Cambridge Pre U at state sixth form college

[Marmitelover55]

Just noticed our local 6th form college offers this instead of A levels. Does any one have any experience of this - good or bad? It's still a way off for us, but DD2 is interested in studying medicine, and it sounds like there is scope for more UCAS points. Thanks.

The college that DD will go to has dedicated Oxbridge admission staff but does not offer it.

Sounds rather narrow for if they change their mind.

My DS's school only offers the Cambridge Pre U for all subjects (maybe not DT) they get on average 35% into Oxbridge every year, another 10% to the Ivy League, the rest to top universities all around the world so it's not narrow or limit your options. The grades do carry more UCAS points than their A level equivalent, my DS has already practised some A level papers and easily get A's and A's but he finds Pre U papers much harder (he' 15) the chemistry is in his opinion "very difficult" (he's a A candidate at GCSE), my nephew also sat pre U maths and he too reported it was much harder than A level and Pre U further maths has a frightening reputation very few schools do it because it's so hard. The language papers have widely been acknowledged to be much better preparation for university.
It's a linear course with exams only at the end of two year so if your DC is not panning on taking a gap year and applying to university they will look your GCSE grades as an indicator or your likely success rather than AS grades so this might be significant.
My nephew who did 1 Pre U and 3 A levels found the Pre U course much better and significantly more interesting, (although frankly nothing would make that maths interesting for me) and definitely more challenging and a better preparation go uni.

This document is interesting
www.ucas.com/sites/default/files/cambridge-pre-u-guide.pdf
Pre U top possible UCAS points are 145, A level top possible is 140 per subject

They do it at one of my daughter's schools in music only because the A level marking was so random. It is a super selective with a high proportion of successful medics and Oxbridge applicants who only have to do 3 subjects to A2 (4 AS) haven't come across it elsewhere.

I am not convinced the Pre U is a better alternative to A levels, I think a lot of Universities look at the whole academic picture, the school, voluntary work and extra curricula stuff for medicine .

Not quite correct talking the D2 at Pre U carries 145 point but the top grade a D1 according to UCAS currently carries "no tariff" don't know what that means but I know amongst the boys it's highly prized and the one they're all aiming for. One of DS's friends went to Oxbridge with 3 D1's but only a D3 in further maths.

Frankly OP I wouldn't make the existence or not of the Pre U affect my choice of 6 th form it's whether your DD will be happy that's counts.

Absolutely.

Round here we are spoilt for choice of good 6th form - state and private - and the choice of college came down to "feel" because its a really important 2 years of a child's life

Thanks everyone - interesting and helpful feedback