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Oxford PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Students and Applicants

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tborne
Does anyone know what kind of maths is most useful in the course/interview?
I study philosophy, economics, english lit and history a levels and got an A* in IGCSE maths, but want to know if there are any particular areas of maths, especially statistics, i should have a look at?
Discovered the other day that once someone was asked about differentiation in the exam; its part of the IGCSE syllabus but not GCSE... any tips anyone on other maths stuff i should prepare for?
Thanks.


What they will ask will depend on which level you've studied to. For example, it is perfectly possible that a tutor would ask a student with AS maths to differentiate. They wouldn't however ask this of someone who did standard GCSE.

The same goes for all subjects: they won't ask you anything beyond the level you have studied. One past interview question was to the effect of ''Which C19 statesman would you say Tony Blair had most in common with?''. I would have been completely unable to answer this to a satisfactory standard but they would never have asked me it; i didn't take A-level history and hadn't expressed a specific interest in the era in my PS. Someone who had done the right specification for AS history would probably be able to answer this very well however, so it would be an appropriate question for them.

To some extent there's limited point in obsessing over past interview questions (though yes i did at the time!) because each candidate and interview is going to be different. They certainly aren't going to ask you anything that you have no fair chance of answering given your academic history (subjects studied etc). Also remember most importantly, the interview isn't a test of what you know/what processes you can apply to formula it's much more about they way you approach your answering. Show you can think analytically and perceptively and you should be in good stead :smile:
Leviathon
x


I'm applying to Oriel for PPE :wink: Any tips ? :biggrin:
if you apply for natural sciences, do you have to have picked which options you'd want to take by the interview/saq?
BrightGirl
if you apply for natural sciences, do you have to have picked which options you'd want to take by the interview/saq?


No. You can change your options pretty easily in the first few days of Natsci anyway. For instance, I submitted that I wanted to do Computer Science but will change it to Chemistry when I get there after a change of mind.
thanks :yy:
Hmm am I supposed to find that maths booklet easy ? Cuz there are a few questions on there that I find really quite difficult in all honesty.
Fiat Punto
Hmm am I supposed to find that maths booklet easy ? Cuz there are a few questions on there that I find really quite difficult in all honesty.


Im finding some of them quite hard just because some of it comes from obscure parts of the syllabus that I didnt build upon last year in Further maths, and so havent used for nearly 2 years.
Dogkicker91
Im finding some of them quite hard just because some of it comes from obscure parts of the syllabus that I didnt build upon last year in Further maths, and so havent used for nearly 2 years.


Which ones? I came from the Scottish Syllabus so had a few problems but think I've learnt the new stuff now.

Give me a shout if you need some help.
Reply 4708
Avatar for Scipio90
Scipio90
The maths forum is very good for answering stuff, so if you're having problems posting them there should get you on the right way.
Scipio90
The maths forum is very good for answering stuff, so if you're having problems posting them there should get you on the right way.


Maths forum > all other forums for academic help etc. by a country mile.
Reply 4710
Avatar for Mia:x
Mia:x
10
tucker672
I'm applying to Oriel for PPE :wink: Any tips ? :biggrin:


Oh no me too! Oooh direct competition haha x
Mia:x
Oh no me too! Oooh direct competition haha x

Look at it this way: People are going to apply for your Oxford college no matter what. Them being a member of TSR just means it's one person to try and meet at interview, if you're lucky enough to get that far.. :ninja:
Hello,
I know that 240 students will be accepted into the PPE program, does anyone know the ratio or percentage of that which are commonly international students?

Thanks.
tucker672
I'm applying to Oriel for PPE :wink: Any tips ? :biggrin:


:biggrin: I wish, well you picked the right college so you've started well.:p: Just put yourself up a better avatar and buy the Socialist worker and you'll do great, they don't let righties in.:nah:
My first post, how exciting.
I was just wondering how good a chance you lot think I have? I messed up AS slightly by arrogantly assuming I could get straight As with zero work...

I'm applying for PPE 2010 entry, probably at Hertford, but I haven't 100% decided yet.

GCSE: 9A* 4A

AS: AABB (History 175/200, Politics 192/200, Maths 235/300, French 157/200)

I'd assume that my GCSEs are perhaps above average, but my ASes below. I've been predicted A* A A in Politics, History, Maths respectively. I'm resitting two maths modules to be certain of my A. Am I seriously disadvantaged by this ASes?
Leviathon
:biggrin: I wish, well you picked the right college so you've started well.:p: Just put yourself up a better avatar and buy the Socialist worker and you'll do great, they don't let righties in.:nah:


They don't let righties in to Toriel :wink:
Reply 4716
Avatar for Nika A
Nika A
Myself, I found many topics we didn't cover in grammar school but were all fairly easy to work out on my own with a little bit of thinking and effort. But the majority of the questions is just ridiculously simple.
Hmm well maybe it's just the MEI syllabus...I'm finding the sketching graphs questions on that quite difficult.
Fiat Punto
Hmm well maybe it's just the MEI syllabus...I'm finding the sketching graphs questions on that quite difficult.

If I recall correctly, some of the stuff in that section that says it's in C3 is actually in C4 or FP2 on the MEI syllabus, so there might be stuff you haven't encountered before. But it's easy enough to be in C3 of other courses, so it should be possible to work it out.
Heh, I guess I have no excuse seen as tho I've done Further Maths too, and got a good A...hmm...maybe I've forgotten how to draw graphs.

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