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Higher education

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Original poster

AABB in AS, possible for Oxbridge?

81 replies

star2013 · 13/08/2015 15:18

Dd got AABB in her AS result today. School's predicted grade are A*AA for the best three subjects. Dd desires to go for Oxbridge. Is it possible?

OP posts:
oneearedrabbit · 15/08/2015 17:12

Hello Star. Don't panic. My dd got the same as yours in her AS levels. She was then encouraged by her school (small unselective independent) to apply for Oxbridge for a science subject which has an aptitude test (can't honestly recall what it was called, BMat??)Passed that quite well, got an interview, got an offer (A*AA) and then amazingly got the grades and went! Has now completed her first year at Oxford. There are so many steps to take on the way, do encourage your daughter to give it a go if she really wants to. My experience as a parent and having seen quite a few friends' children not get and get offers, is that it is entirely unpredictable, and that passion for your subject goes a long way in enhancing your application. Go, Starchild!!

Original poster
star2013 · 17/08/2015 03:05

rabbit Many thanks! What a nice support from you. After a long mother-daughter talk the other day, dd is pretty calm now. She has potential. And most important she has passion to the subject. That drives her to the goal. Nothing would be regretted if one has persisted his/ her effort.

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/08/2015 15:20

Four years ago my son got overall As in all four of his AS subjects but for History, which was the subject he wanted to study at university, he got A in one paper and B on the other so the UMS wasn't stellar. Given that Cambridge expects very high UMS scores he decided to apply to Oxford, which looks harder at GCSE results and the History Aptitude Test.

He got an interview and an AAA offer from Oxford (his eventual results were A* in History and A in three other subjects). He's just graduated with a 2.1 and has had a brilliant time there for all three years.

I should add that UCL gave him an AAA offer as well, and they knew his UMS results. Also worth mentioning that he was at very academic independent school, so no leeway whatsoever on that.

There is nothing whatsoever to lose by applying to Oxford or Cambridge if you have a sensible back up plan.

PS Re the 8 week terms - to add to what was said above, other universities tend to go for a 10/11 week term in the autumn, one of nearly that length in the spring and only a few weeks after Easter principally devoted to doing exams. So in the long run it evens out, and you should also factor in the fact that Oxford and Cambridge undergraduates are getting weekly tutorials/supervisions 1:1 or 2: 1 so the contact time is extremely intense.

TalkinPeace · 17/08/2015 21:10

As context, my DD is not able to apply to Oxford because she did not get enough A at GCSE (3 x A and 10 x A not good enough)
She went to a Cambridge two day experience event she decided she really did not like the place
so her UCAS form will go in later with Universities that have self catering accommodation Smile
AS results were A A B B B by the way

JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/08/2015 21:13

talkin, she isn't 'not able' to apply.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/08/2015 21:16

Just to clarify, here: uni-of-oxford.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1067/~/what-gcse-results-do-i-need-to-get-into-oxford%3F

3 A* and 10A grades can definitely be good enough for Oxford.

TalkinPeace · 17/08/2015 21:18

Jeanne
True, if she really wanted to we could jump the hoops, but she's not wild about the course
and wants to go to a town that will be "hers" rather than where other family members have already been to uni.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/08/2015 21:22

Oh, I'm sorry. Blush

I didn't mean to lecture you, just was worried she was feeling she couldn't apply, when she'd be fine if she wanted to do that. I totally understand her just not fancying it.

TalkinPeace · 17/08/2015 21:27
Smile no worries - its been a pretty constant topic of conversation in our house for several months strangely enough!
JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/08/2015 22:11

Ah, ok! Gotcha.

Alicekeach · 17/08/2015 22:33

Hi OP, I got into Oxford with AAB at Alevel (had a two E offer after sitting the entrance exam) so it is possible. These threads always bother me slightly because they tend to give the impression that there is down secret inside knowledge you need to even have a chance of Oxford and I don't think that's true. Oxford just want people who are bright, motivated and (most of all) passionate about their subject. If that's your daughter, she should give it a shot. Otherwise, she'll never know.

AtiaoftheJulii · 18/08/2015 00:17

B's just don't cut it I'm afraid.

Oh for goodness sake. Dd got a B in her GCSEs, and then AAAB for her AS's. Got an offer from Oxford, and has just got A A A so will be going. The odd B does not matter.

NewLife if the local Oxford-bound kids really are getting such perfect grades, I suspect it's because their school only encourages absolute superstars to apply.

