Y12 with mediocre GCSEs: Wanting to apply to Oxford: Seeking honest advice/opinions!

Hello!
I am planning to study economics and hope to able to apply to:
- Edinburgh
- St Andrew's
- LSE
- UCL
- Oxford (E and M)

I got 888776665 which is really not great especially for the universities and course I plan to apply to.
Key points:
- Mathematics: 8
- English language: 5 - which I know is really not ideal. It is actually below the grade requirement for LSE which sits at a grade 6, but I have emailed admission at LSE and they said they still look at all applications.
- The lower grades at grade 6 are subjects including Art and DT so I hope that doesn't effect my application too much.

BTW - my school offers GCSEs in year 10 and 11 but then switch to the Scottish exam system for sixth form. Meaning I sit Highers in year 12 and Advanced Highers in year 13.
- My Highers (will be sitting in 2025)
Maths - predicted A1
Physics - predicted A2
Business - predicted A1
Chinese - predicted A1
RMPS - predicted A1

- Advanced Highers
I have chosen:
Maths
Statistics
Chinese
No predicted or tracking grades yet obviously but I'm pretty confident I can get an A1 in both Maths and Chinese (A*). I will be crashing statistics but I feel it was a good subject for economics.

EXTRA:
Interviews - I am currently attending Oxbridge preparation club at my school where we do practice interviews weekly.

Personal statement - I have a rough idea of what I would do for it but its not great. I started writing a draft last year but I didn't realise the format of it changed until recently so I had to scrap it. I have read a couple books, done a couple clubs and competitions, done some courses - but it all feels a bit basic and like I haven't done enough. Also its all 'boring' and none of it really makes me stand out. Moreover, I have never taken economics in school so all my economics knowledge would have to be from these types of things. PLEASE does anyone have any recommendations for things I could do both expand my knowledge and be more prepared to write my personal statement.

Admissions tests - The Oxford E&M course requires the TSA. UCL and LSE requires the TMUA. I have been doing practice 'little and often' on both of these tests since the start of 2025, and the deadline for both to be taken is October 2025. I also plan to spend a lot more time on them during the summer after exams - since I know this could really help me (because of my bad GCSEs.)

I also wanted to ask whether this might be enough to ask for forgiveness for my GCSE English Language grade? If it is not - I actually do have the option to take Higher English in Year 13 so I can have an (hopefully) improved grade to supersede the GCSE one. So not a resit, an entirely different course - I know UCL doesn't accept resits.

Thanks so much!

Reply 1

thegeek888

Your grades at Higher and Advanced Higher are fine but the GCSE English Language grade should be a cause for concern. Most applicants to Oxford, LSE, UCL, Edinburgh and St. Andrews will have 7s and 8s and some 9s. More importantly, there was a thread which @DataVenia replied to and it was all about having a 5 in GCSE English Language and LSE wanted a 6 at least?! ☹️

Reply 2

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

@remedial-authori, the thread to which @thegeek888 is referring is this one. The author of that thread was rejected by LSE specifically for not meeting their GCSE English Language grade required.

It wasn't an instant rejection, so they clearly did consider the application. But, after several months of waiting, it was still a rejection.

Reply 3

remedial-authori

Original post by DataVenia

@remedial-authori, the thread to which @thegeek888 is referring is this one. The author of that thread was rejected by LSE specifically for not meeting their GCSE English Language grade required.
It wasn't an instant rejection, so they clearly did consider the application. But, after several months of waiting, it was still a rejection.

Thanks! Reading that was really helpful in helping me gain more insight into entry requirements.

Do you recommend that I take Higher English in my sixth year to try and obtain a superseding English grade? Or should I reconsider my universities as it the grade 5 means my overall GCSE grade profile isn't strong enough?

Reply 4

remedial-authori

Original post by DataVenia

@remedial-authori, the thread to which @thegeek888 is referring is this one. The author of that thread was rejected by LSE specifically for not meeting their GCSE English Language grade required.
It wasn't an instant rejection, so they clearly did consider the application. But, after several months of waiting, it was still a rejection.

Its actually really annoying because I was 2 marks away from a 6 but didn't end up getting it remarked. I definitely should have tried 😔

Reply 5

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by remedial-authori

If you want to apply to universities that require a GCSE grade 6 in English Language, then you'll need to have a GCSE grade 6 (or higher) in English Language. Otherwise, you're very likely to get rejected.

You say that you were "2 marks away from a 6", so you're clearly capable of a grade 6. That being the case, I think it's probably worth retaking it. It's certainly worth retaking it if you want to apply to the likes of LSE.

Original post by remedial-authori

Its actually really annoying because I was 2 marks away from a 6 but didn't end up getting it remarked. I definitely should have tried 😔

Yup. You should have. :frown:

Reply 6

remedial-authori

Original post by DataVenia

If you want to apply to universities that require a GCSE grade 6 in English Language, then you'll need to have a GCSE grade 6 (or higher) in English Language. Otherwise, you're very likely to get rejected.
You say that you were "2 marks away from a 6", so you're clearly capable of a grade 6. That being the case, I think it's probably worth retaking it. It's certainly worth retaking it if you want to apply to the likes of LSE.
Yup. You should have. :frown:

Ahh I see. Does it have to be the GCSE qualification specifically? If so - I will ask my school about a resit.

However, they are 'strongly encouraging' me to take the Higher qualification instead. Or the Nat 5 (Scottish GCSE equivalent) so that it wouldn't be a resit of the same qualification.

If resitting the GCSE is the best option - please do let me know as I will ask my school about adding the subject for next year.

Reply 7

remedial-authori

Original post by DataVenia

If you want to apply to universities that require a GCSE grade 6 in English Language, then you'll need to have a GCSE grade 6 (or higher) in English Language. Otherwise, you're very likely to get rejected.
You say that you were "2 marks away from a 6", so you're clearly capable of a grade 6. That being the case, I think it's probably worth retaking it. It's certainly worth retaking it if you want to apply to the likes of LSE.
Yup. You should have. :frown:

Sorry for bombarding you with questions. I really do appreciate all your help.

Does a 7 in English Literature mean anything or is it just the Language qualification?

Reply 8

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by remedial-authori

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Particularly as I'm not massively familiar with the Scottish education system, plus the fact that your school does GCSEs rather than National 5s.

The LSE say here: "If an applicant has not taken a National 5 or equivalent qualification in English and/or Maths we would expect to see that subject offered at Higher Level and may require a particular grade."

But whether that means that a below-requirement GCSE grade in English Language could be "offset" by Higher English (or National 5 English) isn't clear. You might have to contact the LSE admissions team and ask.

Original post by remedial-authori

Sorry for bombarding you with questions. I really do appreciate all your help.

Does a 7 in English Literature mean anything or is it just the Language qualification?

Some universities say that they need specific GCSE grades in Maths and either English Language or English Literature. LSE do not; they say "As a minimum, we ask for GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades at B (6) or higher."

Reply 9

remedial-authori

Original post by DataVenia

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. Particularly as I'm not massively familiar with the Scottish education system, plus the fact that your school does GCSEs rather than National 5s.
The LSE say here: "If an applicant has not taken a National 5 or equivalent qualification in English and/or Maths we would expect to see that subject offered at Higher Level and may require a particular grade."
But whether that means that a below-requirement GCSE grade in English Language could be "offset" by Higher English (or National 5 English) isn't clear. You might have to contact the LSE admissions team and ask.
Some universities say that they need specific GCSE grades in Maths and either English Language or English Literature. LSE do not; they say "As a minimum, we ask for GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades at B (6) or higher."