The Student Room Group

PPE at Oxford requirements

For those of you who got an offer this year well done! Was wondering what the general stats were accross predicted grades and GCSE's as I'm set on applying next year but not sure with my current GCSE's. Any tips for personal statements etc. would be greatly appreciated. Good luck for everyone's A levels this summer!!

Reply 1

Original post
by Anonymous
For those of you who got an offer this year well done! Was wondering what the general stats were accross predicted grades and GCSE's as I'm set on applying next year but not sure with my current GCSE's. Any tips for personal statements etc. would be greatly appreciated. Good luck for everyone's A levels this summer!!

You need predicted or achieved grades of AAA or equivalent. Some posters here may tell you that you need grades higher than AAA. That is not so. Those posters mistake correlation for causation.

As to GCSEs, Oxford says this -

"GCSEs (or IGCSEs) will be taken into account when we consider your application but they are just one aspect that we look at. GCSE results will be considered alongside your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades and performance in any written work or written test required for your course. If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account.
Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context where possible."


The current admission cycle is in progress. Candidates are being interviewed this week. Offers of places will be made in January.

Good luck in your studies and university applications.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/philosophy-politics-and-economics

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications

https://www.ppe.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/ppe-admissions-2024-25-information-for-applicants-final.pdf
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

Original post
by Stiffy Byng
You need predicted achieved grades of AAA or equivalent. Some posters here may tell you that you need grades higher than AAA. That is not so. Those posters mistake correlation for causation.
As to GCSEs, Oxford says this -
"GCSEs (or IGCSEs) will be taken into account when we consider your application but they are just one aspect that we look at. GCSE results will be considered alongside your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades and performance in any written work or written test required for your course. If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account.
Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades. However, we do look at GCSE grades in context where possible."
The current admission cycle is in progress. Candidates are being interviewed this week. Offers of places will be made in January.
Good luck in your studies and university applications.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/philosophy-politics-and-economics
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/uk-qualifications
https://www.ppe.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/ppe-admissions-2024-25-information-for-applicants-final.pdf

thank u!

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
For those of you who got an offer this year well done! Was wondering what the general stats were accross predicted grades and GCSE's as I'm set on applying next year but not sure with my current GCSE's. Any tips for personal statements etc. would be greatly appreciated. Good luck for everyone's A levels this summer!!
Remember that 95% of applicants for PPE have studied an A-Level in Maths.

Reply 4

Original post
by thegeek888
Remember that 95% of applicants for PPE have studied an A-Level in Maths.

do you think itll be a deal breaker that ive only got 3 alevels (incl. maths) but no further maths

Reply 5

Original post
by Anonymous
do you think itll be a deal breaker that ive only got 3 alevels (incl. maths) but no further maths
95% of applicants had A-Level Maths and a small minority had A-Level Further Maths in recent years. So, you're fine. 🙂

Reply 6

Original post
by thegeek888
Remember that 95% of applicants for PPE have studied an A-Level in Maths.

We both know that you have made up that number. Maths is very useful for PPE but not everyone who has gotten into Oxford for PPE has done maths A level (even though the majority have done it)

Reply 7

Original post
by kingsleyartha
We both know that you have made up that number. Maths is very useful for PPE but not everyone who has gotten into Oxford for PPE has done maths A level (even though the majority have done it)
No, why would I make up that number? 😧

"Of the applicants offering A-Levels, 855 had A-Level Maths (or Maths and Further Maths).

Of the 451 applicants offering A-Levels who were interviewed, 417 (92%) had A-Level Maths.

Of the 178 applicants offering A-Levels who were awarded a place, 171 (96%) had Maths."

Microsoft Word - PPE_admissions_2023-24_further_statistics_final

Reply 8

Original post
by thegeek888
No, why would I make up that number? 😧
"Of the applicants offering A-Levels, 855 had A-Level Maths (or Maths and Further Maths).
Of the 451 applicants offering A-Levels who were interviewed, 417 (92%) had A-Level Maths.
Of the 178 applicants offering A-Levels who were awarded a place, 171 (96%) had Maths."
Microsoft Word - PPE_admissions_2023-24_further_statistics_final

You said '95% of applicants do A level maths'- here, you have said 855, but out of how many?

Reply 9

Read the sentence that TG888 put in bold and you will see that he is correct on this occasion (though he should have said “over 95% of successful applicants”.

Reply 10

Also the document he links to gives the figure for how many applicants did A levels and so from that you can work out the percentage that 855 is out of.

Reply 11

Original post
by kingsleyartha
You said '95% of applicants do A level maths'- here, you have said 855, but out of how many?
That's the total number of A-Level applicants.

The figure which is important is the "INTERVIEWED" applicants who were made an offer:

Of the 178 applicants offering A-Levels who were awarded a place, 171 (96%) had Maths."

So, 96% had A-Level Maths.
Original post
by Anonymous
do you think itll be a deal breaker that ive only got 3 alevels (incl. maths) but no further maths


I don't believe it's really considered essential and believe those taking FM have a similar success rate as those not taking it. As long as you're taking A-level Maths then you should be covered on the mathematical preparation front :smile:

Taking more than 3 A-levels is not necessary.

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.