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lower 33% of oxbridge candidates score 87-90%?

Vazzyb

Don't agree with that. People always make it a point to mention 300s (or close ones) in their PS to Oxford. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to ignore the fact that a student finds AS level (a lot more advanced than the saturated world of 10A* GCSEs) really easy and gets all their module scores over 290.
The opposite is probably not true, low UMS marks don't get mentioned.

Yeah, I mean, that could be the case. But because they're not (or were not?) universally declared it'd probably be a bit risky to take them into account if they're trying to decide between two candidates. It's at the applicant's discretion, and one might not have thought or bothered to include them (or thought it mattered :dontknow:

). I mean, you'd expect it to be the case that they'd get a mention, but all in all the tutors would be basing their decisions on what is essentially guessing (that an applicant doesn't have 290+).

Reply 21

Turdburger

16

Vazzyb

Don't agree with that. People always make it a point to mention 300s (or close ones) in their PS to Oxford. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to ignore the fact that a student finds AS level (a lot more advanced than the saturated world of 10A* GCSEs) really easy and gets all their module scores over 290.
The opposite is probably not true, low UMS marks don't get mentioned.

But its not fair to relay on teachers not to be stupid, as they often are as this thread proves.

Reply 22

cpchem

14

Mentioning module marks in your personal statement is more than just a little tragic - it's not what it's there for. If you were to want that kind of (frankly pathetic) bragging done, then you'd make sure it was shoehorned into the reference.

Reply 23

tabbycat1

9

kittykat3

I got a B in one of my modules and I got in ... but i did get 90% in all my other modules. Still theres no reason not to try seems like you're getting really good grades and you can explain your situation in ur personal statement x

Hell I got Bs in 2 of my AS levels and got in! OP stop worrying :yep:

Reply 24

7589200

18

Yup I agree with both of you. Teachers can be stupid and thus, it becomes a unreliable comparitive measure. But it could work as a 'clincher' or 'redeeming' factor. Let me explain...

One of the medicine tutors at my college said that the way they pick the 25 people who get offers subject at my college is to have a list of about 10 or 15 people who they found excellent in every way or just got the 'impression' that they were really good. I think that if they have say 290, 295, 300 etc. in their AS levels, it may clinch them the offer because it agrees with all the information they currently have available. You can argue that this is making a comparison still, but its certainly not a direct one.

The direct comparison stage only comes in to picture when they consider the final few people for places. And in this stage, it would be unfair to use them because of the reasons you've mentioned. It may also be used as a redeeming factor for someone with poor GCSEs to be considered in the final few places, but giving them no particular leverage with that group.

Anyway, speculation :p:

- i don't agree with "they dont matter" though lol.

Reply 25

7589200

18

cpchem

Mentioning module marks in your personal statement is more than just a little tragic - it's not what it's there for. If you were to want that kind of (frankly pathetic) bragging done, then you'd make sure it was shoehorned into the reference.

Its not "frankly pathetic" - do you hate AS levels or something?
I don't mean the PS, i mean the reference. At my school, and we get 10 or so people into Oxford every year, its standard practice to mention good AS levels in the reference to Oxford.
Its just common sense.

Reply 26

Andy the Anarchist

10

I had my full mark AS level mentioned in my references (because it was for History and my head of department is an Oxbridge obsessed lunatic).

It genuinely doesn't matter very much though, an A really is an A (ignoring the fact that a 300 makes it much easier to get an A overall than a 240). If you think you can get AAA then apply, Oxford don't appear to be as UMS focused as Cambridge.

Reply 27

lukaefc

8

At a conference about this at Haydock I was told by one of them that the AVERAGE module score for entrants is 87%. Sounds a bit iffy to me but that's what they said. Either way, Oxford don't see your mark.

Reply 28

thenewromance1234

14

Jilly.0

Hi everyone,
i have just came to uk to do my sixth form last december...as such, i could not do 2 out of 3 AS modules in january as i only had two weeks to study and i missed the whole january syllabus.. As such, i only did chemistry, which i scored 82% in..
I will be taking all my missed modules with the retakers in june. My teacher, however, told me that it is near pointless to even think about applying to oxford ( or cambridge) law as it is a waste of time if u do not get 87-90% minimum for EVERY SINGLE MODULE...
This seriously scared me because i fully expected As ( meaning 80 and above) to be enough for oxford application..Is getting 87% and above very important for oxford or cambridge law?

Can someone advise me on this?
Also, i would like to ask if i should still apply to oxbridge if i get a B in one of my AS modules ( which i think i will.. my 4 subjects are physics, chemistry, math and economics).

Having missed a whole term's work, i have an ominous feeling for my coming economics module.

