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Original poster

Oxbridge 2021: another 6 months of fretting

771 replies

DahliaMacNamara · 01/02/2021 10:55

Will they make the grades? How will grades be awarded anyway? What the hell are Cambridge up to with that nasty little clause?

OP posts:
DeRigueurMortis · 11/05/2021 13:46

I've already contacted the school but not heard anything back yet.

I was unsure about contacting Cambridge but I suppose the best way of thinking about it is that it can't do any damage.

On the plus side his exam today went very well (Physics) and he's pretty sure he'll get an A star - problem is C only want an A so he's likely to get the grades just in the wrong order Sad.

It's such a nightmare.

hobbema · 11/05/2021 14:42

Really feeling for you @DeRigueurMortis and DS. Different subject but DT1 missed her stipulated A in the CAGs last year and C accepted her on Offer day. I think the letter said “having carefully considered your whole application we would still like to offer you a place”. She was subsequently restored to the A her teachers awarded her and has a nice letter saying “ please ignore our previous letter”! It was agony waiting for UCAS to load that morning having seen her results on the school portal. I know the circus are a bit di but just wanted to say, leeway is possible. From memory on our 2020 thread , DD was the only one of maybe 30 of us hardcore posters who was acce having “ missed” but a tiny unrepresentative cohort. Take heart and well done him for acing the Physics!

hobbema · 11/05/2021 14:43

Sorry typos, dog walking

DeRigueurMortis · 11/05/2021 14:56

Thanks everyone for the kind posts.

I've emailed Cambridge so am waiting on a response.

DeRigueurMortis · 11/05/2021 21:48

Ok so I can't give too much info but the Head of Maths called this evening.

They've looked at his assessment paper and can see what happened and why i.e. the evidence matches his explanation and they can see it's not a case of a child who couldn't do the questions or ran out of time.

Obviously they can't give us any "hints" on grades because quite rightly they have to be evidence based and not influenced by child/parent intervention.

What they have said (which was contrary to what DS believed) is that all data is taken into account and a grade awarded on a holistic evidentiary basis and that these assessments are not disproportionately weighted.

As such they've said it's important he doesn't think it's necessarily "game over"
and needs to focus on proving his credentials in the next exam.

Just to be clear they absolutely playing this straight but assuming he does super well in the next paper and in combination with his (excellent) mocks it's possible he just might squeak it.

So some small much needed hope...

JulesJules · 11/05/2021 22:07

Oh that's good, sounds much more hopeful. I hope he can manage to put it out of his mind and concentrate on the rest of his assessments. Blimey, so stressful though Gin

ClarasZoo · 11/05/2021 22:54

Good. That sounds hopeful. I don’t think it will be a problem if he does well on STEP, so he just needs to hold his nerve and concentrate on that.

DeRigueurMortis · 11/05/2021 22:57

Thank you.

He's a bit better tonight but we're still under no illusions that it's going to be easy (if it ever was - it's rather he's made it even harder if that's possible).

However having some (small) hope is better than none but he's going to have to ace his next FM paper to be in with a shot.

DeRigueurMortis · 11/05/2021 23:07

And obviously get the STEP grades he needs....

DeRigueurMortis · 11/05/2021 23:14

Thanks again for all the supportive posts.

It's been a horrible 48 hours that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

He's always said if he didn't get the grades because he wasn't capable of it he'd be ok with that. Even now if he doesn't get the STEP grades he'd be at peace with it.

It's the thought that a mistake in an exam he's capable of getting the grades for has undone him is what's breaking his heart.

Still a ray of hope is better than none and we will find a way through whatever happens.

RunnersTipple · 12/05/2021 14:16

I've just seen your update @DeRigueurMortis, and am wishing your DS all the luck in acing his next FM paper. FWIW my DS cocked up the Cambridge assessment back in the autumn having misread the instructions (he had done the workings out but failed to put the answers on the answer sheet in time). He spoke to his careers team as soon as he realised, they called the college admissions team and explained. He felt exactly the same as your DS, that if it was a case of just not getting the grade because he wasn't capable it was quite different to it being not getting them from a mistake of his own making (no matter how unintentional). He/we thought that it was game over at that point, so I completely get what you are feeling. In the end he was called to interview. I have everything crossed for DeRigeurMortis Junior. It is one piece of evidence not the total picture.

DeRigueurMortis · 12/05/2021 14:27

Thanks Runners and am so pleased it worked out for your son Thanks

RunnersTipple · 18/05/2021 09:12

Just wondering how your son is doing @DeRigeurMortis? He's been on my mind.

