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Original poster

Year 10 - GCSE result today and Oxford dreams

31 replies

Cinnamon73 · 21/08/2014 17:38

My DD(15) got a B in the one and only GCSE she took this year (Latin).

She is pretty much an allrounder with a keen interest in Science, has had all A predictions and has already got one A she took in year 8.

Since earlier this year she has her eyes on Oxford to do Natural Sciences, wants to do Biology, Chemistry and Maths A Level.

I didn't think she did anything enough for her Year 10 GCSE, and the result did prove that. In the four modules she got A*,A,B,B.

I read on the board that for Oxford it's 6A* plus rest A. Does that mean she can forget her Oxford dream?
Should I ask for a remark for the Bs?

In my heart of hearts I thought this might give her the kick up the backside to sit down and learn.
On the other side, if she needs that, should I support her dreams? She is currently on track with all other (10) GCSEs next year.

Any thoughts on this welcome, she is my eldest and it's all new for us.

OP posts:
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queenofthemountain · 24/08/2014 20:20

Please do not get your admissions information from Mumsnet, go to the horses mouth and email the admissions tutor.

antimatter · 22/08/2014 11:45

yes, that's what I meant
but if she isn't interested in economics, finance or computer science then I would agree that going Maths route is not for her

Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 22/08/2014 11:39

antimatter, she is not interested at all in economics or finance, at least at the moment.
Dh is working in finance. She's talked about maths with him, and he explains stuff she didn't understand. Even he thinks she should not go down the finance road.
Genetics is her field of interest, she reads a lot about it. I realise that can change, but this has been consistent for about 9 months now.

I have started reading through the Cambridge NCT courses and my head is buzzing. She and I will go through everything together and find out what appeals to her. 4 year course with Genetics as specialism (MSci) sounds right up her street.

Do you mean Further Maths at As Level to keep her options open?

OP posts:
antimatter · 22/08/2014 11:12

With degree in Maths she can do lots.
My nephew followed his maths with masters in financial economics in city university and now works on a trading floor of a small investment house in London. He is developing algorithms there.

Someone else is an architect in software company developing betting software.
Another is a data mining specialist.

I think degree in Maths is one of most versatile degrees someone can choose.
Would she consider Further Maths to keep her options open?

Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 22/08/2014 10:08

Thanks B&C
I think I've been sticking my head in the sand a bit on the uni topic. We will start researching now, and I would appreciate any info you have on the courses, because your DD's interests sound just like my DD's.

She's looked at Biochemistry, or talked about it with the career person. I think he said Queen Mary's or Imperial or UCL. You see I'm not clued in at all. Maths is not a problem, it's always been her strongest subject (runs in the family, my dh is a mathematician) if anything she would probably like to do maths at uni but she doesn't know what she would do with it.

Will do research now and find out what she really likes.

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BeckAndCall · 22/08/2014 09:20

well, Cinnamon, if its any help, this time last year natural sciences was my specialist subject .....

there are lots of different courses available - my DD is likewise wanting to do biology and chemistry (and no physics) so we researched all of the courses called 'natural sciences'.

you need to to look very carefully at the structure of the individual course and the options within it. Some courses simply didn't suit DDs interests and some have compulsory physics, and i think they all have maths to a greater or lesser extent. and you need to look all the way through to year 3 or 4 to see if the flexibility you (your DD i mean!) wants is there.

in the end, she only applied for NatSci at Cambridge and the rest of her choices were Biochemistry as they matched most closely her subject interests. its interesting that the grade requirements at eg durham and Nottingham for NatSci are so much higher than for their BioChem courses but in the end, if the structure isn't perfect for you its better to apply for the course that lets you do what you want to do.

antimatter · 22/08/2014 09:08

beckandcall

95% of students there have 8 A* or more gcse's

Where is that stat info coming from?

Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 22/08/2014 08:32

She wants to do Biology and Chemistry.

I will contact the careers person today if he is at school, we did speak to him earlier this year and speakers from Oxford and Cambridge have been at her school giving talks. That's where she got the idea from.
We don't share the "Oxbridge or nothing" mentality of some of the parents at her school so I can't talk to them.
The hype they create is quite offputting.

I hope we will find the right uni for her, based on what she wants to do.
Thanks for your advice! Flowers

OP posts:
BeckAndCall · 22/08/2014 07:55

OP, Oxford dont do natural sciences - you do a single science at Oxford - eg biology or chemistry or physics. its Cambridge where you take Natural Sciences and then you choose your mixture of subjects.

its really important to choose the course not the place - the first thing she should be looking at is what she wants to study, not where. the approach to most subjects is very different between Oxford and Cambridge.

and you certianly dont need 12 A for either place. it is true, statistically, that 95% of studnets there have 8 A or more. but that means that some don't. and one B wont harm her chances.

and although cambridge use ASs in their selection process, rather than gcses, it is still the case that the majority of successful applicants have 8 or more A*s......

Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 22/08/2014 07:17

tasting oh, that shows how much I know about it Grin

She knows probably, and we will go and visit both unis next year. She and we all have never been to both cities/universities, dh and I got our degrees abroad.

She is least keen on Physics, definitely won't do that for AS. And I'm fairly sure her school do only 3 subjects at A2, maybe plus further Maths.
DD is very interested in English lang/lit for AS and possibly Computer Science or Music.
To me it seems she is so widely interested, it's difficult for her to boil her interests down to 4 subjects.
Especially as her career idea could change.

Why do they have to make those difficult decisions while so young?

OP posts:
antimatter · 22/08/2014 01:06

in the end he specialised in Physics and now finishing his Masters in Neuroscience and hoping to carry on with PhD

antimatter · 22/08/2014 00:52

my nephew got EE offer to read natural sciences in Cambridge few years ago, he did Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics at A Levels, he said he wishes he did Further Maths as he knew he would be gravitating towards Physics anyway.

Your dd needs to think carefully what to choose for her 4th subject.

tastingthestars · 22/08/2014 00:14

NatSci at Oxford would be a very high hurdle, since it's not a degree they offer Wink Cambridge offers NatSci.

But anyway no doors have slammed shut (separate sciences at Oxford or NatSci at Camb), just needs to make sure she has her head down next year!

MillyMollyMama · 21/08/2014 23:34

There is another thread with excellent advice from an Oxford tutor. Reading that will point you in the right direction. Oxford don't just want As at GCSE, they will want at least 6 A*s. 10 GCSEs is fine. It is quality, not quantity. Also academic subjects are better but one could be art, drama, music or similar to show a rounded person.

Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 21/08/2014 20:21

Yes, I know, the vast majority of applicants doesn't (don't?) get an interview. I remember watching a documentary about it, but it was years ago.

I meant I'll make sure her plan B (&C) is more achievable, and still desirable if her Oxford plans bite the dust. I will also speak to the Career guy at school in September, because he is very level headed and they do send quite a few girls to Oxford/Cambridge every year (selective grammar).

Maybe I should ring to ask about the re-mark?

OP posts:
Hakluyt · 21/08/2014 20:09

Even if she had all As she still needs a Plan B. Oxford for Natural Sciences is a very high hurdle!

Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 21/08/2014 19:40

Hakluyt thank you.

OK she can't just pick and mix what she puts in the form, shame Grin

The school does 10 btw, Latin was an extra after school club. The year 8 GCSE was in her mother tongue, a walk in the park.

3littlefrogs good luck to your daughter, it is tough if there is just one B, if she has Oxford on her mind.
Might still happen to my DD, and I will make her have a proper Plan B she would be happy with.
Saying that she might change her mind again. Not on subjects but on uni.
Will ask the exam officer about remark, even though I think it should stay a B as a warning

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Hakluyt · 21/08/2014 18:45

It probably means she won't get in to read English. But if everyone else was A*or A then she's still in with a chance.

3littlefrogs · 21/08/2014 18:40

This is a big worry for me. DD got all As and As, but a B in English.
She was predicted all As and As, so the B is a disappointment.

She wanted to go to Oxford - does the B mean that is impossible now?
There seems to be a question mark over the English grades. Sad

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack your thread op, but this is a worry for me too.

Hakluyt · 21/08/2014 18:37

You do not need 12 A*s, but you're unlikely to get away with more than one B.

You do not need 12 GCSEs- my dd's school only do 9 or 10 at the most and they send loads to Oxbridge.

You do have to put them all on the application form, not just the best ones!

Don't panic!

Dreamgirls234 · 21/08/2014 18:23

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 21/08/2014 18:19

Dreamgirl you didn't offend me at all. I want to make an informed choice and won't support a path of no hope. I know what she's capable of, but Oxford isn't the be all and end all for me.
And if there would be no hope with a B, why should I let her pursue this path.

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Dreamgirls234 · 21/08/2014 18:16

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Original poster
Cinnamon73 · 21/08/2014 18:15

Ah, so the B wouldn't really matter? Do you just put the 10 best ones on the application?

If I googled correctly, cut off for A is 320, she missed by one point Shock

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Hakluyt · 21/08/2014 18:11

"the school she's at maximum do 10 gcses and I'm too worried she won't get enough gcses to go oxford"

10 is more than enough for Oxbridge.

OP- one B is fine- but she really needs to get As and A*s next year!