Oxbridge Computer Science: A Levels, TMUA/MAT prep, personal statement & WEX
Hi, I have a few questions regarding applications and personal statements.
I’m currently doing my GCSEs and aiming to apply to Oxbridge for Computer Science. For A levels, I’m planning to take Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science, and Economics. Would this be a suitable subject combination if I don’t take Physics, or would Physics be strongly recommended?
My main questions are about preparation. What can I do now to start preparing for admissions tests such as the TMUA and MAT? Are there any specific topics, problem-solving techniques, or resources (books, websites, competitions, etc.) that people would recommend?
In terms of the personal statement, what are the key things admissions tutors look for in a strong Computer Science statement? What kinds of supercurricular activities are most valuable (e.g. programming projects, competitions, MOOCs, reading), and how early should I start building these up?
I also wanted to ask about work experience. How important is work experience for Computer Science applications to Oxbridge, and what types are most useful or relevant? If formal CS work experience is hard to find, what alternatives would still be valued?
Additionally:
a) How important are GCSE results compared to admissions tests and interviews for Oxbridge Computer Science?
b) Does taking four A levels give any real advantage, or would three (including Further Maths) be just as strong?
c) Are there any common mistakes applicants make when preparing for CS at Oxbridge that I should try to avoid?
d) At what point should I start thinking about interview preparation, and what does good interview prep actually involve?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
I’m currently doing my GCSEs and aiming to apply to Oxbridge for Computer Science. For A levels, I’m planning to take Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science, and Economics. Would this be a suitable subject combination if I don’t take Physics, or would Physics be strongly recommended?
My main questions are about preparation. What can I do now to start preparing for admissions tests such as the TMUA and MAT? Are there any specific topics, problem-solving techniques, or resources (books, websites, competitions, etc.) that people would recommend?
In terms of the personal statement, what are the key things admissions tutors look for in a strong Computer Science statement? What kinds of supercurricular activities are most valuable (e.g. programming projects, competitions, MOOCs, reading), and how early should I start building these up?
I also wanted to ask about work experience. How important is work experience for Computer Science applications to Oxbridge, and what types are most useful or relevant? If formal CS work experience is hard to find, what alternatives would still be valued?
Additionally:
a) How important are GCSE results compared to admissions tests and interviews for Oxbridge Computer Science?
b) Does taking four A levels give any real advantage, or would three (including Further Maths) be just as strong?
c) Are there any common mistakes applicants make when preparing for CS at Oxbridge that I should try to avoid?
d) At what point should I start thinking about interview preparation, and what does good interview prep actually involve?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
Original post
by astro_mxHi, I have a few questions regarding applications and personal statements.
I’m currently doing my GCSEs and aiming to apply to Oxbridge for Computer Science. For A levels, I’m planning to take Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science, and Economics. Would this be a suitable subject combination if I don’t take Physics, or would Physics be strongly recommended?
My main questions are about preparation. What can I do now to start preparing for admissions tests such as the TMUA and MAT? Are there any specific topics, problem-solving techniques, or resources (books, websites, competitions, etc.) that people would recommend?
In terms of the personal statement, what are the key things admissions tutors look for in a strong Computer Science statement? What kinds of supercurricular activities are most valuable (e.g. programming projects, competitions, MOOCs, reading), and how early should I start building these up?
I also wanted to ask about work experience. How important is work experience for Computer Science applications to Oxbridge, and what types are most useful or relevant? If formal CS work experience is hard to find, what alternatives would still be valued?
Additionally:
a) How important are GCSE results compared to admissions tests and interviews for Oxbridge Computer Science?
b) Does taking four A levels give any real advantage, or would three (including Further Maths) be just as strong?
c) Are there any common mistakes applicants make when preparing for CS at Oxbridge that I should try to avoid?
d) At what point should I start thinking about interview preparation, and what does good interview prep actually involve?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
I’m currently doing my GCSEs and aiming to apply to Oxbridge for Computer Science. For A levels, I’m planning to take Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science, and Economics. Would this be a suitable subject combination if I don’t take Physics, or would Physics be strongly recommended?
My main questions are about preparation. What can I do now to start preparing for admissions tests such as the TMUA and MAT? Are there any specific topics, problem-solving techniques, or resources (books, websites, competitions, etc.) that people would recommend?
In terms of the personal statement, what are the key things admissions tutors look for in a strong Computer Science statement? What kinds of supercurricular activities are most valuable (e.g. programming projects, competitions, MOOCs, reading), and how early should I start building these up?
I also wanted to ask about work experience. How important is work experience for Computer Science applications to Oxbridge, and what types are most useful or relevant? If formal CS work experience is hard to find, what alternatives would still be valued?
Additionally:
a) How important are GCSE results compared to admissions tests and interviews for Oxbridge Computer Science?
b) Does taking four A levels give any real advantage, or would three (including Further Maths) be just as strong?
c) Are there any common mistakes applicants make when preparing for CS at Oxbridge that I should try to avoid?
d) At what point should I start thinking about interview preparation, and what does good interview prep actually involve?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
Hello.
