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senior physics challenge (2025)

did the spc today, i don’t think i did very well. if i got a bronze, is that worth putting on my uni app if i want to go to a top uni, or is anything under a gold not worth mentioning? i know technically it doesn’t hurt adding it but for a place like oxford or cambridge - if i were to apply - would a bronze look good or bring down my application?

Reply 1

Everything is worth mentioning - it matters more that you were brave enough to try, over what score what you actually got. No matter what you get, definitely put it down on the app. Best of luck!!

Reply 2

Original post
by EdwinDeRozarieux
Everything is worth mentioning - it matters more that you were brave enough to try, over what score what you actually got. No matter what you get, definitely put it down on the app. Best of luck!!


thank you!! all i know so far is i got 3/6 on the multiple choice so 6 marks out of 12 😂 it’s not looking great for me but hopefully i’ve scraped at least a bronze!

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
thank you!! all i know so far is i got 3/6 on the multiple choice so 6 marks out of 12 😂 it’s not looking great for me but hopefully i’ve scraped at least a bronze!


Best of luck 🙏

Reply 4

DO NOT PUT DOWN A BRONZE!!
if you get like a gold or smth sure put that but i wouldnt for anything worse.

if youre going for smth physics related. unis like oxbridge really dont care that much about your scores in spc or smc for that matter (yes even if you got a gold).
its much better to focus on specific research projects/books/other competitions like ukroc, cansat, vex robotics etc. relating to your interests about physics/maths or whatever stem subject youre going for.

Reply 5

Original post
by Anonymous
DO NOT PUT DOWN A BRONZE!!
if you get like a gold or smth sure put that but i wouldnt for anything worse.
if youre going for smth physics related. unis like oxbridge really dont care that much about your scores in spc or smc for that matter (yes even if you got a gold).
its much better to focus on specific research projects/books/other competitions like ukroc, cansat, vex robotics etc. relating to your interests about physics/maths or whatever stem subject youre going for.

hmm, even if these things are better, it might still be worth putting a bronze. It basically boils down to 2 things.

1.

I have plenty of stuff on my personal statement: In this case, there's no reason to shoehorn the SPC bronze in. Of course, it might help a bit, but equally, you're spending less space on something "better"

2.

I have space on my personal statement: In this case, instead of random waffle and meaningless stuff, you can put the SPC bronze. It shows that you're doing extra stuff outside and you're interested in the subject. Plus, everyone can have a bad day, it's the interest in the subject that Oxbridge/Imperial are using your personal statement for. They have their own entrance tests to see how good you are.

Reply 6

Original post
by Anonymous
DO NOT PUT DOWN A BRONZE!!
if you get like a gold or smth sure put that but i wouldnt for anything worse.
if youre going for smth physics related. unis like oxbridge really dont care that much about your scores in spc or smc for that matter (yes even if you got a gold).
its much better to focus on specific research projects/books/other competitions like ukroc, cansat, vex robotics etc. relating to your interests about physics/maths or whatever stem subject youre going for.


is a silver worth putting down?

Reply 7

Original post
by Harik0
hmm, even if these things are better, it might still be worth putting a bronze. It basically boils down to 2 things.

1.

I have plenty of stuff on my personal statement: In this case, there's no reason to shoehorn the SPC bronze in. Of course, it might help a bit, but equally, you're spending less space on something "better"

2.

I have space on my personal statement: In this case, instead of random waffle and meaningless stuff, you can put the SPC bronze. It shows that you're doing extra stuff outside and you're interested in the subject. Plus, everyone can have a bad day, it's the interest in the subject that Oxbridge/Imperial are using your personal statement for. They have their own entrance tests to see how good you are.



is a silver worth putting down in ur opinion? that’s what i ended up getting

Reply 8

Original post
by EdwinDeRozarieux
Best of luck 🙏


i got a silver!! grade boundaries must have been super low

Reply 9

Original post
by Anonymous
i got a silver!! grade boundaries must have been super low


WOOOOOO! Amazing job!! Doesn't matter what the grade boundaries were, you did great! Definitely put it down XD

Reply 10

Original post
by Anonymous
i got a silver!! grade boundaries must have been super low

crazy can u tell me how much marks u got

Reply 11

Original post
by Anonymous
did the spc today, i don’t think i did very well. if i got a bronze, is that worth putting on my uni app if i want to go to a top uni, or is anything under a gold not worth mentioning? i know technically it doesn’t hurt adding it but for a place like oxford or cambridge - if i were to apply - would a bronze look good or bring down my application?

If you learnt something from it or if it propelled your curiosity or encouraged you to look deeper into topics, then ofc, put it down! Your learning journey is more important than achievement/aptitude because Oxford will test your aptitude anyway with the PAT (or ESAAT or whichever admissions test it is for nat sci at Cambridge). Two of my friends got silvers on a similar test and ended up getting offers, so I don’t think it matters very much :smile:

Edit — your learning journey is more important than aptitude in your personal statement
(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 12

Original post
by IntelligentGuy
crazy can u tell me how much marks u got


literally 13/50 😭 i was probs on the boundary for silver

Reply 13

Original post
by Anonymous
literally 13/50 😭 i was probs on the boundary for silver

W.

I haven't even got mine back from the college...

Reply 14

Original post
by IntelligentGuy
W.
I haven't even got mine back from the college...


really ??? we already got marks and certificates and all of that - are u talking about like the writing itself?

Reply 15

Original post
by Anonymous
really ??? we already got marks and certificates and all of that - are u talking about like the writing itself?

I haven't heard back about it yet 💀

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