Question for Oxford students/parents

[kitnkaboodle]

My DD did a year at Oxford and failed a couple of papers at the end of the first year. Wasn't able to resit them last September (long story) so suspended for a year and resat them this June. Has just heard that she's passed, thank goodness, and can go back this autumn.
Can someone please confirm for me (because she is quite cagey about it all) that it is only these first year exams that are make-or-break to such an extent?? I realise that if she had failed these resits then her Oxford career would have been over. It has been a stressful year for all of us, and I just wondered if there was any chance that she could find herself in this situation again, or if ... while there's always the chance of coming out with a poor final grade ... she is now there to stay? Appreciate that I might be wrong, and would appreciate a jargon-free explanation of the exam system there! I'd prefer not to disclose the subject, but maybe that's relevant?? Thanks in advance.

Lb DD did TSA for Econ & Management and didn't spend that long prepping for it, think she started in September, but it varies from person to person and you do need to do very well on it to get an interview, DD was within top half of offers on hers (maybe top 5%). Best thing to do is to look at the test and practice, its quite logic based with minimal maths and people vary how they find it compared to other tests. Her grades will be fine to apply with but its only a 5% offer rate and most applying with have those grades. Think TSA is fairly time pressured so one thing to practice is speed. Good luck. DD thought she had 46/50 but you aren't told the score just like the 11 plus for results and also they tell you after you hear from Oxford whether you have an offer.

Thank you v helpful. So she started in September, roughly a month or so before the test?

Yes I think so but would have a look at them now and see as will vary from person to person and people vary on how they find the test. It's worth looking at the different entry tests as for some a maths one is easier, for others the logic one is better. Oxford interview a lot less, 3 per place, than Cambridge so entry test can be more important in a way as you need to do well to get an interview whereas Cambridge will interview more.

@lbwagain, DS practised TSA past papers quite intensively for a couple of weeks before the actual test. His A Levels are A star Maths, A star Economics and A star Politics.

DS played competitive sport at university. Whilst this has no bearing at all on an application, it did shape DS’s time at Cambridge. He played on a university wide team, captained the college team, was awarded a sports scholarship and it helped to keep the academic work in perspective.