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Cambridge university on resits

Hi there i have a question. I haven't currently received my GCSE results yet but these are the grades I think I will get
9 - maths, further maths, physics, computer science
8 - chemistry, statistics
7 - biology, geography
5 - english language, english literature and spanish
99998877555

As I'm trying to apply for Cambridge computer science, if I retake both english language and spanish and push those grades to a 9 (hypothetically speaking) will it significantly affect my chances of being accepted into the uni. There were no contextual factors in the way of preventing me from doing good in language, literature and spanish. If im being honest, I just didn't revise as well for these subjects.

However if these gcse grades do not affect cambridge's decision significantly, what should i do during A levels to present myself as a more competitive candidate. (My A levels are maths, further maths, physcis and computer science). Also what score should i get in the TMUA in order for my gcse's to be overlooked.

Reply 1

Original post
by Anonymous
Hi there i have a question. I haven't currently received my GCSE results yet but these are the grades I think I will get
9 - maths, further maths, physics, computer science
8 - chemistry, statistics
7 - biology, geography
5 - english language, english literature and spanish
99998877555
As I'm trying to apply for Cambridge computer science, if I retake both english language and spanish and push those grades to a 9 (hypothetically speaking) will it significantly affect my chances of being accepted into the uni. There were no contextual factors in the way of preventing me from doing good in language, literature and spanish. If im being honest, I just didn't revise as well for these subjects.
However if these gcse grades do not affect cambridge's decision significantly, what should i do during A levels to present myself as a more competitive candidate. (My A levels are maths, further maths, physcis and computer science). Also what score should i get in the TMUA in order for my gcse's to be overlooked.

Cambridge state:
"There are no GCSE (or equivalent) requirements for entry to Cambridge.
We will look at your GCSE results as an indicator of your academic performance. But this will be within the context of the performance of the school/college where you achieved your GCSEs."
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/accepted-qualifications

As you do not have your actual results yet, I would wait for those and make decisions based on reality over speculation. I would add that you should focus on doing the very best you can on your A levels and not get distracted by resitting lots of GCSEs (how is resitting Spanish going to help you with Computer Science?).

Good luck!

Reply 2

Alright then, thank you for the advice. I was thinking about resiting spanish because if i were to get a 9 again, my gcse profile would look better.

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
Hi there i have a question. I haven't currently received my GCSE results yet but these are the grades I think I will get
9 - maths, further maths, physics, computer science
8 - chemistry, statistics
7 - biology, geography
5 - english language, english literature and spanish
99998877555
As I'm trying to apply for Cambridge computer science, if I retake both english language and spanish and push those grades to a 9 (hypothetically speaking) will it significantly affect my chances of being accepted into the uni. There were no contextual factors in the way of preventing me from doing good in language, literature and spanish. If im being honest, I just didn't revise as well for these subjects.
However if these gcse grades do not affect cambridge's decision significantly, what should i do during A levels to present myself as a more competitive candidate. (My A levels are maths, further maths, physcis and computer science). Also what score should i get in the TMUA in order for my gcse's to be overlooked.

You can't have your gcse's 'overlooked.' They form part of a broader application, so you'll just have to do the best you can on other parts of your application. Read Cambridge's website - they have tips for every part for you to help strengthen your application.You should do some extra reading/learning beyond a level, engage in some supercurriculars and just in general demonstrate a passion for compsci whether that be through courses, coding projects or anything else.
Original post
by Anonymous
Hi there i have a question. I haven't currently received my GCSE results yet but these are the grades I think I will get
9 - maths, further maths, physics, computer science
8 - chemistry, statistics
7 - biology, geography
5 - english language, english literature and spanish
99998877555

As I'm trying to apply for Cambridge computer science, if I retake both english language and spanish and push those grades to a 9 (hypothetically speaking) will it significantly affect my chances of being accepted into the uni. There were no contextual factors in the way of preventing me from doing good in language, literature and spanish. If im being honest, I just didn't revise as well for these subjects.

However if these gcse grades do not affect cambridge's decision significantly, what should i do during A levels to present myself as a more competitive candidate. (My A levels are maths, further maths, physcis and computer science). Also what score should i get in the TMUA in order for my gcse's to be overlooked.


I got a 6 in English Language and 5s in Drama and RS and I'm a Cambridge Maths student. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Reply 5

Original post
by isaac123444566
You can't have your gcse's 'overlooked.' They form part of a broader application, so you'll just have to do the best you can on other parts of your application. Read Cambridge's website - they have tips for every part for you to help strengthen your application.You should do some extra reading/learning beyond a level, engage in some supercurriculars and just in general demonstrate a passion for compsci whether that be through courses, coding projects or anything else.

alright then thank you

Reply 6

Original post
by melancollege
I got a 6 in English Language and 5s in Drama and RS and I'm a Cambridge Maths student. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

alright then thank you

Reply 7

Original post
by Anonymous
Hi there i have a question. I haven't currently received my GCSE results yet but these are the grades I think I will get
9 - maths, further maths, physics, computer science
8 - chemistry, statistics
7 - biology, geography
5 - english language, english literature and spanish
99998877555
As I'm trying to apply for Cambridge computer science, if I retake both english language and spanish and push those grades to a 9 (hypothetically speaking) will it significantly affect my chances of being accepted into the uni. There were no contextual factors in the way of preventing me from doing good in language, literature and spanish. If im being honest, I just didn't revise as well for these subjects.
However if these gcse grades do not affect cambridge's decision significantly, what should i do during A levels to present myself as a more competitive candidate. (My A levels are maths, further maths, physcis and computer science). Also what score should i get in the TMUA in order for my gcse's to be overlooked.

I guess your gcse grades have been addressed. For stuff during your a levels, there are supercurricular lists/examples at oxbridge
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
https://www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate/outreach/students/super-curriculars-and-resources/
as well as other lists/advice, just google.

Im sure youre aware that cs is one of the most competitive courses, so 1 in 10 at cam (roughly) and worse at some other places. And there have been a few tales of seemingly very capable kids falling through the cracks with either messing up admission tests or interviews or being too ambitious with their 5 choices or ,,,. So do take the supercurriculars and the admission tests seriously, but no idea what mark youd need for tmua and it obv changed a bit last year.
(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 8

Original post
by mqb2766
I guess your gcse grades have been addressed. For stuff during your a levels, there are supercurricular lists/examples at oxbridge
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf
https://www.st-annes.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate/outreach/students/super-curriculars-and-resources/
as well as other lists/advice, just google.
Im sure youre aware that cs is one of the most competitive courses, so 1 in 10 at cam (roughly) and worse at some other places. And there have been a few tales of seemingly very capable kids falling through the cracks with either messing up admission tests or interviews or being too ambitious with their 5 choices or ,,,. So do take the supercurriculars and the admission tests seriously, but no idea what mark youd need for tmua and it obv changed a bit last year.

Will the fact that Im retaking gcses affect cambridge's decision to pick me? Thanks a lot for the link btw!

Reply 9

Original post
by Anonymous
Will the fact that Im retaking gcses affect cambridge's decision to pick me? Thanks a lot for the link btw!

I thought the other replies said not really to worry? Youve got the top grades in the subjects that matter for cs so Im not sure retakes are necessary.

Note there are a few posts on here that mention the some of the supercurriculars they did when they applied to cam (and similar) for cs. So just google for them if you want to.

Reply 10

Original post
by mqb2766
I thought the other replies said not really to worry? Youve got the top grades in the subjects that matter for cs so Im not sure retakes are necessary.
Note there are a few posts on here that mention the some of the supercurriculars they did when they applied to cam (and similar) for cs. So just google for them if you want to.

Alright thanks

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