Any Oxbridge tutors here - Should DD bother applying for English at Cambs with these grades?

[indecision25]

Hi, I know it's still quite early days, but thinking ahead a bit. DD is in year 12. She is doing 4 A-levels in English Lit, Drama, Politics and Philosophy plus an EPQ (English related), plus LAMDA Grade 8. She is definitely capable of A star in all, but we'll see.

The problem is she is in a very high-performing independent school (probably within top 5 in U.K.). The school is quite STEM-focused and, at GCSE, DD lost her confidence in STEM because all her peers are top sets and she was in the lowest set for Sciences and Maths. In the context of her school, she 'flunked' Maths and Chemistry GCSE. Her grades were - 5x9s in English Lit, English Lang, Music, French, History, Drama, Philosophy, 2x8s in Physics and Biology and 2x7s in Maths and Chemistry.

Obviously these are hardly bad grades but, in her school, I think it's something like over 80% of grades are 8s and 9s so she would be contextualised against that.

My feeling is she shouldn't apply to Oxford because I know they use contextualised GCSEs to make the cut for interviews and she probably wouldn't get an interview, based on her school. However, I thought maybe she could have a go at Cambridge for English as they look more holistically and interview more people and might overlook the 7s and 8s as they're not subjects relevant to English anyway. Also, she would do well in an interview (I would think) and has quite a few 'super curricular things' like plays she has written, an essay competition prize (English) and she does a lot of drama. She really does love English (always has), reads avidly, and I think this would come across.

I do have some experience of Cambridge admissions as my elder DD has recently graduated. She did have 10 9s at GCSE, but 'only' 3 A-levels and, to be perfectly honest, her natural affinity or 'passion' for her subject was nothing like this younger DD. She was just more of an 'even profile' at GCSE,

Anyway, in the last week, one teacher has told her not to bother with Cambridge as her grades will let her down. On the other hand, her English teacher is saying she should definitely apply.

Are there any Cambridge admissions tutors on here who can give an honest steer as to whether her GCSEs (contextualised) will rule her out? All her 9s are essay subjects, but is it enough? I know people might say, Cambridge is only one of five choices, so just give it a go. But I know from experience it's a lot to go through if in reality, she'll be out at the first hurdle.

Any advice please and sorry if this is a ramble!

This is incorrect. Oxford DO score the gcses in the context of the school at which they were sat. Cambridge do not.

However at both this would not be the deciding factor whether to interview as they would also consider admissions test scores and personal statements.

If she likes either after visiting it is one choice out of 5 so worth a shot.

Oxford DO weed out about 50% applicamts before interview whereas Cambridge interview the majority and weed out later.

DD just got an offer to study English at C with very similar grades (she attends a grammar school).

GCSEs are one part of the application; her personal statement and Predicted grades also factor.

then it’s the ELAT test plus success in two interviews.

I think for DD it was being exceptional at unseen textual analysis and her ability to talk through her ideas that got her the offer.

Thank you for this interesting and informative post, @ThisRareRobin . I feel sure it will become a key reference on this Board

OP, if she's really interested in English and wants to go to Oxford or Cambridge, and is able to do the super-curricular reading/preparation, go for it! It helps that her English teacher is also encouraging her to apply. If Cambridge or Oxford (whichever she chooses) say no, there are still four other universities to apply for. She only needs ons university to attend. I say go for it, if that's what she would like to do!