The Student Room Group

Realistically, how hard is it to get SS in STEP?

I've just started year 12. I've finished all of the content for maths and further maths, have got over 90% on quite a few past papers from both and never below 80. I've answered some STEP questions fully without hints, and so far I've done
https://nrich.maths.org/prepare-university-pure-mathematics all sections and subsections
Euclid's algo all sections
All mini exercises
Modular arithmetic all sections
https://nrich.maths.org/articles/introduction-complex-numbers
https://nrich.maths.org/prepare-university-applied-mathematics all sections
My school does fm1 and fs1 for further maths but I plan to study fp1+2 fm2 and fs2 on top of that. we don't have predictions yet but i'm pretty confident i'm going to get at least A*A*A*A*A (maths fm phy comp sci chem) + Distinction in AEA (i'm not doing 5 to boost application, it's out of interest) and a few of the foundation modules on cambridge's website but I plan to do them all, then all the later modules.
I've answered a few olympiad level func equations and can do so quicker than needed but competition maths isn't really my favourite aside from func equations (but I will study for smc in year 13 so that i can get at least get a good result for personal statement)
I'm going to keep going on NRICH and do all of the sections on all 24 modules which could be useful for maths.
Realistically, is it possible or likely for me to get SS in STEP if I keep working? I really want to get into trinity college at cambridge and would be disappointed if pooled into a different one so I really want SS to make sure I have a good chance (according to an foi request, the average trinity college offer holder gets S1 in STEP).

Reply 1

Original post
by Anonymous
I've just started year 12. I've finished all of the content for maths and further maths, have got over 90% on quite a few past papers from both and never below 80. I've answered some STEP questions fully without hints, and so far I've done
https://nrich.maths.org/prepare-university-pure-mathematics all sections and subsections
Euclid's algo all sections
All mini exercises
Modular arithmetic all sections
https://nrich.maths.org/articles/introduction-complex-numbers
https://nrich.maths.org/prepare-university-applied-mathematics all sections
My school does fm1 and fs1 for further maths but I plan to study fp1+2 fm2 and fs2 on top of that. we don't have predictions yet but i'm pretty confident i'm going to get at least A*A*A*A*A (maths fm phy comp sci chem) + Distinction in AEA (i'm not doing 5 to boost application, it's out of interest) and a few of the foundation modules on cambridge's website but I plan to do them all, then all the later modules.
I've answered a few olympiad level func equations and can do so quicker than needed but competition maths isn't really my favourite aside from func equations (but I will study for smc in year 13 so that i can get at least get a good result for personal statement)
I'm going to keep going on NRICH and do all of the sections on all 24 modules which could be useful for maths.
Realistically, is it possible or likely for me to get SS in STEP if I keep working? I really want to get into trinity college at cambridge and would be disappointed if pooled into a different one so I really want SS to make sure I have a good chance (according to an foi request, the average trinity college offer holder gets S1 in STEP).

You could definitely 😀 I also just started yr 12 and I can say that STEP is pretty fun once you get the hang of it. With some Olympiad background, I tried it out last year and although I didn't get S,S (I got like a 1,2 cough cough (90ish,50ish)) I already feel way better now that I've actually started preparing, like reading STEP related books (advanced problems in mathematics) instead of just going in blind. You also seem way better than me 'cause no wayy am I ever gonna get that many A*s, so definitly! (I'm still not gonna apply to Trinity thought I don't believe in myself but good luck to you!) On a side note, I thought SMC was for students yr 12 or under? I could be wrong tho

Reply 2

Usually, you get your SMC result after the UCAS deadline for sending in your application. Even though the average person who holds a Trinity offer gets a grade S,1 overall, that doesn't actually mean the average standard is S,1. I knew that some students probably didn't put a huge amount of effort into STEP because their offer only required a 1,1 anyway, so they didn't really need to push for a higher grade.

Reply 3

This post is so stupid lmfao. There should be no reason , based on what you’re saying , that you don’t get SS, the only way you don’t is if you burn out. Also it’s too late for smc , you’ll apply early next year , not in time to disclose any results from any of the UKMT. U won’t need to anyway

Reply 4

Starting STEP prep early is definitely a good idea - although it's a good idea to try add some supercurriculars (Cam has a list). I really enjoyed doing BMO questions so I'd advise those - also good interview prep (or so I've been told...)

Reply 5

Original post
by Anonymous
You could definitely 😀 I also just started yr 12 and I can say that STEP is pretty fun once you get the hang of it. With some Olympiad background, I tried it out last year and although I didn't get S,S (I got like a 1,2 cough cough (90ish,50ish)) I already feel way better now that I've actually started preparing, like reading STEP related books (advanced problems in mathematics) instead of just going in blind. You also seem way better than me 'cause no wayy am I ever gonna get that many A*s, so definitly! (I'm still not gonna apply to Trinity thought I don't believe in myself but good luck to you!) On a side note, I thought SMC was for students yr 12 or under? I could be wrong tho
SMC is for y13 or under. Also a 1,2 in y11 is really good so don't worry lol.

Reply 6

Original post
by Anonymous
Usually, you get your SMC result after the UCAS deadline for sending in your application. Even though the average person who holds a Trinity offer gets a grade S,1 overall, that doesn't actually mean the average standard is S,1. I knew that some students probably didn't put a huge amount of effort into STEP because their offer only required a 1,1 anyway, so they didn't really need to push for a higher grade.

Ohhh, ok. That's really useful to know since I would've wasted a lot of time on learning things that wouldn't help my application as much as other things could

Reply 7

Original post
by stand-up-lockup
This post is so stupid lmfao. There should be no reason , based on what you’re saying , that you don’t get SS, the only way you don’t is if you burn out. Also it’s too late for smc , you’ll apply early next year , not in time to disclose any results from any of the UKMT. U won’t need to anyway
I was just worried since i've heard of a lot of really smart people missing their STEP offer so want to make sure it doesn't happen to me. Thx for telling me about ukmt

Reply 8

Original post
by Maths351225
Starting STEP prep early is definitely a good idea - although it's a good idea to try add some supercurriculars (Cam has a list). I really enjoyed doing BMO questions so I'd advise those - also good interview prep (or so I've been told...)
I'm going to start supercurriculars soon, thanks though

Reply 9

Original post
by Anonymous
SMC is for y13 or under. Also a 1,2 in y11 is really good so don't worry lol.

Thank you broo. Good luck to you too

Quick Reply

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.