Oxbridge applicants 2018 part 3

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Looks like we need a new thread.

Ooh I bet you panicked when you realised you'd overslept!
I'm also not needed on the revision front. My role is to provide meals and snacks (chillI flavoured peanuts or nachos are favourites this week ) and am also on hand to go to the shops at short notice for anything that is suddenly necessary. So far this week that's been pens (can't believe how many DS is getting through) and a calculator. I'might trying VERY hard not to nag about the amount of revision that is, or isn'the, going on. My phrases of the week seem to be. "Are you happy with what you've managed to achieve today?" and "Do you feel that your ready for. ........?"I think DS is well-prepared for the A-levels but I've stopped asking about STEP.

Stepmum There might have been some fluster :)

Could one of you enlightened parents please tell me about Step? I have gathered that DS is doing one of these things but there are references on this thread to different Steps and I'm not sure what they are.

I know I sound a bit clueless but I am genuinely a bit clueless. I didn't find out about a maths olympiad thingy until parents' evening because DS just manages it all himself. He chuckles with me about stuff he knows I'll understand but on the work front he knows I won't understand. He's already tried to explain theoretical physics to me three times. All I've learned is that there aren't any experiments. Well no shit.

Glad to here exams are going well with all your DC. Is consoling to hear how mums are giving sustenance and treats as needed and choosing their words carefully - feels I'm not totally alone dealing with their pressure. Actually, the receptionist at work has a DC with an offer for Maths so we swap notes.

DD got about 6 hrs sleep so that meant so did I - which isn't bad and exam today: "It went well." However, half hour before she rang for reassurance as she felt nauseous.

Have to say am glad first exam is over and she is underway.

Really good luck to all.

So History was just okay. Now turned mathematician. What a roller coaster!!

Am a bit of a push over maybe - DD decided retail therapy is what she needed so I've funded a sparkly bag to go with her more demure ball dress and a pink rucksack for uni - hope that doesn't out her wherever she goes! [grin}

Pearls, I will try to answer your question, though there are people on this thread who are FAR better qualified to do so.

STEP stands for Sixth Term Examination Paper (sixth term of sixth form, that is). It's an examination, or series of examinations, in Maths and is used by Cambridge, who I believe created it, and other high-raking universities to identify the real high-fliers in Maths. As far as I know, Cambridge is the only universiity that absolutely requires it; others, including Warwick, often include it in an alternative offer.

There are three STEP papers, numbered 1, 2 and 3 (with 1 being the 'easiest'). The style of the papers is different from A-levels. I can't telll you much about them as I don't do Maths, but what I have been told by various people is that they really test problem-solving ability, and the ability to choose the right mathematical tools to approach a problem.

The highest grade in a STEP. paper (I think) is a 1. To give you some idea how it can affect your offer, DS has to get 3 x A+ and an A in his a levels (I'm avoiding the '*' because it messes up formatting), PLUS a grade 1 in all three STEP papers. That's for Cambridge. For Warwick, his offer is 3 x A+ OR A+A+A and a Grade 1 in any STEP paper.

I have no real idea how DS is doing with STEP, and I don't think he really does either, except that he finds it hard. As you imagine, I'm feeling a bit  on his behalf.

Hope that helps. I've probably got some of that wrong - happy to be put straight!

STEP goes up to S, but an SS offer is rare. The other thing to note is that only around half of Cambridge maths offer holders only meet the required STEP grade. It's a brutal cull after everything.

Does your ds really need a 1 in all 3 papers? I've not heard of that before. dd needs 1,1 in STEP 2 and 3.

Nightmare on the oversleeping Pearls!

I think these Maths offers sound so high - little wriggle room for slight errors. And the extra papers on top - no wonder you feel nervous for your DS Kaiser if you don't mind me saying.

And yes, champagne, It feels a bit of a roller coaster to me too. I was watching the clock imagining where she was at in the exam today. The content is so extremely broad for History. At my school and on student chat the Tudor questions were not good apparently.

Thank you very much kaiser

That's really helpful. Blimey the grade offers for your DS sound unbelievable. I mean that's really putting the pressure on. Presumably this is for maths?