DeRigueurMortis · 18/05/2021 23:46

@RunnersTipple

Thank you for asking.

He had his final FM assessment today and he thinks it went really well.

As posted above I contacted Cambridge and they basically said a missed offer is a missed offer but they would note what happen on file (and suggested the school confirm events with them - which they did).

They also said they do rate STEP scores more highly than A Levels so the situation is that DS is still in the game but frankly it depends on how well other offer holders do because (understandably) they would take applications meeting all criteria first.

Simply put they confirmed it is far more common to meet the A Level grades than STEP so someone doing the reverse would be unusual (and I extrapolate from that of interest especially if they have a reason why).

DS is still kicking himself and whilst in a much better frame of mind than last week he's still "low".

As parents DH and I are (I think/hope) being as supportive as we can but it's obviously something we can't fix.

It's now a case of fingers crossed that he does well in STEP and to be fair if he doesn't meet the criteria on that then his FM A Level won't matter which in a way would make it easier because a mistake wouldn't be the reason he didn't get to meet the offer and I think he could live with that.

RunnersTipple · 19/05/2021 17:04

Keeping everything crossed for him DeRigeur.

FingernailNibbler · 19/05/2021 17:43

@hobbema

Really feeling for you *@DeRigueurMortis* and DS. Different subject but DT1 missed her stipulated A in the CAGs last year and C accepted her on Offer day. I think the letter said “having carefully considered your whole application we would still like to offer you a place”. She was subsequently restored to the A her teachers awarded her and has a nice letter saying “ please ignore our previous letter”! It was agony waiting for UCAS to load that morning having seen her results on the school portal. I know the circus are a bit di but just wanted to say, leeway is possible. From memory on our 2020 thread , DD was the only one of maybe 30 of us hardcore posters who was acce having “ missed” but a tiny unrepresentative cohort. Take heart and well done him for acing the Physics!
Fingers crossed for you *@DeRigueurMortis* That is everyone's nightmare. I'm glad everyone is aware and glad the STEP exam went well.

Same happened to DD, @hobbema , one grade downgraded from CAG. Slight delay on results day and then her C college said they accepted her despite the slipped grade. What a relief! Another girl on her course at same college posted on social group that she had slipped a grade and got rejection notice from the college. Both their grades were subsequently put back to the CAG and that student is there now with my DD and they're pals (close-knit group in their subject/college). I hope @DeRigueurMortis DS doesn't have any drama on results day, just a straight acceptance!Smile

DeRigueurMortis · 19/05/2021 18:04

Thanks both for the crossed fingers 🤞

Chilldonaldchill · 20/05/2021 19:51

I thought I'd posted on here yesterday but must have posted elsewhere in error. The stats page for Cambridge admissions updated yesterday with number of applicants and offers (and offers from pool) for each college/subject. We found it interesting!

ClarasZoo · 20/05/2021 22:29

Thank you- off to check now!

JulesJules · 21/05/2021 09:53

Fingers crossed for STEP @DeRigueurMortis - at least that is in his hands.

whiteroseredrose · 21/05/2021 20:12

DD had her last exam today so I no longer have a child at school.

Last ever lift to school too.

Huge relief that exams are over, obviously but I'm also quite sad.

Anyway, roll on 10th August!

Chilldonaldchill · 21/05/2021 21:47

One exam left here then leavers' day next Friday and then freedom! I have one in year 11 with the same leavers' day so have got them both off school for months on end!
I think DD feels she has done herself justice with the exams so hoping she will be ok come August!

Original poster
DahliaMacNamara · 22/05/2021 19:10

DD has a couple left this side of half term and then that's it. She thinks she's done okay so far. Me, I woke up from a dream where she handed me a sheet of paper with her grades from each exam assessment, and it was all Cs and Ds. Looks like I have a way to go before I can relax.

OP posts:
FloppyHoldsNoTruckWithFrontedA · 29/05/2021 22:08

Link?

“I thought I'd posted on here yesterday but must have posted elsewhere in error. The stats page for Cambridge admissions updated yesterday with number of applicants and offers (and offers from pool) for each college/subject. We found it interesting!”

Original poster
DahliaMacNamara · 30/05/2021 15:12

I wonder what happened there? The link was definitely in @Chilldonaldchill's post at the time. At least, I followed somebody's link from this page.

OP posts: