Oxbridge applicants 2026??

[Justlurkingmostly]

Is there a thread for this year’s applicants - I can’t seem to find with a search. Thanks for signposting 🙏

Thanks

Did anyone else’s child do the CLAT?

No HAT anymore! Goodness. My two are post uni now, but how in earth are they going to decide the interviewees.

Eldest DD was Oxford undergrad, youngest, got an interview but no place, but just finished a Masters at Oxford. It's a lovely place. Good luck to all.

Shortlisting for Oxford History appears to be entirely based on GCSE grades:

DC applying for eng at Cam.
did esat 3 weeks ago, now waiting on results. Interested to hear any more on interview practice stuff.

Good luck to you all

Its here https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate-study/maths-admissions-test

Its in Feedback2024 pdf file

Yes, they need to have an I pad with the whiteboard downloaded onto it. Once you are invited to interview they tell you the app you need to download so it links with their screen and whiteboard.
DC1 has just under a weeks notice for interview. Had three interviews for Maths which I believe is the norm.

DS Same! Waiting :-)

Hi all, thanks for the thread. DS2 took the PAT last week for a place at Oxford to do Physics and Philosphy, anyone’s DC applied for this? It’s quite a small cohort with only 18 offers made last year. He has an offer from Bristol (I think for physics only) and will take the ESAT in Jan for a place at Imperial. Other applications are for Durham and St Andrews but not expecting to hear from either for a while.

He’s a bit evasive about how he did but thinks he has probably done enough to get 60-70% which he hopes will be enough for interview. Just have to wait and see
He is trying to assert his independence at the moment and is keeping me a bit arms length from the process which I respect as it’s his journey not mine. I expect this to escalate further when he turns 18 next month. TBH I’m quite pleased about this as I want him to be able to make his own decisions and take accountability for them. But it’s also hard as he is my youngest, he is obviously bright but a bit naive.

Looking forward to hearing how everyone copes with their DC going through this process. I’ve been there twice before (UCAS not Oxbridge) but the first time was 20 years ago.

@Mumski45DS took the PAT last week too but has just applied for Physics. He’s quite also quite independent, and generally gives off a fairly chilled demeanour however as his mum I recognised the tells that he was a little nervous. It’s just a wait and see moment, he’s aware that he’s one of the brightest at his school but that he’s now competing against kids nationally who are in the same position. His 6th form college have been good at preparing them though so hopefully he’s done his best. He won’t let us as his parents help, something my husband has taken great affront to. I’ve taken the ‘we here if you need us ‘ position - both of us have multiple degrees & have interaction university students but in very different although competitive subjects. I understand the reluctance though and know his college are already supporting him.
He’s got an interview at Manchester in November, and has also applied to Edinburgh, York & Durham - although the last two he’s less keen on, I suspect he applied because his friends wanted those two.

Hello @carpedaim and everyone, I wonder if I could pick your brains - do you know how they calculate the GCSE score on which then then make that interview decision?

my Dd got 9999888877 from a comprehensive school, with these results she was in the top five of her year of 250 odd kids.

The 9s were in her (humanities) a level subjects including history.

She wants to apply for history next year (only y12 now but starting to think about it).

Oxford don't disclose their methods of contextualising GCSEs unfortunately. I've found a freedom of information request online but Oxford refused to disclose, for commercial interest reasons.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/contextualisedgcseinformation

I understand they look at both the number and proportion of 8s and 9s, but I don't know how they contextualise them. (DS has applied to Oxford, also from a comprehensive school.)

The history admissions report for last year shows the average GCSE number of 8s and 9s for those invited to interview was 7.87 so with 8 from a comp I would have thought she would definitely get an interview. They interview 3 per place at Oxford as a general rule. Contextualisation isn't published but my DD thought it was number of 8s and 9s within context of your school and she thought schools with a negative progress 8 value add got boosted. From what we could see for her she got 12 8s and 9s from a negative progress 8 school and we think that would have taken her to the top of the list for people with 12 8s and 9s but not above people with 13 or more but hard to be certain.

www.merton.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/inline-files/History%20Admissions%20Report%202024.pdf

@Greenleave here’s the information about tech needed for interviews

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews

I could not see an account of the tech needed for a Maths interview with Oxford on that last link.

Are schools/ sixth form colleges likely to be able to help with this?

If we need to buy our own, would it be sensible to get it well in advance, so that DC can practice?

The mathematical details of how GCSEs are contextualised is not published, but here is the university's explanation of how they use contextual data to assess applications:

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/decisions/contextual-data

The history faculty also says the following about cGCSEs: https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/admissions-facts-and-figures

"The contextualised GCSE score provides information about how well an applicant has performed at GCSE compared to other applicants, given the performance of the school at which they took their GCSEs. It can be useful for identifying applicants from low performing schools who have achieved fewer top grades than other applicants, but more than would be expected for an average applicant from that school."

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad if you open the link that @Muchtoomuchtodo posted and then scroll right down to "Tier 3 subjects" and expand that section, you'll see Maths is a Tier 3 subject in terms of interview tech. (They group all subjects into tiers depending on how much tech may be required for interview.) That section explains in detail what you need - basically a touchscreen device and a universal stylus (doesn't have to be fancy like an Apple Pencil - the type that cost a couple of pounds and the school may well already have). You also have to set up a free account on Miro Whiteboard.

It also says (right at the top of the webpage) the following:

"No candidate or their school will be expected to purchase a touchscreen device in order to participate in their Oxford interviews. Where necessary, for tier 3 subjects and where there are more technology requirements, colleges will discuss arrangements with schools and applicants in order to find a practical solution for everyone involved. "

Many thanks for the response, but I can't see anything about "Tier 3 subjects"

Have you clicked onto the 'technology required' tab?

There's this as well about using Miro for tier 3

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews/guidance-using-miro-whiteboards/tier-3-subjects

So grateful for info about info on Tech needed for interview♥️.

Its a TMUA registration day today for those who is taking the test later(mine is). We will book it this evening.

Revision now is resumed for us for couple of other subjects rather than maths which is a nice break.

Ah, I have found some info on what is required by clicking on the "Technology required" button, which makes sense.

Do most people in tier 3 subjects do their interview in school or at home?

At DDs school most did at home. Its something to discuss with school but they will need a room available at short notice per candidate. DD did hers at school. You need to pre warn school about possibility of further interviews if that applies in the subject. I would have thought more common to have at home unless you have a reason why not home like poor internet or a potentially noisy other child.

It varies by subject how much notice is given but for E&M DD had just over a weeks notice of first interviews. She wasn't called back for further interviews but if you have to do the additional 2 interviews you can have less than 24 hours notice for this. So schools with space issues it will be challenging but possible dates are available in advance.

www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews/interview-timetable2

I think (though could have remembered wrong) DD said she had to show the whole of the room she was in on camera at the start to prove it was empty. So given the state of her bedroom it was probably just as well it was at school though shouldn't make any difference.