Ucas and instruments

[newtothis15]

For UCAS application. Is it important difference if child has 1 instrument grade 6 or 2 instruments grade 6?

My ds has grade 6 one instrument and could get anotger instrument gradd 6 but not sure if it wirth the effort and time as he is now in year 11 so prep for gcse

It depends what they are applying for and where. Dc applying for a science course at Oxford didn’t mention his 3 grade 8s as his statement was about why he wanted to study that subject.

He is applying to Non music course, probably maths

the personal statement is changing from 2025, so for dc who have just done GCSE. It is much more about super-curricular, so what they have done that is relevant to their course. For maths it would be UKMT competitions, school maths club, doing further maths GCSE, watching maths channels on YouTube, reading etc.

These days, I don't think they will be interested in one instrument, never mind two. They will just want to know what super-curricular maths he has done.

He unfortunately not done ukmt at school...
Are there any other ways of super curricular for maths?

He doesn’t have to have done it at school - he could try UKMT Olympiad questions in his own time or see if he could sign up for their mentoring scheme. When he has to do the mandatory work experience think about professions that might be relevant. If he has a smartphone he can see all sorts of relevant lectures, puzzles and videos.

Agree, music results may in theory get UCAS points, but academic courses ask for A level grades not points.

Only worth points if relevant to the course you are applying to. DD had enough points for her performing arts course from her music, drama and performance qualifications without 6th form, but only because they were directly relevant,

An Oxford admissions tutor once said something along the lines of "we are not looking for mediocre historians who can play the flute".

I would imagine that most universities would take a similar attitude to a non-music course application.

If he wants to do the additional grade 6 for its own sake, then that's one thing, but purely to bolster a UCAS application? No.

He maybe could see if there are any suitable MOOCs for maths?

I think maths and music are closely related, and music is not a bad thing to put on his application for maths, but it is irrelevant whether it is 1 or 2 grade 6 instruments.

Playing, conducting in an orchestra might be relevant, also something extracurricular related to maths.

Math rock? Has he played any/ written any/ attended any? Does he have an opinion on it?

Astronomy is a good area to be involved in when applying for maths, as long as he can show how maths is relevant. Has he done any? Being an explainer at an astronomy event, that would be useful "maths" work experience.

Any voluntary work including maths really. Maths mentor in primary school? Computer modelling for archeology, or any hobby that involves complicated equations..

Is his grade 6 a distinction? Otherwise it only adds a few points anyway.