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Cambridge possible with these results???

I absolutely messed up my GCSEs. It was going decently well nothing crazy but during half term I did nothing, thus messing up my maths and science paper 2 even though I was aiming to get strong 9s. Obviously I regret this immensely and gets rid of my credibility for the stats that I’m aiming for. For reference, I’m teaching myself from home for my a levels so I will be more efficient and move through work quicker. Im also fixing my mindset and laziness so I actually work.

A levels: 5A* predicted
Admissions test (I’m going to take them at the end of year 12 after immense hard work to improve my application):

STEP: S
MAT - 90
TMUA - 9.0

GCSEs (my guess):
9988888765

Is this fine, as far as stats go, to get into Cambridge? For anyone going to saying that this is unrealistic, they may be correct but assuming I hypothetically get this, is it enough?

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Reply 1

Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
I absolutely messed up my GCSEs. It was going decently well nothing crazy but during half term I did nothing, thus messing up my maths and science paper 2 even though I was aiming to get strong 9s. Obviously I regret this immensely and gets rid of my credibility for the stats that I’m aiming for. For reference, I’m teaching myself from home for my a levels so I will be more efficient and move through work quicker. Im also fixing my mindset and laziness so I actually work.
A levels: 5A* predicted
Admissions test (I’m going to take them at the end of year 12 after immense hard work to improve my application):
STEP: S
MAT - 90
TMUA - 9.0
GCSEs (my guess):
9988888765
Is this fine, as far as stats go, to get into Cambridge? For anyone going to saying that this is unrealistic, they may be correct but assuming I hypothetically get this, is it enough?

I think you need to just take a breath.

You do not have your GCSE results, get those and see how you do. Focus on what you are doing and the other things will take care of themselves.

Universities only take your UCAS points from 3 A levels, so predicting yourself 5A* is not relevant. Focus on doing very well at 3 A levels.

Also, look at yourself as a whole person, consider hobbies and things that make you a rounded person. Plus, enrichment around your planned area of study.

Finally, why do you want to go to Cambridge? Have backups and a plan b.
Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
I absolutely messed up my GCSEs. It was going decently well nothing crazy but during half term I did nothing, thus messing up my maths and science paper 2 even though I was aiming to get strong 9s. Obviously I regret this immensely and gets rid of my credibility for the stats that I’m aiming for. For reference, I’m teaching myself from home for my a levels so I will be more efficient and move through work quicker. Im also fixing my mindset and laziness so I actually work.

A levels: 5A* predicted
Admissions test (I’m going to take them at the end of year 12 after immense hard work to improve my application):

STEP: S
MAT - 90
TMUA - 9.0

GCSEs (my guess):
9988888765

Is this fine, as far as stats go, to get into Cambridge? For anyone going to saying that this is unrealistic, they may be correct but assuming I hypothetically get this, is it enough?


These would be good stats but predicting yourself grades for qualifications and exams you haven't even started the course for is meaningless. STEP in particular takes a lot of work and is not an easy exam. Cambridge offer-holders generally get set the requirement of a 1,1 and getting an S can take months of work alongside A-Levels.

Your GCSEs shouldn't exclude you but assigning yourself theoretical top grades on no basis whatsoever is not going to be of much use.
Have to agree that this is wildly too early to be thinking about where you'll be applying for undergrad. You don't have any awarded grades to base this on.

Reply 4

Getting SS in step would probably guarantee you a place for maths, but that is so ridiculously difficult that you'll almost certainly not get it. If you have the slightest potential to get an S in either step paper, you should definitely be getting 95%+ with practically 0 revision at GCSE.

Reply 5

Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
I absolutely messed up my GCSEs. It was going decently well nothing crazy but during half term I did nothing, thus messing up my maths and science paper 2 even though I was aiming to get strong 9s. Obviously I regret this immensely and gets rid of my credibility for the stats that I’m aiming for. For reference, I’m teaching myself from home for my a levels so I will be more efficient and move through work quicker. Im also fixing my mindset and laziness so I actually work.
A levels: 5A* predicted
Admissions test (I’m going to take them at the end of year 12 after immense hard work to improve my application):
STEP: S
MAT - 90
TMUA - 9.0
GCSEs (my guess):
9988888765
Is this fine, as far as stats go, to get into Cambridge? For anyone going to saying that this is unrealistic, they may be correct but assuming I hypothetically get this, is it enough?

Just to add to the previous advice, planning on taking mat/tmua at the start of y13 wont add anything to a cambridge application as theyd both be too late to be included on an application. Also, as noted above, step is two exams so youd have to accelerate both maths and further maths a levels to do step 2/3 at the end of y12 and have time to practice the step exams.

If you think youre having to fix your working attitude while at the same time self teaching at home, doing "too many" a levels and significant acceleration almost sounds a recipe for disaster.

Reply 6

I think you severely underestimate the jump from GCSE to A level, especially for subjects like further maths. Doing 5 A levels will affect your grades because your workload at A level is exponentially greater than GCSEs.

You haven't mentioned which degree you're thinking of doing (which is fine because you have ages to decide) but this should be your priority in Y12. Once you decide, see if the course at Cambridge fits your interests and whether the teaching style fits you too. Figure out what you want to study before you start thinking of which universities you want to study at. I'm sure you haven't messed up your GCSEs, have faith and good luck for results day.