To the OP - with good GCSE grades, and good predictions, she's got as much chance as anyone for Oxford (as long as she accepts beforehand that most people won't get an offer). Cambridge say they like an average of at least 90 ums in the best (for humanities)/most relevant (sciences) subjects at AS - obviously can't tell from your post whether your dd has achieved this.

AtiaoftheJulii · 18/08/2015 00:19

Sorry, left out a rather vital THREE best/most relevant AS grades!

NarrativeArc · 18/08/2015 06:30

Oxford look more closely at GCSEs than Cambridge. But that's not to say they need be a perfect round of A*s.

I think more A*s than other grades is the most reasonable generalisation to give ( and there will be exceptions to that).

This is one reason I advise able students not to take too many GCSEs.

I think 3 out of 13 probably would be a struggle for talkin DD but still worth a punt?

spinoa · 18/08/2015 08:46

AABB for humanities with A*AA predictions would be well worth a shot.

AABB for sciences with AAA would be on the low end. I can't find any statistics on this but I would be surprised if most successful candidates for sciences didn't have AAAA+ at AS and end up with at least two As at A2 - Cambridge's standard offer for sciences is now AAA and many candidates will have four A2 and exceed this offer.

Molio · 18/08/2015 09:14

I have a DS who got into Oxford recently with AABB for a relatively competitive humanities subject. He went to a very good school and had no extenuating circumstances (other than messing around with friends to an alarming degree in the lower sixth). But he did have good GCSEs and had always been top(ish) of the year in his chosen subject. Are you able to explain what your DD has in place of GCSEs? Or was she unwell during that period? If the latter, then she's in a different ball park in any event. I honestly wouldn't overthink the AABB for Oxford - she'll have the opportunity to show her aptitude in the pre-test.

Molio · 18/08/2015 09:25

Congrats Gasp0de DS - I'd been wondering :)

I completely echo Atia. Of course a B here or there doesn't matter. Lots of

Molio · 18/08/2015 09:27

Confused current student will be nursing a B or Bs or worse. It's obviously not a problem.

Molio · 18/08/2015 09:28

Confused students

Weird morning, computer wise.

NarrativeArc · 18/08/2015 09:29

Oxford seem to be more forgiving of AS results ( providing GCSEs and pre tests are good).

Cambridge more forgiving of GCSE results ( providing very good UMS on AS). I wonder if Cambridge will make any changes when a lot of applicants don't take AS?

Molio · 18/08/2015 09:46

maybebabybee I think your post is a little alarmist. In this year's round my younger DS was 'only' predicted A*AA and got offers from Oxford, Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh and York, all of which are very well regarded for History. He also got only AAAB at AS. I think the more material thing is to look at where the B at AS is and if it's in the subject a DC wants to read at uni, then there may be a problem. If a remark doesn't work the school may decide to flag up the blip and offer explanations in its reference. It's probably best to address the blip rather than ignore. Some of the marking in humanities subjects recently has just been bizarre and no gifted child should give up their plans for an errant B.

Original poster
star2013 · 18/08/2015 21:56

Alicekeach

Thank you so much for your warm post. This made my daughter's day. We know the possibility of negative outcome. But from an insiders' point of view, your encourging words do lift some weights off her shoulders. She feels she's not alone. Thank you! x

OP posts:
Molio · 18/08/2015 22:14

It's possible that Alice went to Oxford a little while ago though OP, if she's talking about the entrance exam and 2E offers. Grade inflation has been rampant since the days of the entrance exam. Not that I think a B at AS or GCSE is either here nor there, just as Atia says, but if it's in her chosen subject then it is possible that it may be an issue. Does your DD have no GCSEs or equivalent at all? That would be very, very unusual.

Original poster
star2013 · 18/08/2015 22:15

Molio

Dd was not in the stream of GCSE. She did take two subjects as a trail and both achieved A*.

Actually she obtains AAABB in AS. One of the A's is facilitating subject. The other two are Eng Lit and Maths. She was always the top of her year in her chosen subjects.

OP posts:
Alicekeach · 18/08/2015 22:28

Thank you Star Flowers. Yes, it was a while ago, but I think the point still stands. I wasn't the only one there with a B in one of my A-levels (though I had a distinction at S-level in my chosen degree subject). My family and I knew nothing about Oxbridge in those innocent pre-internet days, and I suspect that had Mumsnet and the Student Room etc been available then, I'd have scared myself into not even bothering to apply. Instead, I knew nothing about how many GCSEs the other candidates might have or what last year's statistics showed. I just knew I was good at my subject, so I applied and hoped for the best. Having been to Oxford, I'd also like to endorse the person who said that it's not the be all and end all. It's a great opportunity, but other universities are also fabulous but a lot less stressful. (But that's a whole other thread.)