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Higher education

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Original poster

How much do GCSE’s matter?

32 replies

quoque · 10/02/2025 16:43

Ambitious DD, will do well in her A-Levels and currently getting ready for her (9) GCSE’s. She’s predicted all 8/9, but with one 6 (not a subject she plans to keep).

I keep reading that GCSE’s get evaluated by Oxbridge. Am I overthinking this 6? Is it a big deal?

OP posts:
lifeturnsonadime · 11/02/2025 22:22

In my experience no, my son took 6 GCSEs 1 8 , 4 6s and 1 5.

He was interviewed at Oxford but he got through to the interview based on the cohort/ contextual rules as he was out of school for a while.

He's now at UCL.

caringcarer · 11/02/2025 22:48

Tcateh · 10/02/2025 16:57

The one to keep an eye on Ime is maths if planning university.

I'm the other side of uni, and some degree subjects need a higher mark in maths.

Particularly psychology.

Probably others but that was one that surprised me.

That would be for the statistics.

irregularegular · 11/02/2025 22:52

They count for quite a lot at Oxford. But the algorithm that produces the advisory ranking only uses the top 8 grades. At least for the subjects I know about. Also they are contextualised relative to school.

irregularegular · 11/02/2025 22:53

And yes, the subject of the 6 would matter.

SlaveToAGoldenRetriever · 11/02/2025 22:58

KilkennyCats · 10/02/2025 18:28

They’re predictions, op. She could do better than a 6 in the one she’s predicted a 6 in, and worse in the others 🤷🏻‍♀️
You write as though it’s all a foregone conclusion, “She will do well in her A Levels”…
She hasn’t sat GCSE’s yet.

This. Massively underestimating the difficulty of A levels here OP! Even the most capable of DC can (and do) academically crumble. Nothing is a given.

Ceramiq · 12/02/2025 07:10

IdaGlossop · 11/02/2025 22:18

Nolonger, after today's announcement that a level 2 English and maths qualification is a must-have to complete an apprenticeship.

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Universities can still have an English and Maths GCSE requirement however.

IdaGlossop · 12/02/2025 16:08

Ceramiq · 12/02/2025 07:10

Universities can still have an English and Maths GCSE requirement however.

Show quote history

Yes, the announcement doesn't change anything for universities.

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