A lot of people take physics, but you don't need it for CS. The key subjects are mathematics and (particularly for Oxbridge and a few other unis) further mathematics.
Your combination is fine.
TMUA and MAT prep can begin in Year 12. There's a lot of content in them that you wouldn't have covered at GCSE.
Oxford and Cambridge provide tips on what they want (hint: they want to see your academic interest in CS). The summer of year 11 is a good time to build them up.
Computer science is an academic subject, so whilst having relevant work experience may be useful to talk about in your personal statement, you will not be penalised if you do not have any.
a) Higher GCSEs can make your application more competitive
b) There's no massive benefit to doing four. Yes, it can demonstrate your ability to handle a higher workload, but then you have less time to research your subject and so on. It's better to get A*A*A than A*ABB. Maths/Further maths do go hand in hand though, so it is something you may be able to get away with. If your sixth form/college offers it, Oxford would expect you to take it (but not necessarily as a fourth A'level).
c) Might be best asking in the Cambridge undergraduate and Oxford undergraduate forums.
d) Again, year 12 would be the best time to start thinking seriously about this.
I admire your enthusiasm, but make sure your main focus is on your GCSEs! You don't want to run before you can walk.
Reply 2
14
Original post
by astro_mxHi, I have a few questions regarding applications and personal statements.
I’m currently doing my GCSEs and aiming to apply to Oxbridge for Computer Science. For A levels, I’m planning to take Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science, and Economics. Would this be a suitable subject combination if I don’t take Physics, or would Physics be strongly recommended?
My main questions are about preparation. What can I do now to start preparing for admissions tests such as the TMUA and MAT? Are there any specific topics, problem-solving techniques, or resources (books, websites, competitions, etc.) that people would recommend?
In terms of the personal statement, what are the key things admissions tutors look for in a strong Computer Science statement? What kinds of supercurricular activities are most valuable (e.g. programming projects, competitions, MOOCs, reading), and how early should I start building these up?
I also wanted to ask about work experience. How important is work experience for Computer Science applications to Oxbridge, and what types are most useful or relevant? If formal CS work experience is hard to find, what alternatives would still be valued?
Additionally:
a) How important are GCSE results compared to admissions tests and interviews for Oxbridge Computer Science?
b) Does taking four A levels give any real advantage, or would three (including Further Maths) be just as strong?
c) Are there any common mistakes applicants make when preparing for CS at Oxbridge that I should try to avoid?
d) At what point should I start thinking about interview preparation, and what does good interview prep actually involve?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
I’m currently doing my GCSEs and aiming to apply to Oxbridge for Computer Science. For A levels, I’m planning to take Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science, and Economics. Would this be a suitable subject combination if I don’t take Physics, or would Physics be strongly recommended?
My main questions are about preparation. What can I do now to start preparing for admissions tests such as the TMUA and MAT? Are there any specific topics, problem-solving techniques, or resources (books, websites, competitions, etc.) that people would recommend?
In terms of the personal statement, what are the key things admissions tutors look for in a strong Computer Science statement? What kinds of supercurricular activities are most valuable (e.g. programming projects, competitions, MOOCs, reading), and how early should I start building these up?
I also wanted to ask about work experience. How important is work experience for Computer Science applications to Oxbridge, and what types are most useful or relevant? If formal CS work experience is hard to find, what alternatives would still be valued?
Additionally:
a) How important are GCSE results compared to admissions tests and interviews for Oxbridge Computer Science?
b) Does taking four A levels give any real advantage, or would three (including Further Maths) be just as strong?
c) Are there any common mistakes applicants make when preparing for CS at Oxbridge that I should try to avoid?
d) At what point should I start thinking about interview preparation, and what does good interview prep actually involve?
Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
For TMUA/MAT, at this age you should be stretching your maths skills on hard problems. Try some junior maths kangaroo and junior maths Olympiad and intermediate maths challenge past papers from the UKMT website. The most recent years have detailed solutions with extra practice problems to implement what you've learned from the solution, which is nice.
If you can, take GCSE add maths, although it's not necessary.
https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/outreach/oxford-online-maths-club
If you're confident in your programming skills, check out https://usaco.guide/
Reply 3
14
If it is common to take 4 A levels at your 6th form they will question why you did not, otherwise gives no advantage. They are looking for students who are both the best in the county and the best in their own school.
But taking Economics gives you more options if your plans change, so I expect wise to take it, then drop it if the workload puts the 3 important grades at risk. You will not know if you love A level maths until you spend a term doing it, so taking Economics would allow dropping further mathematics and changing focus from "pure" computer sciance to software eng.
If you love the Economics and Maths, then you may decide to switch to MORSE at Warwick.
But taking Economics gives you more options if your plans change, so I expect wise to take it, then drop it if the workload puts the 3 important grades at risk. You will not know if you love A level maths until you spend a term doing it, so taking Economics would allow dropping further mathematics and changing focus from "pure" computer sciance to software eng.
If you love the Economics and Maths, then you may decide to switch to MORSE at Warwick.
(edited 2 months ago)
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