If you child went to Oxbridge what GCSE results did they have?

[MockBatter]

Just wondering whether you need all 8s and 9s for a shot at Oxbridge. My child just got slightly worse results than expected and says that has dashed their chances of applying to Oxbridge. Is that true?

In answering it would be helpful to know whether the child was applying from state or private school as I suppose that could make a difference in the grades Oxbridge would consider.

Thank you. That’s interesting to see Oxford’s approach. Cambridge is a bit different.

Cambridge is indeed unique for Maths, failing half of those with offers through STEP.

DD (Cambridge, arts subject) had a range of GCSEs from 9 down to 6, the 6 in further maths and 7 in Physics and unrelated to her arts subject like @Heavyeyelids DN. For her subject it was also a matter of interview and test, not one reliant on the other like at Oxford, I think this worked for her as she interviews well, under the Oxford system if she had done mediocre in a test may not have got the interview so I think Cambridge build up a more rounded picture amd interview more but reject more after interview/test for some subjects.

This means they also have the summer pool where if a candidate maybe flunks one element but otherwise impresses them they put them in the summer pool. They don’t put a Cambridge college on UCAS but if they get the grades stipulated in the pool letter (sometimes a typical offer, sometimes one grade higher) they can contact Cambridge on results day and if there is an opening get a summer pool place.

DD got the highest grades in her year at her non-selective 6-form entry state comp i.e. mostly 9s and a few 8s (no-one got all 9s).

Can anyone tell me more about how this context is weighted in uni admissions processes? And is it a comparison of Attainment 8 figures?

Despite your modesty about many of their contemporaries getting these grades, you have clever children. No question about it!

And private schools often have absolutely rubbish teachers. In my generation it was rife and I still hear complaints in this generation. Disgraceful.

Both my DC got 9x9 at GCSE and had all A star at A level predicted.
Neither even got an interview.
I think it's because they are private school kids.

I believe c.7% of children attend fee-paying schools and c.30% of Oxbridge students are from such schools.

I know I imagined DD had buggered up her chances of going to Oxford when she didn't get an unbroken string of 9s at GCSE, but she'd done her research and knew that she probably had the best grades at her going downhill fast comp, as well as being confident she'd smash the entrance exam, which she duly did.
Looking at the published admission stats later (these things can be all-consuming while you're vicariously living through it all), and it appeared it's never about one single element.

It's more like 20% of A level students are at private schools. The 7% is across all educations stages.

Many private 6th forms are extremely selective, plus offer bursaries and scholarships to attract Oxbridge candidates, so hardly surprising if they have 30% of students.

It’s not 7% at sixth form, it’s higher I think

That's interesting @OhCrumbsWhereNow , do you have a link to that source as I have only seen the 7% figure.