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Original poster

Oxbridge 2024 Entry Part 2

973 replies

Lightsabre · 12/09/2023 22:43

Continuation thread (when old one is full) for those supporting dc through Oxbridge applications. All welcome as we enter the next phase.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Revengeofthepangolins · 25/10/2023 08:35

@FancyFanny I was vaguely hoping that with english lit at most places being 70-80% girls, boys might have higher offer rates in a bid to even things out (having a boy) but not the case.

catmomof3 · 25/10/2023 10:40

My daughter just got an email from Oxford saying they are not marking the ELAT and she also just got an email from her college. She's just reading that now so not sure what it says. She did just shout out that she doesn't think the MAT is being used either???

O2HaveALittleHouse · 25/10/2023 11:47

Hi @catmomof3 - did the letter mention the MAT specifically? My DC didn’t receive any mail..

MathsParent2 · 25/10/2023 11:48

In regards to the MAT, Oxford have put out another message basically saying they are looking at options still. https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/node/65924

However, an interesting nugget has just popped up on the student room forum, in regards to a message from one of the Oxford colleges, Brasenose;

‘Candidates for English, Geography and Maths should have already heard from the department about the tests, and we can confirm that your tests will NOT be used for making selection decisions.’

Mathematics Admission Test (MAT) 2023 | Mathematical Institute

https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/node/65924

catmomof3 · 25/10/2023 11:51

O2HaveALittleHouse · 25/10/2023 11:47

Hi @catmomof3 - did the letter mention the MAT specifically? My DC didn’t receive any mail..

It mentioned the elat, mat and geography test.

Dafrty · 25/10/2023 11:55

We’ve had one confirming the ELAT scripts won’t be marked (removes the uncertainty) but it didn’t mention any other tests.

Headingto18 · 25/10/2023 12:03

Hopefully all applicants will get emails today!

catmomof3 · 25/10/2023 12:06

My daughter said her friend got one from Christchurch and they ask you to submit a photo of yourself? I wonder why that is. Her college didn't ask her for one which is a good thing because she's looking like death with covid right now.

BackToWhereItAllBegan · 25/10/2023 12:30

@catmomof3 possibly the photo is for identification if the interviews are online still?

catmomof3 · 25/10/2023 12:41

@BackToWhereItAllBegan I have no idea, her other friend applied to Hertford and they haven't asked her either.

ShanghaiDiva · 25/10/2023 13:11

My dd had to supply a photo. Assume it’s for interview identification.

Revengeofthepangolins · 25/10/2023 13:55

I can see the photo consuming so much more time than it should! Ds has rejected the one I have used for everything for the last year or so. I firmly expect this to take up a lot more time than is warranted !

catmomof3 · 25/10/2023 14:01

ShanghaiDiva · 25/10/2023 13:11

My dd had to supply a photo. Assume it’s for interview identification.

I'm wondering if she will be asked after submitting her written work.

Her friend doing the BMAT said her college told them they have had over 1k applications for medicine so she's ruling herself out of even been shortlisted.

HoneyMobster · 25/10/2023 14:17

@catmomof3 - I'd be surprised if a single college received 1,000 applications. In 2022 Oxford had 1,713 applications for medicine and of those 1,637 sat the BMAT.

catmomof3 · 25/10/2023 14:27

HoneyMobster · 25/10/2023 14:17

@catmomof3 - I'd be surprised if a single college received 1,000 applications. In 2022 Oxford had 1,713 applications for medicine and of those 1,637 sat the BMAT.

I have no clue why she assumed her college had 1k applications then, even I thought that sounded a bit crazy 😅 I'll tell my daughter to tell her friend to not worry too much then lol.

HoneyMobster · 25/10/2023 14:31

It would be bizarre. She's probably confused university and college.

FYI in 2022 27% were interviewed.

stoneysongs · 25/10/2023 16:32

DD has had an email from her college now - put the wind up her a bit because it tells her how to submit written work, which she doesn't have to do.

Original poster
Lightsabre · 25/10/2023 18:01

Ds has received an email from the college he applied to confirming they have his application.

OP posts:
Dummydaydream · 25/10/2023 19:18

My DS has received an email from his chosen Oxford college confirming his application and asking for a photo to be sent by 10 November - only for use if he is shortlisted for interview.

O2HaveALittleHouse · 25/10/2023 19:52

Thanks for confirming that MAT was also included in the mail and for the latest news via their website. I appreciate it a lot.

FancyFanny · 25/10/2023 20:22

My DDgot a confirmation from her chosen college at Oxford today after submitting her art portfolio- no request for a photo though...

WobblyLondoner · 25/10/2023 21:40

FancyFanny · 25/10/2023 20:22

My DDgot a confirmation from her chosen college at Oxford today after submitting her art portfolio- no request for a photo though...

Ditto!

HappiDaze · 26/10/2023 01:31

O2HaveALittleHouse · 23/10/2023 20:50

That letter in the Guardian suggests some kids had been able to start the maths test but were booted off after 30 mins. My DC couldn’t start at all.

That means some kids saw the paper before being given the paper version later in the day while others did not. Is anyone prepared to vouch that their child were able to access the MAT test at all online?

The MAT paper froze on question 1 after 30 mins

No one had online access or could see any more questions online.

When my DS returned from a forced break with the other applicants they were given a PDF paper copy with the rest of the questions. I'm not sure it had crashed for a second time before then as well.

They carried on in exam conditions obviously but were there for 6 hours in total.

The answers for the MAT were always expected to be written on paper.

The ELAT however was all answered online so all their writing just disappeared when it crashed which is awful.

DS wasn't phased and just got on with it. It's just maths to him so the situation didn't stress him out it just annoyed him as it took so bloody long. It was tiring to the brain if anything

HappiDaze · 26/10/2023 01:35

catmomof3 · 23/10/2023 23:11

How long did it take to hear from oxford? my My daughter's exam officer just couldn't get a hold of them at all and he was also getting very stressed by the whole situation. It's just disappointing that an institution like Oxford can get things so wrong. I don't know who was in charge of the tests last year but if it ain't broke don't fix it as they say.

It was about 2 hours till they got access to the MAT paper test. The PDF version from Oxford

HappiDaze · 26/10/2023 01:38

Redhotchillipeppers · 23/10/2023 18:38

DS also likes Warwick. But Cambridge is his top choice.

No support in terms of mocks at DS’s state school. I’m afraid he’s on his own for this and STEP preparation.

We are new to the whole Oxbridge thing.

Fingers crossed!

The questions are weird so he needs to keep doing past papers to get into the head space of what they expect