The Student Room Group

Does an academic comeback improve my application?

I got a 7 in GCSE maths and didn't do further. I got 100% in almost all my maths and further maths tests in year 12 and 95%+ in all papers in my year 12 and year 13 mocks. I also got the highest TMUA in my school (5.4). This is all on my references.

Does my low GCSE still hinder my application because its a low score, or does it make my application stand out more in this case?

Reply 1

At Cambridge, while GCSEs are factored in to your application, they mainly use it as an indicator for future potential. If you're performing this well now (congratulations on being an academic weapon btw), then you're still a strong candidate and they'd see your improvement as something positive for sure. Don't sweat it too much, you'll be fine (it's mainly Oxford who are moreso sticklers for this kinda stuff).

Though, if you've done Year 13 mocks and it's currently March, wouldn't you have applied for early entry and gotten the results of your application already? Unless you're applying for Cambridge for next year's entry

Reply 2

Original post by Anonymous
At Cambridge, while GCSEs are factored in to your application, they mainly use it as an indicator for future potential. If you're performing this well now (congratulations on being an academic weapon btw), then you're still a strong candidate and they'd see your improvement as something positive for sure. Don't sweat it too much, you'll be fine (it's mainly Oxford who are moreso sticklers for this kinda stuff).
Though, if you've done Year 13 mocks and it's currently March, wouldn't you have applied for early entry and gotten the results of your application already? Unless you're applying for Cambridge for next year's entry


Is this in the Cambridge section? I didn't mean to put that, I haven't applied to oxbridge. I applied Imperial, UCL, Warwick, KCL and Durham
Original post by Anonymous
Is this in the Cambridge section? I didn't mean to put that, I haven't applied to oxbridge. I applied Imperial, UCL, Warwick, KCL and Durham


I can move it to a different forum if you want, which would you like it to be in?

Reply 4

Original post by melancollege
I can move it to a different forum if you want, which would you like it to be in?


Could you move it to Imperials? Thanks
Original post by Anonymous
Could you move it to Imperials? Thanks

Moved now :smile:

Reply 6

Original post by Anonymous
Is this in the Cambridge section? I didn't mean to put that, I haven't applied to oxbridge. I applied Imperial, UCL, Warwick, KCL and Durham

Oh, if that's the case, genuinely don't sweat it at all! It's only Oxbridge that generally care - other universities won't consider GCSEs that much and will approach your application very holistically. I'm sure you'll do well, good luck

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