Lastly, any advise on university choices for law?
HELP!!! Sorry for sounding desperate but i came to the uk with the intention of scoring and making it to the best university i can, giving oxbridge my best shot.. so i want to get as much information as i can.

cheers.

Your teacher is wrong by the way. My friend got into Oxford Law with a D in English Lit, As in Geography and Psychology and possibly a B in Biology (might've been an A - not sure but I know she got a D in one of the modules), so AAAD/AABD so the 87-90% in every module is ********.

At cam, they are supposedly more UMS focused. My reason for rejection was for getting 86% in Physics (for an Economics degree by the way) which was apparently a 'worrying underperformance' yet they accepted overall that I had extenuating circumstances (ill throughout the year) so what I found weird was that they were fine with my relatively low Economics grade since I'd missed a whole term.

Reply 29

alveolus

11

i didnt get over 90% in all modules, not even many of them. in fact in one of my a levels i got a b, and im in cambridge. so long a you are getting your 3A's and hopefully some more good stuff (a fourth a level or some AEA's) you're as good as the next person.

Reply 30

nuodai

17

My UMS marks (in %) from AS:
99 98 93 92 90 88 87 85 85 83 77 77 63

That's 6 out of 14 that were under 87% (three weren't even A grades)... so really, your teacher is spouting absolute rubbish.

My A2s so far are 99 94 94 86 83 82, so once again half of them are under 87%.

Reply 31

JoMo1

12

Completely not true. Once you've been dragged through the interview process you'll understand what a worthless indicator of ability exam marks are. If you think you're good enough, apply, let Oxbridge decide what they're gonna decide it on.

Reply 32

thenewromance1234

14

jismith1989

I'm sure that I heard that they've included a space for them on the newest application form (i.e. the paper one, not necessarily UCAS).

There's a new application form?! And I'm gonna be competing with a bunch of people predicted A* now doubt. Ugh.

Reply 33

PsYCho ThInKeR

11

Dont know about applying at cambridge and all that but...
my mate has got a offer for law at cambridge and his offer says: atleast 90% in each subject. :yep:

saw it on track myself
maybe he was 'ok' at the interview thats why his offer is so high

Reply 34

Vivisteiner

I know someone who did 4 ASs and he never got below 90% in any of his papers. He didn't get an offer.

Someone else I know got all As, but fairly mediocre ones such as around 85%. He got in.

Reply 35

Andy the Anarchist

10

Clements-

There's a new application form?! And I'm gonna be competing with a bunch of people predicted A* now doubt. Ugh.

I'm so glad I got in this year

Reply 36

thenewromance1234

14

Andy the Anarchist

I'm so glad I got in this year

I didn't even apply there this year. I'm taking a gap year. If this whole A* thing hasn't already messed up some of my choices, this form will even more.

Reply 37

xanthian

Always go for it. You might get rejected, but you'll always wonder if you don't even apply. Also, if you did it in two weeks, tell them that! If you've got the quick thinking personality that can back up your claim in the interview, you'd be surprised how much that impresses them. I barely scraped the entrance requirements, but still got into St. A's, Durham, Bryn Mawr and UPenn--because scraped I might have, but all my A-Levels were self-taught.

Reply 38

cpchem

14

Vazzyb

Its not "frankly pathetic" - do you hate AS levels or something?
I don't mean the PS, i mean the reference. At my school, and we get 10 or so people into Oxford every year, its standard practice to mention good AS levels in the reference to Oxford.
Its just common sense.

The difference between a few UMS marks is completely insignificant. The assumption that they matter to any great extent is, to be honest, mad. Once you're much above 85%, who cares? Beyond that point, half of the game is just exam technique and box-ticking: I don't see that it correlates to intelligence or aptitude especially well - it probably shows extensive coaching above all else. A-levels are fundamentally limited in this regard - they give no opportunity for meaningful comparison to be made at the top end.
I would also suggest that whether or not your school mentions AS marks or not bears little relation to the number of students who get in - the likelihood is that it's just a good school. From speaking to my tutors, I know full well that they pay scant regard to personal statements or references - both are just formalities, really. As long as you've managed to cobble together a few sentences, and your teacher hasn't slated you, they're taken as read and forgotten about.

Reply 39

Melz0r

16

TSR is terrible for this sort of thing. I only started reading the threads in the Cambridge forum the night before my yay/nay letter was due, and I didn't actually KNOW what my UMS were! I hadn't memorised them! Shock, horror! It's as if I didn't know my own name! I went and dug my results out and worked them out, and I still can't remember them... I think they were roughly 90 but my History was 86 or something. And I got in. But the point is, DON'T WORRY. Just apply. You might get in. You might not get in. Don't waste brain cells stressing about UMS, Please.

lower 33% of oxbridge candidates score 87-90%?

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