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Which Cambridge colleges stick to the standard offer for STEM applicants?

36 replies

RatherBeOnVacation · 11/06/2026 13:13

DD is applying to Cambridge to study a STEM subject (not maths) so the standard offer is two A stars and an A. She’s predicted 4 A stars.

She has read that some colleges make much higher offers, quite often the offer is your predicted grades. Whilst she’s hoping for the best, an offer of 4 A stars would seem exceptionally daunting and there’s always potential for something to go horribly wrong.

Does anyone know of any colleges that only give out the standard offer, or more importantly, colleges that consistently go over the standard offer?

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 12/06/2026 12:43

SlenderRations · 12/06/2026 12:02

Not true for Cambridge

Is for medicine. And I had my medic head on ! But it's unusual for offers to be more than 'typical' unless they saw something at interviews that they felt meant a candidate had a weaker area. So they ask you to prove your worth !
if you sit 3 A levels you'll get an offer on 3. If sit 4 it's likely to be a 4 offer (although AstarAstarAC is common)

RocketLollyPolly · 12/07/2026 12:50

Denim4ever · 11/06/2026 22:36

As a system insider, I am pretty sure offers can only relate to 3 A levels

What system are you inside? Because this is incorrect.

Denim4ever · 12/07/2026 13:39

RocketLollyPolly · 12/07/2026 12:50

What system are you inside? Because this is incorrect.

Cambridge, with experience outside too

mumsneedwine · 12/07/2026 14:16

Offers can and do relate to 4 A levels. We have several AstarAstarAC this year.

RocketLollyPolly · 12/07/2026 15:46

Denim4ever · 12/07/2026 13:39

Cambridge, with experience outside too

In what context?

Denim4ever · 12/07/2026 16:51

RocketLollyPolly · 12/07/2026 15:46

In what context?

Good grief - just research the actual facts if you won't take my word for it. I'm not going to tell which college I'm connected to or my job, just that I know what I'm talking about.

I'm going to ask yours but hope it's not in a school giving out advice. Well it can't be really, or you'd know better.

Ceramiq · 12/07/2026 17:13

A relative of mine had a 43/45 IB for NatSci, with 7s in all HL subjects and one SL subject (four sciences)

Malbecfan · 17/07/2026 15:54

DD1 had a 4 A level offer for NatSci in 2017. Last year, a colleague’s son had a 4 A star offer for BioNatSci from a college that offers “above” the minimum/standard according to that list up thread. He made it.

Needmoresleep · 17/07/2026 16:08

mumsneedwine · 11/06/2026 13:16

They all give out their standard offer. V v rarely do they ask for more (usually retake candidates).

Are you sure? Certainly in DCs day it was not uncommon for applicants from what might be considered 'educationally advantaged' selective London day schools to receive STEM offers based on 4 A levels including 4x A*. With good teaching, small class sizes, and motivated and able classmates it was not an impossible ask for the most talented.

I can't see why this will have changed.

newtree · 17/07/2026 16:11

Needmoresleep · 17/07/2026 16:08

Are you sure? Certainly in DCs day it was not uncommon for applicants from what might be considered 'educationally advantaged' selective London day schools to receive STEM offers based on 4 A levels including 4x A*. With good teaching, small class sizes, and motivated and able classmates it was not an impossible ask for the most talented.

I can't see why this will have changed.

I think Oxford give out standard offers but not Cambridge.

Needmoresleep · 17/07/2026 16:16

newtree · 17/07/2026 16:11

I think Oxford give out standard offers but not Cambridge.

I should have said Cambridge. Imperial used to do the same, even more randomly. So pupils in the same class would get different offers for the same degree, as if interview performance was factored in.

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