The Student Room Group

Number of GCSEs - Will there be any impact?

I am planning to take 6 Core GCSEs, 3 Optional and 1 Further Maths leading to 10 in total. Most of the children in my school are doing 11 GCSEs.
Will that be a disadvantage to me when I apply for Universities? Will that be a problem when I apply to Oxford or Cambridge?

Reply 1

Original post by sairithvikamall
I am planning to take 6 Core GCSEs, 3 Optional and 1 Further Maths leading to 10 in total. Most of the children in my school are doing 11 GCSEs.
Will that be a disadvantage to me when I apply for Universities? Will that be a problem when I apply to Oxford or Cambridge?


I took 7 GCSEs and a vocational certificate (similar to a BTEC, it is equivalent to GCSE) and I have received offers from Warwick, Durham and Liverpool so far.

10 GCSEs are definitely enough. Even the government only uses 'Attainment 8' which are the top 8 GCSEs (including Maths and English) to measure how well students do at GCSE.

Your A Levels predicted grades, personal statement, entrance exam performance and interview performance are definitely more important than your GCSEs when it comes to getting into Oxford or Cambridge. Please don't take this as GCSEs don't matter though, the grades you achieve will decide whether you will be able to do the A Levels subjects of your choice. Also, some courses have GCSE requirements especially medicine.

Good luck.

Reply 2

Original post by Divinebandit
I took 7 GCSEs and a vocational certificate (similar to a BTEC, it is equivalent to GCSE) and I have received offers from Warwick, Durham and Liverpool so far.
10 GCSEs are definitely enough. Even the government only uses 'Attainment 8' which are the top 8 GCSEs (including Maths and English) to measure how well students do at GCSE.
Your A Levels predicted grades, personal statement, entrance exam performance and interview performance are definitely more important than your GCSEs when it comes to getting into Oxford or Cambridge. Please don't take this as GCSEs don't matter though, the grades you achieve will decide whether you will be able to do the A Levels subjects of your choice. Also, some courses have GCSE requirements especially medicine.
Good luck.

Thank you so much. Really appreciate your response.

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