Is Oxford still possible?

If it helps @almostthere11 the process at our school was that Oxford applications were only supported if the students had 3 A* predictions out of 4 even if the likely tariff was 3 x A. This was because after the hurdle of the subject test the next part of the application is to look contextually at the rest of the application including GCSE results and A level PGs, the PS and the school before being invited to interview (which is subjective in itself) DC’s school was an Indie so the very best grades were expected.

Your DC’s school needs do decide if they want to given them the best chance of getting to the interview stage really - so I’d be having a chat about the PG’s.

Agree with past papers. My DS did maths and further Maths and got 2 x A and he did so many past papers. He also applied to Oxford and didn’t even get an interview (predicted and achieved 3 x A)

So will they be doing lets of extra work over the summer to consolidate?

I'd have thought anyone planning on doing any of the various entrance tests would be doing so.

Because Year 13 maths won't allow time for that, it will go straight into new, harder concepts which rely on the Year 12 ones. It's not uncommon for DC to go "backwards" in maths in Year 13. And getting an A star and not an A really relies on being able to master the harder level work.

The endgame of maths A levels (both when I did mine in the dark ages and dd hers more recently) was shedloads of past papers.

Can I also gently suggest that if your DC needs time to consolidate and practice, then Oxford may not be the best choice for them. It's fairly high pressured and they are just expected to get on with it and keep up.

My dd did engineering at Cambridge - she most certainly spent time doing consolidation and practice in the Xmas and Easter vacations. (It may be some students who've been able to 'wing it' at school and aren't in the habit of doing so who have trouble if they get to oxbridge. ). Doing past papers and looking at 'model answers' is actually one of the key strategies for many of the students.

If you took them before 2017 you will have taken them before the curriculum changes which made them harder and with more content. Three A levels is the norm on which all universities will offer although some schools still encourage students to study four A levels.

4 was common at my school and some did 5 or 6.

So will they be doing lets of extra work over the summer to consolidate?

Because Year 13 maths won't allow time for that, it will go straight into new, harder concepts which rely on the Year 12 ones. It's not uncommon for DC to go "backwards" in maths in Year 13. And getting an A star and not an A really relies on being able to master the harder level work.

Can I also gently suggest that if your DC needs time to consolidate and practice, then Oxford may not be the best choice for them. It's fairly high pressured and they are just expected to get on with it and keep up.

If the answer is along the lines of "because they haven't really bothered to work in Year 12", I'd be dubious. Particularly if, as suggested they are STEM subjects - these subjects get harder in Year 13.

But test results - especially in maths - can often improve dramatically when the work is absorbed and consolidated and they've done loads of past papers.

If DC think they can get the minimum grades needed and a good mark in the test - why are their predictions so low (in the context of this thread; clearly they are very good predictions?)

If the answer is along the lines of "because they haven't really bothered to work in Year 12", I'd be dubious. Particularly if, as suggested they are STEM subjects - these subjects get harder in Year 13.

No, just that the required grades implies probably a STEM subject I think?

Do we know subject or A levels being studied?

If they're going to be doing maths or engineering then obviously FM wouldn't be the 'fourth subject' that could be dropped, it'd be whichever of the 2 non-maths wasn't needed. My dd (who did engineering at Cambridge) was advised to drop CS after AS (old format) to focus on the required maths, FM and physics.

It depends - if they won't get the grades in the end there's no point but some children perform a lot better at the end (can happen to those with asd or those who have had adverse circumstances in y12). If they say improved a lot over course of GCSEs might do so again. If you apply this year it gives you the option of another chance the following year and you learn through the process. A lot of schools predict optimistically for universities especially those that get high numbers in. If they really want Oxford they should be trying to boost their grades over the summer. But its a lot of work and depends if they think its worth the effort. If it is maths or engineering worth saying as @poetryandwine is excellent for advice for those courses more generally as a former admissions tutor.

What is the point of increasing prediction if dc isn’t good enough? It’s wasting everyone’s time. Apply next year after results?

Looking at the Oxford entrance criteria its likely maths or engineering and if 4th is FM may not be best to drop (or consult Oxford before doing so to check at least) but hopefully school will increase their prediction by at least one more A star. DDs school did this start of y13, sometimes need to do more exams / work on over summer to justify this. Obviously also need to be realistically able to achieve offer.

If it’s FM and needed though, that’s possibly Oxford out anyway.

It might be worth seeing if your DCs school would up the predictions on 3A levels if the fourth subject was dropped.

@OneRealRosePlayer Most schools would not advise either of these strategies. All choices asking for top grades when possibly not achievable is not a great idea and selling yourself short by no ambitious choice at all is not a great idea either. Most schools suggest an ambitious choice or two, achieveable and realistic choices next and possibly one in case all goes wrong. However many DC don’t actually want this one.

In my subject we would not shortlist a candidate who was not predicted to meet (or exceed) the standard offer. I don't know if the same policy is adopted in all subjects but I would be surprised if it is not.

Don't forget that you can also go elsewhere and then do a Masters at Oxford - if you have good transcripts as an undergrad it is somewhat less competitive to start at postgrad level if you can self-fund for your year (and if you get a good Masters you can then apply for funding to stay for a PhD, if you wish).

The entrance exam is the key. If you dont mind putting in that effort then go for it. Be aware they might not tell.you the results before you apply (they didnt for law).

I would say try. Have a range of universities with different grades. I had a friend who only applied to aaa universities and got aab so she had to go through clearing. I did the opposite. Only applied for those under my predicted grades. Got great offers. I walked into my final exam knowing i was going to university. But i do wish i had applied to a higher university and see if i could get in.

Tldr try but make sure you have a backup to guarantee university

Further maths is a full A level!!

The admissions test(depending on the subject) will give him a chance to prove himself

@newleafontheplantjohn It doesn’t really work like that if you are applying pre results. Oxford will want dc to register for a test. They might want work submitted by school. There’s no point applying if school think A stars aren’t achievable if this is what the course wants. So that’s why ambition and support of school matters. Plus there might be an interview if dc shortlisted. If Dc is very much on the cusp of what Oxford want, or below it, a judgement needs to be made whether the extra work and effort will get dc in. For some courses the ratio is 1:8. So knowing if dc might ace tests will really matter too.

Excuse my ignorance, but does it matter what his predictions are?

Surely only the final result counts?

Can he not just aim to get the results he needs?

Would be easier to comment if you were clearer about which course/ what the tarrif is