How much do GCSE count - Oxford Uni applications

[countessofmonte]

I know that they are contextualised in terms of how the student does in relation to thier school cohort.

Can someone with real insight help answer the following please:

• Is this 'contextualisation' based on the same year cohort or over a period of time (.e.g. for someone sitting GCSEs in 2027, will they be compared only with their fellow students' performance of that particular year)?

• How much doe the GCSE results count - I know that Oxford say the 3 most important at entry tests, interview, GCSEs and A-level predictions. But how much does the GCSEs count and is it mainly for short-listing? I also read somewhere (on MN but can't find it now) that GCSEs only counts for a score of around 10 out of 300?

TIA

@acron that does seem odd, unless there was an admissions test involved? Hope she's happy where she ended up anyway.

Oxford definitely do care about GCSE grades and PGs at A level.

The majority of candidates are interviewed (like, in the 90s %-wise tho it varies by subject). Most who are interviewed do not receive an offer tho (again varies by subject – there are subjects where more than half are offered but still lower than most unis).

I'm sorry your DD didn't get an interview and surprised too with her GCSEs and PGs. Hope she is happy where she is.

The PS is also important tbf – a candidate needs to show enthusiasm for and reading around their subject for Oxford.

The entrance exams are important too. The majority of candidates are not interviewed. DD applied for Law and they interview one in three candidates. That is Oxford - Cambridge interview more.

apologies @Fatsnowflake and others, Oxford interview fewer than half the applying candidates, correct.

It was on another thread where an interview rate in the 90%s was discussed but looking bsvk that was Cambs indeed.

I think the offer rate per interview is higher overall at Oxfird than cambs tho (because of that obvs)

It varies a lot by subject what percentage are interviewed, DDs subject it's 18 percent interviewed and 5 percent offers. Oxford interview 3 students per place they have generally. Cambridge interview far more in subjects that have high numbers applying, in Economics think it's 7 per place with something like 10 applicants per place for that course but they tend to have 4 A levels with Maths and FM. The entrance tests are very important. Personal statement is read but limited weight put on it as it can be linked to wealth. In DDs interview not mentioned at all other than afterwards in a section they said didn't count for scoring. Though it varies by subject, some subjects will discuss books you have listed in interview.

My YP currently reading history at Oxford with a 7 in GCSE history but an A* at A level, so whilst they are taken into consideration I’d say it’s very much subject and college dependent and not a one size fits all.

My child is at Oxford. They got excellent grades in most GCSE subjects, but did get a grade 5 in one. Fortunately they were applying for maths, not English literature.

This is very interesting, thank you.

Congrats. They must have aced the TMUA. May I ask, did they also do various maths challenges etc?

Mine did the maths challenges (Olympiads, one international, one summer school) but for E&M it was not mentioned. However, I would say it was useful in that it gave her a network of people applying and also helped her think on her feet so useful for interview technique but the maths in her interview wasn't that hard. DD said the maths in the maths interviews was incredibly hard from what she heard but the interviews are about seeing how they think, if they could work well with tutors and learn together not about them needing to get everything right and they want to show you can learn things so getting things right through working with their extra information or at least thinking things through is ideal.

You honestly think your average Oxbridge student can breeze through a-levels with minimal work?! Every single Oxbridge applicant I know works their absolute arse off to get A*'s, plus all the additional work needed for an Oxbridge application.

Yes, an important aspect of the interviews is trying to work out who will most benefit from the tutorial system. It isn’t simply a question of intelligence or talent.