument.

Thank you, I’ll look again through my essays with this in mind.

Reply 8

elilast

12

Original post by xyz1234567

They aren’t looking at the marks - Oxford tutors don’t really care about A Level mark schemes. They want to see the work that best illustrates your writing skills, ie ability to construct an argument, clarity of writing, ability to close read or to use evidence to support your argument.

PRSOM

Reply 9

Stiffy Byng

19

This may be of interest to aspirant Classicists -

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n19/katherine-harloe/the-last-generation

Written Work - Classics @ Oxford

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