Cambridge offers and predicted grades

14

Hi, I've applied for English at Cambridge with 3A*s predicted in English, RS and Art, which I believe I will achieve. I'm also pretty happy with the written work I'm going to submit, as well as my personal statement and teacher reference. I also got a full ten 9s at GCSE.

My main worry is my A* EPQ predicted grade. I simply don't think I have the time to get an A* in EPQ, recently I have had to massively change my project due to risk of dual accreditation and am basically having to start my research and essay from scratch.

Does anyone know how predicted grades work for Cambridge? Will they simply give you an offer which is the same as your predicted grades, or could it potentially be lower? (i.e. in the same way as other unis, I got an offer from Leeds for only AAA).
If your offer is the same as your predicted grades, could I potentially still be accepted if I got an A or worst case B in EPQ if the rest of my application was strong?

(I know this is very much in advance, and all based on whether I even get an offer, but it's honestly making me so anxious that I'm finding it hard to work).

Many thanks to anyone who could please offer some wisdom! :smile:

Reply 1

mariokart943

9

Oxbridge don't really include EPQ as part of the offer so it wouldn't matter

Reply 2

gabi56

OP

14

Original post

by mariokart943

Oxbridge don't really include EPQ as part of the offer so it wouldn't matter

Thank you for replying! That is a relief to hear. When you say they don’t really include it, what do you mean sorry? Like if they gave you an offer, it would only be a conditional offer based on you meeting your predicted grades for your 3 A-Levels?

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

My daughter started at Cambridge this year. Her predicted grades were 3 A*s and her offer was for 2A*s and A. She didn’t do an EPQ, she read a lot which helped for her supracuriculars and her interview.. Oxbridge offers do not include EPQ grades, I have not come across this at least. In fact on various threads I have read advice to the effect of spending time focusing on your A level grades rather than risking those by spending too much time on your EPQ. Your EPQ will be related to English I imagine and the research you may do might be helpful for interview for example, but it’s the reading around your subject and demonstrating intellectual curiosity that’s the most important. This is what I learned from observing her journey, but hopefully you will receive other answers too. Best of luck ❤️

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

The fact that the school thinks you're capable of an A* makes you look good but they don't care what you actually get.

Reply 5

gabi56

OP

14

Original post

by Anonymous

My daughter started at Cambridge this year. Her predicted grades were 3 A*s and her offer was for 2A*s and A. She didn’t do an EPQ, she read a lot which helped for her supracuriculars and her interview.. Oxbridge offers do not include EPQ grades, I have not come across this at least. In fact on various threads I have read advice to the effect of spending time focusing on your A level grades rather than risking those by spending too much time on your EPQ. Your EPQ will be related to English I imagine and the research you may do might be helpful for interview for example, but it’s the reading around your subject and demonstrating intellectual curiosity that’s the most important. This is what I learned from observing her journey, but hopefully you will receive other answers too. Best of luck ❤️

Okay, that is such a relief to know, thank you! Your answer has helped my stress levels so much ❤️

Reply 6

gabi56

OP

14

Original post

by Anonymous

The fact that the school thinks you're capable of an A* makes you look good but they don't care what you actually get.

Thank you for your reply! That is such a relief.

Reply 7

mariokart943

9

Original post

by gabi56

Thank you for replying! That is a relief to hear. When you say they don’t really include it, what do you mean sorry? Like if they gave you an offer, it would only be a conditional offer based on you meeting your predicted grades for your 3 A-Levels?

Yep, the epq isnt included in the offer but I think it's a good think to mention in your interview which is what I'm going to use it for

Reply 8

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

18

Your EPQ would not be included in your offer and generally the standard offer* based on A-Levels alone is given. On occasion, they will set a higher offer to applicants but this is not common and having predicted grades that are higher than the standard offer would not usually be reason alone.

*A*AA for Humanities, A*A*A for STEM

Reply 9

Anonymous #3

I think focus on 3 strong A*'s and wider reading just like the mother in the thread suggests. EPQ is not majorly important - I'm not sure why schools offer it really as employers don't seem to care nor do universities. Best of luck to you anyway! :smile:

Reply 10

gabi56

OP

14

Original post

by Anonymous

I think focus on 3 strong A*'s and wider reading just like the mother in the thread suggests. EPQ is not majorly important - I'm not sure why schools offer it really as employers don't seem to care nor do universities. Best of luck to you anyway! :smile:

Thank you so much! I have been invited to interview 🥳.