Reply 7

Original post
by nwar
I think you severely underestimate the jump from GCSE to A level, especially for subjects like further maths. Doing 5 A levels will affect your grades because your workload at A level is exponentially greater than GCSEs.
You haven't mentioned which degree you're thinking of doing (which is fine because you have ages to decide) but this should be your priority in Y12. Once you decide, see if the course at Cambridge fits your interests and whether the teaching style fits you too. Figure out what you want to study before you start thinking of which universities you want to study at. I'm sure you haven't messed up your GCSEs, have faith and good luck for results day.

The degree I’m aiming to do is maths, sorry for not mentioning it.

Reply 8

Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
The degree I’m aiming to do is maths, sorry for not mentioning it.

Yes, but this doesn't change the fact you've predicted all of your A levels and the STEP exam months before doing it - which is quite pointless because obviously you have no idea how you'll do.

Reply 9

Original post
by DrWhoZombie
Getting SS in step would probably guarantee you a place for maths, but that is so ridiculously difficult that you'll almost certainly not get it. If you have the slightest potential to get an S in either step paper, you should definitely be getting 95%+ with practically 0 revision at GCSE.

I was very unwell in my maths and science paper 2 but I get 90%+ without revision for maths when I'm not affected by any illnesses.

Reply 10

Brother why are you predicting ur a levels you haven’t even started and trust me it is not that easy

Reply 11

Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
The degree I’m aiming to do is maths, sorry for not mentioning it.

You might enjoy this, it starts in January but you can also access the older episodes: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/outreach/oxford-online-maths-club

Reply 12

Original post
by isaac123444566
Yes, but this doesn't change the fact you've predicted all of your A levels and the STEP exam months before doing it - which is quite pointless because obviously you have no idea how you'll do.

Appreciate your advice but this is more of a 'what if' rather than a 'i will get this'. I'm just wondering what to do in order to reach my goals, having very nearly finished my GCSEs and having messed them up due to utmost laziness.

Reply 13

Original post
by nwar
You might enjoy this, it starts in January but you can also access the older episodes: https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/outreach/oxford-online-maths-club

Thank you very much!

Reply 14

Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
Appreciate your advice but this is more of a 'what if' rather than a 'i will get this'. I'm just wondering what to do in order to reach my goals, having very nearly finished my GCSEs and having messed them up due to utmost laziness.

Well they make put you at somewhat of a disadvantage but of course it's still possible

Reply 15

Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
Appreciate your advice but this is more of a 'what if' rather than a 'i will get this'. I'm just wondering what to do in order to reach my goals, having very nearly finished my GCSEs and having messed them up due to utmost laziness.


If that's the case, doing 5 a levels will ONLY be harmful. You're better off with smashing step and getting 3A* or 3A*B than 5A* and worse step (which would be inevitable given you have finite time).

Reply 16

Original post
by soneowowwoeprj
Appreciate your advice but this is more of a 'what if' rather than a 'i will get this'. I'm just wondering what to do in order to reach my goals, having very nearly finished my GCSEs and having messed them up due to utmost laziness.

As in a reasonable number of other posts, those gcse grades would probably be ok, assuming you get a 9 in maths, but wont be the strongest (doesnt have to be). 5 a levels is unnecessary and cam are fairly explicit about saying theyd expect you to do what your school does, be that 3 or 4. Its worth having a look over their admissions/faq. Doing stuff early/acceleration wont necessarily impress anyone and if you did maths/further in y12, youd have to think about how youd get predicted grades on the other subjects. You wont be putting mat/tmua on your cam-maths application as the timing doesnt work. So much of the stuff you seem to be imagining will compensate for gcse grades isnt right.

I guess a few other things that havent really been mentioned. The interview plays a fairly big part of the application process and if youre teaching/accelerating yourself, its easy to neglect the supercurricular/deeper learning. Similarly, its easy to neglect doing a reasonable number of supercurriculars so you can "talk maths" in the interview (and construct a reasonable personal statement).

Reply 17

Original post
by mqb2766
As in a reasonable number of other posts, those gcse grades would probably be ok, assuming you get a 9 in maths, but wont be the strongest (doesnt have to be). 5 a levels is unnecessary and cam are fairly explicit about saying theyd expect you to do what your school does, be that 3 or 4. Its worth having a look over their admissions/faq. Doing stuff early/acceleration wont necessarily impress anyone and if you did maths/further in y12, youd have to think about how youd get predicted grades on the other subjects. You wont be putting mat/tmua on your cam-maths application as the timing doesnt work. So much of the stuff you seem to be imagining will compensate for gcse grades isnt right.
I guess a few other things that havent really been mentioned. The interview plays a fairly big part of the application process and if youre teaching/accelerating yourself, its easy to neglect the supercurricular/deeper learning. Similarly, its easy to neglect doing a reasonable number of supercurriculars so you can "talk maths" in the interview (and construct a reasonable personal statement).

To be fair, they don't really care so much about what you've done, it's more about demonstrating interest for the subject as opposed to just entering endless essay competitions or olympiads
(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 18

Original post
by isaac123444566
To be fair, they don't really care so much about what you've done, it's more about demonstrating interest for the subject as opposed to just entering endless essay competitions or olympiads

Agreed, the supercurriculars should be a mix and the op should leave enough time to demonstrate an interest/... Though once youve got through the initial application sift, doing harder sums for the interview and step is the main selection.

Reply 19

Original post
by mqb2766
Agreed, the supercurriculars should be a mix and the op should leave enough time to demonstrate an interest/... Though once youve got through the initial application sift, doing harder sums for the interview and step is the main selection.

Yeah

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