medicine at oxford

I received 998888877 in my gcse’s (9 in eng lang , 7 in maths)
I plan on taking a gap year and applying for medicine for the 2026 cycle but im not sure whether oxford would be a risky option?
( i take bio chem maths spanish for alevels )
I know oxford look at UCAT and GCSE for shortlisting but I thought that maybe if I apply with my actual alevel results ( granted i get my A*s ) rather than predicteds they wld weigh my gcse’s less?
What do i doo, if not oxford what unis should i look at w these gcse

Reply 1

Literally_me

3

Original post

by Anonymous

I received 998888877 in my gcse’s (9 in eng lang , 7 in maths)
I plan on taking a gap year and applying for medicine for the 2026 cycle but im not sure whether oxford would be a risky option?
( i take bio chem maths spanish for alevels )
I know oxford look at UCAT and GCSE for shortlisting but I thought that maybe if I apply with my actual alevel results ( granted i get my A*s ) rather than predicteds they wld weigh my gcse’s less?
What do i doo, if not oxford what unis should i look at w these gcse

People do get interviews with your gcse grades to Oxford med, but keep in mind they tend to be the exceptions. If you went to a state school with an attainment 8 score less than 50 and get a top 3% UCAT then id tell you to risk it. If you went to a high performing school in any capacity or don’t get a UCAT in the top 3% (and this is very important, the average Oxford med applicant shortlisted this year had a UCAT in this range) then I’d suggest Cambridge instead.

No other uni will discriminate against you for those GCSE’s.

Reply 2

lanky_giraffe

16

Original post

by Anonymous

I received 998888877 in my gcse’s (9 in eng lang , 7 in maths)
I plan on taking a gap year and applying for medicine for the 2026 cycle but im not sure whether oxford would be a risky option?
( i take bio chem maths spanish for alevels )
I know oxford look at UCAT and GCSE for shortlisting but I thought that maybe if I apply with my actual alevel results ( granted i get my A*s ) rather than predicteds they wld weigh my gcse’s less?
What do i doo, if not oxford what unis should i look at w these gcse

As someone with an interview, you just get a top 3% UCAT, and you'll be fine (or 2% if you went to a top school)
(Easier said than done, however, hahaha). Focus on your A levels, tho, until after they are done

Unfortunately, Oxford is extremely algorithmic in how they shortlist for interview (50/50 GCSEs and UCAT), and so achieving highly in your A-levels won't help you to get shortlisted. It might help post-interview, but you need to get there first

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post

by lanky_giraffe

As someone with an interview, you just get a top 3% UCAT, and you'll be fine (or 2% if you went to a top school)
(Easier said than done, however, hahaha). Focus on your A levels, tho, until after they are done
Unfortunately, Oxford is extremely algorithmic in how they shortlist for interview (50/50 GCSEs and UCAT), and so achieving highly in your A-levels won't help you to get shortlisted. It might help post-interview, but you need to get there first