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

EdwinDeRozarieux

13

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

Anonymous #1

OP

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

EdwinDeRozarieux

13

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

Anonymous #2

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

Harik0

9

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

Anonymous #1

OP

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

Anonymous #1

OP

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

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by EdwinDeRozarieux

Best of luck 🙏

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

Reply 9

EdwinDeRozarieux

13

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

IntelligentGuy

7

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

nwar

Study Forum Helper

13

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 1 week ago)

senior physics challenge (2025)

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