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Do I stand a chance at Oxbridge?

I dont think I stand a chance but some posts make me so confused.I am currently in Year 12 and my GCSEs were a chaos, I got 66666777778 and in A-Levels, im doing Maths, Physics and Compsci and I want to do engineering or Compsci and I dont know if I should apply. I do have a extenuating circumstance. Can you guys give me a REALISTIC opinion if i should apply to Oxbridge ?

Reply 1

Cambridge student here. GSCE grades matter minimally for Cambridge, go for it!

Reply 2

Original post
by Anonymous
I dont think I stand a chance but some posts make me so confused.I am currently in Year 12 and my GCSEs were a chaos, I got 66666777778 and in A-Levels, im doing Maths, Physics and Compsci and I want to do engineering or Compsci and I dont know if I should apply. I do have a extenuating circumstance. Can you guys give me a REALISTIC opinion if i should apply to Oxbridge ?

Your biggest issue with Cambridge is your lack of Further Maths. Have you checked the requirements for those two subjects at both universities?

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
I dont think I stand a chance but some posts make me so confused.I am currently in Year 12 and my GCSEs were a chaos, I got 66666777778 and in A-Levels, im doing Maths, Physics and Compsci and I want to do engineering or Compsci and I dont know if I should apply. I do have a extenuating circumstance. Can you guys give me a REALISTIC opinion if i should apply to Oxbridge ?

Here are a few tips. https://expertonlineeducation.com/blogs/f/tips-to-get-into-oxbridge-a-guide-to-success

Reply 4

Original post
by Anonymous
I dont think I stand a chance but some posts make me so confused.I am currently in Year 12 and my GCSEs were a chaos, I got 66666777778 and in A-Levels, im doing Maths, Physics and Compsci and I want to do engineering or Compsci and I dont know if I should apply. I do have a extenuating circumstance. Can you guys give me a REALISTIC opinion if i should apply to Oxbridge ?

A quick glance at the Cambridge Engineering undergraduate page tells you that Further Maths is highly recommended, and in fact 96% of recent successful applicants took this qualification. In addition, 5 colleges actually require this subject, and 1 college may actually ask you to sit STEP II.

I would suggest you check out the Oxford requirements for yourself, but I suspect you'd be significantly disadvantaged in a Cambridge application.

ETA: Just spotted you asked about CompSci too - that is even more specific about requiring FM if your school offers it!
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 5

Original post
by ageshallnot
Your biggest issue with Cambridge is your lack of Further Maths. Have you checked the requirements for those two subjects at both universities?


Thank you so much, I have acknowledged that I cant do Further Maths because I have got a grade 7 in maths, and I need an 8 to do FM at A-Level so i dont think I stand a chance

Reply 6



Thank you so much

Reply 7

Original post
by davros
A quick glance at the Cambridge Engineering undergraduate page tells you that Further Maths is highly recommended, and in fact 96% of recent successful applicants took this qualification. In addition, 5 colleges actually require this subject, and 1 college may actually ask you to sit STEP II.
I would suggest you check out the Oxford requirements for yourself, but I suspect you'd be significantly disadvantaged in a Cambridge application.
ETA: Just spotted you asked about CompSci too - that is even more specific about requiring FM if your school offers it!


I did check Oxford's page and it does not say that FM is needed but instead its in the recommended subject so I guess they indirectly wants FM as a subject !!

Reply 8

Original post
by Anonymous
I dont think I stand a chance but some posts make me so confused.I am currently in Year 12 and my GCSEs were a chaos, I got 66666777778 and in A-Levels, im doing Maths, Physics and Compsci and I want to do engineering or Compsci and I dont know if I should apply. I do have a extenuating circumstance. Can you guys give me a REALISTIC opinion if i should apply to Oxbridge ?

You will find yourself at a great disadvantage in admissions assessments if you don’t do a lot of additional maths. It’s not about the further maths content (which won’t be assessed), but more about the fact that you’re going up against people who quite literally do at least double the amount of maths (maybe more - the further maths at A level is a lot more rigorous and difficult than maths).

Is there any way you can do some additional maths on top of your A levels? Is there any way your school can help?

Reply 9

For compsci:
Cambridge will certainly reject you for lack of further maths at A-level. Oxford may not reject you immediately, but the admissions statistics tell pretty much the same story as at Cambridge. Your chances are very slim unless you perform extremely well on the MAT and demonstrate significant mathematical ability by independently learning further maths content.

