Oxbridge 2020 (8th thread)

[DadDadDad]

A thread to continue discussing entry to Oxbridge in October 2020 (less than nine months away ). All welcome, although this obviously will be of most interest to those with DS or DD holding an offer, and wanting to find a bit of support.

All too soon, 13 August will come over the horizon. Until then, ask questions... share experiences... discuss news and stats... write a poem... (we did briefly have some poetry on a previous thread).

With huge thanks to @HugoSpritz and predecessors for previous threads.

Yes Hugo I do see the problem with using predicted grades - continued our convo over on the 'main' thread! I'm not sure what the solution is! If students are actually too ill to do the exams what happens - usually they would be awarded a grade based on mocks/teachers' predictions, I think?

But Hugo that's the standard rule - 25% etc. We're in uncharted waters and presumably there will need to be changes in response.

Predicted grades for UCAS tend to be on the high side Hugo but internal 'projected' grades are pretty realistic (and of course for some, a full set of A* is perfectly realistic). Mocks at our school at least tend to have sky high grade boundaries so that carries a difficulty of its own. 'Projected' grades, with supporting evidence based on coursework components plus mocks plus Y12/13 assessments could be perfectly valid - and capable of challenge if certain schools suddenly and markedly improved their overall results compared to those of their most recent cohorts.

Hopefully they'll just keep y13 and exams going, but they'll have to make provision for the presumably large numbers who won't get as far as taking 25%.

D1's school have said they think (as things stand) A level exams will not be affected, even if the schools close. They think they may well close early for the Easter holidays. If any exams are affected, GCSEs could be postponed until Sept which would not be as disruptive as postponing A levels. But who knows, anything could happen. I really feel for all the students involved.

So much anxiety here re the cancellation of exams. There are more offers than places, of course, for most subjects. How on earth will they get their grades? And similar anxiety for GCSE students.

I realise that this is less important than tens (hundreds?) of thousands dying.

Not much detail PantTwizzler. Not clear if they're completely cancelled, cancelled in the standard format.... All very vague. DD definitely not happy to have them binned altogether, nor are her friends.

A teacher on secondary education thread just posted that they had to provide predicted grades yesterday.

It's not a total surprise that they are suspending (cancelling / postponing?) exams. But this is going to be tough. As well as DS sitting A levels, his brother is doing GCSEs. They are going to be twiddling their thumbs for months...

Wow! So sorry to her this for you all.

Here is a statement from Welsh education. I guess England/Scotland would have similar procedures?

Long time lurker on these threads, delurking at this crazy time. DS holds an offer for Cambridge and is well on track for his results but this is huge news for all the students to deal with.

Sending supportive vibes to them all.

How will they decide who gets the uni places based on conditional offers, given that all unis over-offer for most courses?

Maybe it will be left to unis to decide - eg if they offered 150 conditional offers for 100 places at say A*AA, they may have to withdraw offers to the “weaker” candidates based on interviews / refs / predicted grades / altitude test scores etc?

Unis that don’t interview may just have to go on refs and those who have the the higher predicted grades?

Perhaps unis will ask for voluntary deferrals? Bit unfair on the next cohort though......

I bet their international intake will be done a lot, so they may have room for everyone they made offers to.

*down

They need the international fees though?

I suspect Oxbridge are rich enough to forgo a year of international fees in order to prioritise home students. Oxford in particular has a tough pre exam for most subjects and 1-3 thorough interviews for students. If they get through both of these measures they should accept they would have make the grade and honour their offer to these students

DS is so upset by the exam news. How can they predict grades for STEP at a school that doesn't help with preparations for it?!

Not quite as upset as he was by the news that Glastonbury is cancelled, though.

Strange times. Keep safe, everyone.

DD1 is currently enjoying the prospect of doing lots of maths at home without having to negotiate her way through the piles of lower school students that clutter up the corridors. This includes her sister.

But she did look freaked out at the "no exams" news. Hoping we get some clarity soon.

Her college emailed earlier today asking all offer-holders to keep a written record of level of disruption and how their preparation has been affected. Which seemed like they were gearing up for making some sort of judgement call when exams resume. But it seems life has already moved on!

There won’t be enough accommodation for all the students with offers if they are all given places. Nor enough space in labs, presumably, either.

Although a lot of overseas students will no longer be coming. Many won't have the opportunity to meet the language criteria etc. mow.

DD has firmed Oxford and insured York at ABB to play safe tonight. Please go for predicted grades...

Very sensible to press the button Hoghgyni.

From the Economist: Those preparing to take crucial exams are particularly jittery. Thegaokao, China’s single university-entrance exam, is usually held in June. This year it will probably be delayed, says Xu Liangdi of China Policy, a think-tank, although the government has so far made no announcement.

Does anyone know if these are the exams which their UK offers would also be based on?

Goodbye she pressed within minutes of the announcement, so hopefully the universities will play ball themselves now. Who knows? A lot of her friends have done the same, but some are still waiting to hear from their top choices, as Durham, St A & Imperial are still dragging their feet.