Low ESAT score - Do i still stand a chance

Hey! Your ESAT score is low for Imperial, but strong grades and a solid application mean it’s not impossible they do sometimes interview lower scorers. UCL is more flexible, so you still have a decent chance there. Not guaranteed, but definitely not over yet!

Okay thanks! I was unsure how much weight is actually put onto these entrance exams - but there have been lower scorers in the past that have got through, so hoping i’m one of them 🙏

Same, I’m applying for icl design eng and Cambridge and I got an average of 3-4. Just work on interview practice for the moment and pray to get one.

I didn’t do very well in the ESAT at all. With a score between 3-4, do i still stand a chance at getting an imperial interview, and an offer at ucl.
I’ve applied for EEE at UCL and EIE at Imperial, with 9999999999 and 4A*s, alongside a strong application in general. I have everything to a good standard except for my ESAT, which is majorly lacking compared to everything else.
I’ve heard stories of people getting interviews despite ESAT horror stories - is that a realistic aim for me still?

yeah i think it’s best to just double down and prepare hard for interviews. It’s a risk that we won’t get any but if we do then we have to outperform the rest to even stand a chance

My daughter has a contextual (fsm) so maybe this is also factored into the sifting.

i definitely understand where you’re coming from. I have no excuse though as someone who had all the resources available to them that other wouldn’t have. Surely there’s some contextual considerations to these entrance exams? it would totally be unfair if there weren’t.

hey, i got also got an esat score of 3-4ish and just received an interview invite from imperial for eee. i think it'll be fine

Hey - that’s so reassuring for me, especially considering the fact you’ve applied for a more competitive course than me! If you don’t mind sharing, what are your stats? (gcses alevels etc)

similar to yours, predicted 4A* and got 11 9s and 2 8s at gcse (tho i doubt they look at gcses much), i think my ps was alright ngl i can't tell 😭 but yeah considering not many people get rejected from eie i think you don't have much to worry about hopefully

ahh okay thanks. I was originally thinking i wouldn’t get an interview but i’m becoming much more hopeful ab it all now. I’ll just assume that the interview carries more weight for us than others, and also if we do get offers, they may be higher as we need to ‘prove ourselves’

Many years ago my middle daughter applied to Pembroke for engineering and at that time the test (TSA) was taken just before the interview. I don't think she was ever told what she got. After the first interview she was in tears and I think she thought she had nothing to lose in the 2nd interview. Anyway she was predicted A*A*A (physics, dt and further maths) having already A* in Maths and 5 AS levels at A grade. She was given an offer of A*A* in physics and further maths- she was predicted an A and they didn't want anything for dt.

ahhh ok interesting. I guess interviews are the type of thing where you can’t really tell how well you actually did. It’s also based on the tutors preference so they may have just liked her? I’m not sure tbh - just hoping i rub off on my interviewers in the right way 🤞