The Student Room Group

Latin ALevel help

I will be going into year 13 in September and will be applying for natural sciences at Cambridge. My predicted grades are:
A* in Biology, A* in Maths, A* in chemistry and an A in Latin.
As Latin is not needed for my course I have been focusing on it less but was hoping to bring my predicted grade up to an A* over the summer in order to make a more competitive application (as I am from an independent school where it is typical to take 4 ALevels and achieve A-A*).
I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to revise Latin quickly to get my grade up to an A* as my other subjects require a lot of my focus so I cannot spend as long on Latin as I would otherwise like to.
Thank you!

Reply 1

Original post
by escalating-kidna
I will be going into year 13 in September and will be applying for natural sciences at Cambridge. My predicted grades are:
A* in Biology, A* in Maths, A* in chemistry and an A in Latin.
As Latin is not needed for my course I have been focusing on it less but was hoping to bring my predicted grade up to an A* over the summer in order to make a more competitive application (as I am from an independent school where it is typical to take 4 ALevels and achieve A-A*).
I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to revise Latin quickly to get my grade up to an A* as my other subjects require a lot of my focus so I cannot spend as long on Latin as I would otherwise like to.
Thank you!

Are you applying for physical NatSci or biological? I presume it's biological.

Reply 2

Original post
by Reality Check
Are you applying for physical NatSci or biological? I presume it's biological.


Yes, Biological

Reply 3

Original post
by escalating-kidna
Yes, Biological

I really wouldn't fret about getting the A* in Latin. If you get A*A*A* in your science subjects, that should be more than sufficient, and the A in Latin is just a bonus. There is going to be no difference in your chances of being offered a place with an A*, rather than a A in Latin.

Reply 4

Original post
by escalating-kidna
I will be going into year 13 in September and will be applying for natural sciences at Cambridge. My predicted grades are:
A* in Biology, A* in Maths, A* in chemistry and an A in Latin.
As Latin is not needed for my course I have been focusing on it less but was hoping to bring my predicted grade up to an A* over the summer in order to make a more competitive application (as I am from an independent school where it is typical to take 4 ALevels and achieve A-A*).
I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to revise Latin quickly to get my grade up to an A* as my other subjects require a lot of my focus so I cannot spend as long on Latin as I would otherwise like to.
Thank you!

OP, 90% the story of my life this time last year! i took the SAME a levels and had equivalent uni aspirations, grade struggle & context. i could yap quite a bit about this (pm me if you want) but my 2p tldr: if cambs *natsci* is remotely medium-high priority for you, use this summer to focus on whipping up a killer admissions test & connecting your supercurriculars into a solid personal statement draft THEN strongly consider whether you can maintain your other grades alongside Latin next year, i.e. will continuing Latin take away too much energy to secure those key + stellar 3 grades. in that order. and make sure you are absolutely milking all the opportunities for application support from that independent school because 1 thing for certain is that everyone who can (& cannot) will.

Reply 5

Original post
by DativeMusca
OP, 90% the story of my life this time last year! i took the SAME a levels and had equivalent uni aspirations, grade struggle & context. i could yap quite a bit about this (pm me if you want) but my 2p tldr: if cambs *natsci* is remotely medium-high priority for you, use this summer to focus on whipping up a killer admissions test & connecting your supercurriculars into a solid personal statement draft THEN strongly consider whether you can maintain your other grades alongside Latin next year, i.e. will continuing Latin take away too much energy to secure those key + stellar 3 grades. in that order. and make sure you are absolutely milking all the opportunities for application support from that independent school because 1 thing for certain is that everyone who can (& cannot) will.


Thank so much that’s all super helpful!

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