Cambridge maths offers changing.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/mathematics

Under entry requirements tab.

Some colleges will be allowing the option of A A A* and STEP grade 1 in either of the two STEP papers taken for next year. This is a new variant of the standard offer which needs a STEP grade 1 in both papers.

According to an article in the Telegraph (behind paywall so I can only read the headline) it's to encourage more women on to the maths course as the current STEP offers seem to put them off.

I read that article. It also mentioned the new offer would apply to students from schools which don't help with teaching STEP preparation. Which rather contradicts the usual assertion that that if they are Cambridge material they can teach themselves STEP.

It also mentioned the new offer would apply to students from schools which don't help with teaching STEP preparation. Which rather contradicts the usual assertion that that if they are Cambridge material they can teach themselves STEP.

Actually it doesn't.

The issue is whether students themselves believe that they can teach themselves STEP - not whether they can actually teach themselves.

Cambridge Maths currently has the lowest percentage of women of any of the top UK maths courses. There is considerable evidence that women are put off applying for the course because they are insecure about meeting the STEP requirements. So it is not that they couldn't make the requirements - it is that they don't apply in large enough numbers.