DS only (only!) has to get 3A for Natsci. The offer was 4A but he got an A* for maths last year. He's doing one step thing but only one and it's not part of his offer.

As far as I understand it, Cambridge usually ask for a grade 1 in STEP papers 2 and 3. A pupil at DS's school has been asked to get an S (the highest grade) in one paper and a 1 in the other. He thinks this is because he messed up one of his modules last year. DS has been given two options: either A, A A in A levels plus grade 1 in both STEP papers or A, A, A* plus a 1 and a 2 in the STEP papers. I think he feels it's difficult to know how he's progressing with STEP because it's not a case of learning and then regurgitating knowledge; the questions are so different on every paper. He's decided to concentrate on good A levels and so hopefully get into Durham if he misses the Cambridge offer. The other boy has decided to spend all his time on STEP. I think they just have to go with whatever feels right for them.

Voilets we are modern history and the questions were almost too accessible so a bit ambiguous if that makes sense.

^Cambridge usually ask for a grade 1 in STEP papers 2 and 3.*

For what? For Maths? Or for Natsci? There's no mention of STEP in DS's offer. We knew he had a soft offer but now I'm getting slightly worried that he might not be able to keep up if he's supposed to be doing lots of these STEPs

Do STEPs apply only in maths or do they exist in physics and chemistry too?

Sorry - didn't mean to panic anyone! I was referring to maths offers. If STEP isn't mentioned in your DS's offer then he won't need it. I have forgotten that not everyone is applying for maths!!

champagne - from what I understand from DD the examiners reported last year that on the first paper the questions are straightforward but broad and they expect you to bring in comparisons. We have one modern module and one early modern - she much prefers modern. But felt topics on Stuarts today were okay for her. They all seemed to feel a stretch in time allowance and it affected a few girls in her school last year so she was very strict on keeping to time even if she had more to say. Good luck to your DS.

A couple of colleges ask for STEP for engineering, apart from that it's only for maths, maths with physics and comp sci with maths.

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/entrance-requirements/step

I may have mentioned before, one of DDs friends missed her STEP grade but was summer pooled so still got a place just at a different college.

On a sobering note, I've just discovered what the crime scene was all about yesterday. Apparently one of our neighbours' adult children (he was 20) was walking down to the bus-stop when someone lost control of their car, hit the kerb and mounted the pavement and killed him. He'd just graduated.

Puts A level exams into perspective :(

Oh Pearl how dreadful. Thoughts with his family, how completely devastating
Perspective indeed.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/pedestrian-dies-from-his-injuries-after-collision-with-a-car-in-tingley-1-9196212

Article in the local press. Slightly outing but I haven't said anything on here that I'm ashamed of

I can't imagine what I can do that could possibly be any consolation to the parents. I'll send flowers and a card. I've got a slightly insane urge to make them something to eat because I can't imagine they're eating.

That genuinely could have been DS. We've been campaigning for years to have that road get double yellows and sleeping policemen. Did it actually take someone to die before they'd do anything?

pearls that made me cry.
Feeling genuinely overwrought here with all the stress. Exams not going great here and although I am really pleased they seem to be going well for all other DC it makes it hard. Going to duck out for a while and come back in a few weeks, All the best everybody!

So so sad to hear that dreadful news. It really does shine a different light on things.

oh no Pearls, that's truly awful. His poor, poor family.

Making them something to eat, especially if it's in tupperware so they can freeze it if needed is a really kind idea.

Pearls, that's awful. The poor family.

Champagne, I hope things improve. This thread is intended to offer support but I can see why you might feel you need a break. Hope to see you back soon.

I'm concerned I may have inadvertently caused more worry. I truly meant to be supportive.

For my part, not meaning to cause a stir but over the months I have felt judged/put down a fair few times on this thread. It may be my tone has not quite fitted here. It may be I was misconstrued.

With my DS , I made friends on such threads I'm still in contact with through GCSEs to degree. I expect I'm not an Oxbridge type. I will leave the thread.
So sorry to hear such a very sad story - that's the important point on here today.
Truly wish you all the best.