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

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.

Sounds like the first-year supervisors at Downing will like you...the main reason people seem to have a hard time of it in first year is because of the maths.

Reply 4721

Dogkicker91

1

abstraction98

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.

Dont worry its all good, just have to rack my brain a bit rather than just spurting it straight out like an A level question.

Reply 4722

username201971

Schmuckle

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?

Don't declare your ASs? They would assume with your previous academics (and predictions) you have straight As, and no-one will be any the wiser. I would have thought your GCSEs would almost counter you ASs anyway even if you do declare giving you a perfectly average chance of getting in i.e. definately worth applying. From my very limited and unofficial experience (i.e. friends who have been accepted/rejected) it seems higher GCSEs were perhaps more ''useful'' regarding Oxford entry than A-levels anyway. I think this might just be because so many people have straight As at AS/A2 it doesn't really mark you out; double figures/ maybe even 8+ A*s does *seem* more uncommon. That is only from a very small sample of people i happen to know, BUT essentially just to let you know it can be done with good GCSEs :smile:

Reply 4723

Kneechuh

12

Schmuckle

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?

No.

Reply 4724

Worrier12345

My eventual goal is to study PPE at Oxford but I'm not sure exactly which the best way to go about this would be.

I would really love to take the IB as I am quite well-rounded and I enjoy a broad variety of subjects. What I have been thinking is:

HL: Maths, Politics and Economics
SL: English Literature, Physics and Latin

Would this be wise? What are the Politics, Economics and Physics courses like? As of this moment, I do not know a huge amount on them.

I think that I could do the IB as I am planning on moving to a top school next year which gets very good IB grades. Therefore I feel convinced that the teaching in that school should be good enough. However, I have not underestimated the amount of work that you need to put it, having watched my cousin go through the whole process. I am quite hard working.

However, I think A Levels might also be a good choice for me. My thoughts so far are:

Maths
Further Maths
Economics
Politics
Latin (which I will drop)

This seems safer but the prospect of not taking English or a Science does bother me slightly.

Any advice will be appreciated! Thank you!

Reply 4725

Roundabout

11

I don't think there is a Politics course in the IB. I recommend History instead.

Reply 4726

jackmb

I'm afraid i know nothing at all about IB so I can't really help you there. If you're doing A levels there is really no point in doing only one science- it won't get you a place on a science based course and it won't help you to study PPE. If you would prefer to study English over politics or economics you could do that. I didn't study any of the PPE disciplines but still received an offer.

Reply 4727

danny111

3

Worrier12345

My eventual goal is to study PPE at Oxford but I'm not sure exactly which the best way to go about this would be.

I would really love to take the IB as I am quite well-rounded and I enjoy a broad variety of subjects. What I have been thinking is:

HL: Maths, Politics and Economics
SL: English Literature, Physics and Latin

Would this be wise? What are the Politics, Economics and Physics courses like? As of this moment, I do not know a huge amount on them.

I think that I could do the IB as I am planning on moving to a top school next year which gets very good IB grades. Therefore I feel convinced that the teaching in that school should be good enough. However, I have not underestimated the amount of work that you need to put it, having watched my cousin go through the whole process. I am quite hard working.

However, I think A Levels might also be a good choice for me. My thoughts so far are:

Maths
Further Maths
Economics
Politics
Latin (which I will drop)

This seems safer but the prospect of not taking English or a Science does bother me slightly.

Any advice will be appreciated! Thank you!

higher politics i think is quite hard.

SL physics is easy. a lot easier than HL. u just need to make sure u understand things when done in class and then revision shud be easy.

HL econ is boring. but then again teacher wasnt the best. paper 2 is good though (got me my 7).

do IB. its more rewarding. sets u apart from all those A-levellers. plus once at uni ull be used to the work. and anyway it aint that much work tbh. find one subject to do nothing for. mine was french SL. i hated it. by year 13 i did no work. managed to get a 6 still.

Reply 4728

danny111

3

Roundabout

I don't think there is a Politics course in the IB. I recommend History instead.

there is. maybe ur school didn offer it. ours did only SL politics.

Reply 4729

Worrier12345

Hi everyone!
PPE is a Science-based course? I was under the impression that Sciences were not necessary at all for PPE? You're talking about Politics, Philosophy and Ethics, right?

And yes! Latin is the easy one for me. I think I could do well in that without a lot of work.
How's English Literature?

Hmmm...is History or Politics harder? Do you know?

I've been told that I need to do an essay subject for HL if I really want to be considered.

*Economics

Sorry!

Worrier12345

Hi everyone!
PPE is a Science-based course? I was under the impression that Sciences were not necessary at all for PPE? You're talking about Politics, Philosophy and Ethics, right?

And yes! Latin is the easy one for me. I think I could do well in that without a lot of work.
How's English Literature?

Hmmm...is History or Politics harder? Do you know?

I've been told that I need to do an essay subject for HL if I really want to be considered.

id say history is easier. a lot of work though.

eng literature you really need a good teacher. i had B eng land and A eng lit for GCSE. my first essay in IB was 12/25. a 3 maybe 4. by end i was 1% off a 7 and id say that was due to my teacher.

and PPE = politics, philosophy, and economics as far as i know.

Reply 4732

wer343lit

11

Oxford says Maths and History are both useful preparation, I think.

I'm not applying for PPE, but if I was, I would do...

Maths
Further Maths
History
Politics/Economics

(JUST MY OPINION!!!)

Reply 4733

Worrier12345

Really? Hmm...I think I need to look this up.

I think I' enjoy Politics more.

Thank you very much! All of you!

Reply 4734

Roundabout

11

danny111

there is. maybe ur school didn offer it. ours did only SL politics.

http://www.ibo.org/facts/statbulletin/dpstats/index.cfm

There is no Politics exam for IB. On the School-based syllabuses (which barely anyone does, except for apparently your school and very few others), for May '08 the only courses about Politics are 'Political Thought' and 'World Politics', neither of which is offered at HL.

Reply 4735

danny111

3

Roundabout

http://www.ibo.org/facts/statbulletin/dpstats/index.cfm

There is no Politics exam for IB. On the School-based syllabuses (which barely anyone does, except for apparently your school and very few others), for May '08 the only courses about Politics are 'Political Thought' and 'World Politics', neither of which is offered at HL.

oh wow.

Reply 4736

PeeWeeDan

15

I heard that for some colleges it is necessary to supply a portfolio of experimental data taken by the student - what do students which don't have this do? Some schools obviously would not have this policy in the time when experiments are taking place. Personally I do have a portfolio... somewhere but I'm not in the right country to find it! How important is it?