Engineering:
I don't know as much about these courses, but I would imagine that you would have a better shot at Cambridge than Oxford since your GCSEs will likely be a less competitive element of your application (and people seem to think Cambridge is more lenient about GCSEs).

Reply 10

Original post
by KWad
For compsci:
Cambridge will certainly reject you for lack of further maths at A-level. Oxford may not reject you immediately, but the admissions statistics tell pretty much the same story as at Cambridge. Your chances are very slim unless you perform extremely well on the MAT and demonstrate significant mathematical ability by independently learning further maths content.
Engineering:
I don't know as much about these courses, but I would imagine that you would have a better shot at Cambridge than Oxford since your GCSEs will likely be a less competitive element of your application (and people seem to think Cambridge is more lenient about GCSEs).

I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t think the GCSE thing is true anymore. I don’t think there’s much discrepancy between the way Oxford and Cambridge consider GCSEs - Oxford are just more transparent about it. (But this is just my personal view and I may be biased because of the college I applied to/the admissions tutors I spoke to).

Reply 11

Original post
by nwar
You will find yourself at a great disadvantage in admissions assessments if you don’t do a lot of additional maths. It’s not about the further maths content (which won’t be assessed), but more about the fact that you’re going up against people who quite literally do at least double the amount of maths (maybe more - the further maths at A level is a lot more rigorous and difficult than maths).
Is there any way you can do some additional maths on top of your A levels? Is there any way your school can help?


My school cannot really offer me anything but I do a programme with STEM SMART by university of Cambridge and isaac physics and they offer maths sessions which are quite challenging and unique. I DONT KNOW IF THAT CAN HELP

Reply 12

Original post
by KWad
For compsci:
Cambridge will certainly reject you for lack of further maths at A-level. Oxford may not reject you immediately, but the admissions statistics tell pretty much the same story as at Cambridge. Your chances are very slim unless you perform extremely well on the MAT and demonstrate significant mathematical ability by independently learning further maths content.
Engineering:
I don't know as much about these courses, but I would imagine that you would have a better shot at Cambridge than Oxford since your GCSEs will likely be a less competitive element of your application (and people seem to think Cambridge is more lenient about GCSEs).


Thank u for the feedback!

Reply 13

Original post
by nwar
I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t think the GCSE thing is true anymore. I don’t think there’s much discrepancy between the way Oxford and Cambridge consider GCSEs - Oxford are just more transparent about it. (But this is just my personal view and I may be biased because of the college I applied to/the admissions tutors I spoke to).


That is true! I just wanted an honest opinion so that I dont be delusional that I can get in because people say u should apply even if u think u might not stand a chance!

Reply 14

Original post
by Hehehehhehe3546
My school cannot really offer me anything but I do a programme with STEM SMART by university of Cambridge and isaac physics and they offer maths sessions which are quite challenging and unique. I DONT KNOW IF THAT CAN HELP

Sign up for the double maths sessions with Stem Smart, those are super helpful and will teach you some further maths techniques!

Reply 15

Original post
by nwar
Sign up for the double maths sessions with Stem Smart, those are super helpful and will teach you some further maths techniques!


Thats the one I do!

Reply 16

Original post
by Hehehehhehe3546
My school cannot really offer me anything but I do a programme with STEM SMART by university of Cambridge and isaac physics and they offer maths sessions which are quite challenging and unique. I DONT KNOW IF THAT CAN HELP

Not going to remedy the lack of further maths.

The other thing is... A 7 at GCSE Maths. Whilst Cambridge don't formally have GCSE requirements your teachers are going to have to explain how you're going to get from a 7 to an A* at A-Level/why you have underperformed at GCSE.

Reply 17

Original post
by nwar
I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t think the GCSE thing is true anymore. I don’t think there’s much discrepancy between the way Oxford and Cambridge consider GCSEs - Oxford are just more transparent about it. (But this is just my personal view and I may be biased because of the college I applied to/the admissions tutors I spoke to).

Thats reasonable. I'm inclined to agree with you, but just thought I should echo what I have heard anecdotally on TSR just in case there is some truth to it.

Reply 18

Original post
by Paralove
Not going to remedy the lack of further maths.
The other thing is... A 7 at GCSE Maths. Whilst Cambridge don't formally have GCSE requirements your teachers are going to have to explain how you're going to get from a 7 to an A* at A-Level/why you have underperformed at GCSE.

Ditto. Oxbridge uses your GCSEs as the qualifications to back up your A-level predictions, so the 7 in maths might not look very good.

Reply 19

I would really recommend you this video for going into Oxbridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJCu-8vONFo

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