Is there a minimum GCSE score for Oxbridge etc

[Ooonafoo]

DD predicted AAA but wondering if her GCSEs are good enough to consider applying to Oxbridge, UCL, Durham, Bristol (2024 entry) - 6x9, 3x8, 1x7 - from state grammar.

Do each of these Unis state a minimum or is it subject dependent?

I think Cambridge look more at GCSE results than Oxford….I might have that the wrong way round. My daughter studied at Cambridge.She went to a state comp and had a full set of A star and nines.

DD had mostly 9s and a couple of 8s but did have one 6 (further maths) but she applied to an arts subject and is currently a Cambridge offer holder. She got a top score in regular maths but didn’t ‘enjoy’ it and I think that came out in the FM result.

So (long story short) you do not have to have straight 9s at GCSE to apply to Oxbridge and get an offer.

STEM subjects may be a different story, reading on this forum the standards seem brutally high.

@Ooonafoo from Oxford "If you are shortlisted, your performance in interviews will also be taken into account. Higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of 7,8 and 9 grades."

Most universities tend to consider grades 8 and 9 as the same as they are both equivalent to the old A star. Oxford look at them more than other unis, Cambridge used to prefer AS results but now rely on admissions tests. My child has the same grades as yours, 4 A stars at A level and was interviewed by Cambridge uni. They are now at Durham studying a STEM degree.

They look at all things, A level predictions, GCSEs, teacher reference which will change from 2024 and personal statement that will change format in 2025. The personal statement is the more individual element of the process, applying for top unis will see the vast majority with high GCSE grades and A level predictions.

You need to look at the individual courses to see what the A Level entry requirements are. All these are highly competitive. As PettsWoodParadise said STEM is brutal but don't let it put you off.

OP AFAIK it is Oxford that looks closely at GCSE grades but I have to say, surely those excellent grades would be good enough! I mean blimey, one 7 (=A)!!

Mate of Ds's studies maths at Cambridge and he got a 6! (not in maths obvs).

Not everyone gets all 9s, whatever MN may have you believe. and if Oxford and Cambridge, never mind the other unis you mention, only considered those with all 9s they would have many many empty places tbh.

A levels and interview are far more important. Good luck to your DD.

Sorry the bolding messed up - A level predictions are 2 A stars and an A - looking at History and Politics

If you are looking degree starting Sept 2023 you've probably missed the boat. My DD has a friend who applied (which you have to do much earlier than other Unis), there was then a series of interviews (she was unsuccessful following the 3rd stage interview). Believe there is something like 14 applications for every 1 place, so competition is immense. You may want to look at Russell Group Unis which also have a great reputation.

The issue of GCSE grades for Oxford has been discussed recently on another thread. The system is more sophisticated than just looking for a fixed number of grade 9s/8s. My understanding is that Oxford look at relative performance, so they will consider how your GCSE performance compares with the norm for students at the school where you took your GCSEs. Those GCSE grades look pretty good to my untrained eye. My DD got in with 3 grade 9s having attended a state comprehensive that gets better than average results by the standards of state comprehensives.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/805385/response/1930566/attach/html/4/FOI%2020211110%204%20History%20Quals%20data%20sent.xlsx.html

For History rather than history and politics.
Student 132 didn't get great GCSEs or A levels but had a pretty good HAT score and an incredible interview.

DD had mainly 8s but some sevens and sixes and had an interview at Oxford. She was rejected after interview though .. she is happily studying at UCL (history).

@Ooonafoo
Yes. Why not apply? She would have to do HAT. That is a critical score. GCSEs is only part of the issue. As she’s going to a selective grammar, that’s a better school than a low performing comp. Then there is A levels, written essay submission and interview if selected.

It’s not 1/14 for History. (1/4 I think) Not sure about politics. Oxford publish all their admissions data, so look it up.

Do students prep for HAT?

Yes just looked up the stats for Oxford - looks like 75% are interviewed and 25% offered for History whilst History & Politics is 38% and 11% …. Quite a difference!

@Ooonafoo Thats showing H&P is more popular. Therefore is it worth it? More of a risk. Look at History and see if there are enough political history modules. You never know!!

DD in her first year at Cambs: 4x9, 4x8, 2 x7.

• at a state grammar, I should have added.

And candidate 203 shows the alternative.....
This is really interesting, thanks for posting. Just shows what a range of GCSE's grades are acceptable to at least think about applying. (Need strong test and interview scores too of course). And shows that the posters who assert that if you haven't got straight 9's then it's a waste of time applying are quite wrong.

They are not selecting purely on GCSE results. All the other exams and tests matter. HAT gets you the interview. Interview isn’t just knowledge. It’s how you think and are you going to benefit from the style of teaching.

I have seen statements by Oxford (for specific courses) that they look at the number of GCSEs and the proportion of top grades, whereas Cambridge look at the "best 8" (though it's unclear if this must include maths/English.
I've also seen a FOI request which shows % getting interview at oxford versus number of GCSEs obtained. There was a very slight increase in % chance of interview with increasing GCSEs obtained as number went from 7 to 11+, but the % sharply decreased with 6 or fewer GCSEs.
They don't distinguish between grades 8 and 9 because, among other reasons, Wales, Northern Ireland and some international GCSE candidates are all still on letter grades, so 9, 8 and A* are treated as a "top" grade. Almost all successful candidates will have at least 4 or 5 "top" grades; the majority have far more.

This has been really helpful - thanks for the insights and links as somehow I had the impression that if you didn’t have a clean sweep of 10 x grade 9s you fell at the first hurdle regardless of A level prediction or passion for chosen subject.

Op just for reference - in 2019 (a good reference point as it was a normal year, no TAGs) fewer than 1,000 students got all 9s.

Oxford alone takes more than 3,000 undergraduate students a year so I hope that helps.

@Ooonafoo
That impression is brought about by hyperbole! Chat! As you can see, it’s worth a go. Your bigger issue is which course and playing the odds!!

The idea of needing a straight sweep of 9s etc was really flawed , it's so common for people to have biases with subjects , an amazing linguist may not be grade 9 level in maths/science. Likewise an amazing scientist may not be interested in being forced to do English literature, should oxbridge discount these students. They could lose an amazing student. I've heard the top 8 GCSEs being quoted for Cambridge and a comparison with how children did compared to the rest of their school year's cohort (I think from the unis admissions sites etc as well). I think they have far more tools to work with (interviews, entrance exams, school references, predicted A level grades) to rely on just GCSEs. I know people who have interviewed etc with arguably not as strong as your DC's really great GCSE results 👍.

They even have the much maligned personal statement. Which they read and might talk about at interview. Quite a lot of info.

I interview at Cambridge - we interview (and offer to) candidates with a whole range of different GCSE scores. We look at the grades in our subject and closely related ones, plus at the school’s GCSE adjustments relative to the local authority and national average.

Most candidates will have a mixture of 7s, 8s and 9s and it’s a myth that they have to have all top grades! It’s not actually that common for candidates to have straight 9s — and even then, we quite often reject candidates that do, and take others with much less stellar grades after interview.

Each candidate is looked at in the round, rather than a minimum GCSE score being applied.