Please help - Cambridge law?

I really want to go to Cambridge Uni for law, the minimum grade requirements is A*AA
My predicted grades are: A*A*A
However my GCSE’s aren’t strong
Will this weaken my application and mean I won’t get in??

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by Aviator29

Yes, it will weaken your application. No, it doesn't mean you won't get in.

Cambridge will look at your application "holistically", meaning that they're not just ticking a "has the candidate got X GCSEs at grade Y" box, but will use your GCSE results (along with every other aspect of your application) to help understand your academic ability. They'll also look at your GCSE results in the context of others at your school, which might reveal that although your results "aren’t strong", they're very good for your school.

Reply 2

Reality Check

Original post

by Aviator29

Define 'not strong'. What are your A level subjects?

Reply 3

Aviator29

Original post

by Reality Check

Define 'not strong'. What are your A level subjects?

I passed all of them and got grades ranging from 7-4, averaging a 5/6. (Ik they’re not great)
I’m taking Law, English Language and Philosophy

Reply 4

Reality Check

Original post

by Aviator29

I passed all of them and got grades ranging from 7-4, averaging a 5/6. (Ik they’re not great)
I’m taking Law, English Language and Philosophy

In terms of the GCSEs, they're not dreadful, so I can't really see that being a problem. What did you get at GCSE maths - I'm presuming you got a 6 at English?

Cambridge doesn't put a huge emphasis on GCSE results, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. They're more interested in progression from an academic point of view, so if you're predicted a strong result in your A levels (which you are), that shouldn't really cause an issue. Remember that Cambridge tends to invite everyone with a realistic chance of being in the running to interview (c.f. Oxford's 'deselection' process), so I think now it's a matter of concentrating on getting A*A*A or higher^† in the A levels and smashing the LNAT.

^†two-thirds of offer holders have A*A*A or higher

Reply 5

Aviator29

Original post

by Reality Check

In terms of the GCSEs, they're not dreadful, so I can't really see that being a problem. What did you get at GCSE maths - I'm presuming you got a 6 at English?
Cambridge doesn't put a huge emphasis on GCSE results, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. They're more interested in progression from an academic point of view, so if you're predicted a strong result in your A levels (which you are), that shouldn't really cause an issue. Remember that Cambridge tends to invite everyone with a realistic chance of being in the running to interview (c.f. Oxford's 'deselection' process), so I think now it's a matter of concentrating on getting A*A*A or higher^† in the A levels and smashing the LNAT.
^†two-thirds of offer holders have A*A*A or higher

Thank you very much for the advice.
I got 1 mark off an 8 in English Language
6 in English Literature
4 in maths

Im hoping the other elements of my application are strong enough to overlook the weaker GCSE grades

Reply 6

Reality Check

Original post

by Aviator29

Thank you very much for the advice.
I got 1 mark off an 8 in English Language
6 in English Literature
4 in maths
Im hoping the other elements of my application are strong enough to overlook the weaker GCSE grades

No problem. I think there could be a question about the grade 4 in maths, even though Cambridge has no specific GCSE requirements. I also remember quite a few fellow law students at Cambridge who had done A level maths. Maths is obviously not a 'requirement' but it perhaps illustrates that maths, or rather the skills learnt through mathematical study in regards to rigour and accuracy are in fact quite relevant to law - and that getting a grade 4 in GCSE maths could be a little bit of a concern to an AT. I'm sure this isn't insurmountable though.