Year 10 - GCSE result today and Oxford dreams

[Cinnamon73]

My DD(15) got a B in the one and only GCSE she took this year (Latin).

She is pretty much an allrounder with a keen interest in Science, has had all A predictions and has already got one A she took in year 8.

Since earlier this year she has her eyes on Oxford to do Natural Sciences, wants to do Biology, Chemistry and Maths A Level.

I didn't think she did anything enough for her Year 10 GCSE, and the result did prove that. In the four modules she got A*,A,B,B.

I read on the board that for Oxford it's 6A* plus rest A. Does that mean she can forget her Oxford dream?
Should I ask for a remark for the Bs?

In my heart of hearts I thought this might give her the kick up the backside to sit down and learn.
On the other side, if she needs that, should I support her dreams? She is currently on track with all other (10) GCSEs next year.

Any thoughts on this welcome, she is my eldest and it's all new for us.

Surely its not how many GCSe's you can pass. What about 7 high grades , rather than 10 C grades?

Of course I support her.

I just don't want to encourage her dream to go to Oxford if she has no chance in hell with a B. It would be tough, but there are other unis out there iyswim.
She is really into science, always has been, and wants to be a geneticist. She's had A* on all her science past test papers this year.
For subjects she's not so much interested in (RE ) she does the bare minimum.
Will ask about %

She got 319 mark equiv?
80 a
90 a*
72 b
77 b

"the school she's at maximum do 10 gcses and I'm too worried she won't get enough gcses to go oxford"

10 is more than enough for Oxbridge.

OP- one B is fine- but she really needs to get As and A*s next year!

Ah, so the B wouldn't really matter? Do you just put the 10 best ones on the application?

If I googled correctly, cut off for A is 320, she missed by one point

Dreamgirl you didn't offend me at all. I want to make an informed choice and won't support a path of no hope. I know what she's capable of, but Oxford isn't the be all and end all for me.
And if there would be no hope with a B, why should I let her pursue this path.

You do not need 12 A*s, but you're unlikely to get away with more than one B.

You do not need 12 GCSEs- my dd's school only do 9 or 10 at the most and they send loads to Oxbridge.

You do have to put them all on the application form, not just the best ones!

Don't panic!

This is a big worry for me. DD got all As and As, but a B in English.
She was predicted all As and As, so the B is a disappointment.

She wanted to go to Oxford - does the B mean that is impossible now?
There seems to be a question mark over the English grades.

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack your thread op, but this is a worry for me too.

It probably means she won't get in to read English. But if everyone else was A*or A then she's still in with a chance.

Hakluyt thank you.

OK she can't just pick and mix what she puts in the form, shame

The school does 10 btw, Latin was an extra after school club. The year 8 GCSE was in her mother tongue, a walk in the park.

3littlefrogs good luck to your daughter, it is tough if there is just one B, if she has Oxford on her mind.
Might still happen to my DD, and I will make her have a proper Plan B she would be happy with.
Saying that she might change her mind again. Not on subjects but on uni.
Will ask the exam officer about remark, even though I think it should stay a B as a warning

Even if she had all As she still needs a Plan B. Oxford for Natural Sciences is a very high hurdle!

Yes, I know, the vast majority of applicants doesn't (don't?) get an interview. I remember watching a documentary about it, but it was years ago.

I meant I'll make sure her plan B (&C) is more achievable, and still desirable if her Oxford plans bite the dust. I will also speak to the Career guy at school in September, because he is very level headed and they do send quite a few girls to Oxford/Cambridge every year (selective grammar).

Maybe I should ring to ask about the re-mark?

There is another thread with excellent advice from an Oxford tutor. Reading that will point you in the right direction. Oxford don't just want As at GCSE, they will want at least 6 A*s. 10 GCSEs is fine. It is quality, not quantity. Also academic subjects are better but one could be art, drama, music or similar to show a rounded person.

NatSci at Oxford would be a very high hurdle, since it's not a degree they offer Cambridge offers NatSci.

But anyway no doors have slammed shut (separate sciences at Oxford or NatSci at Camb), just needs to make sure she has her head down next year!

my nephew got EE offer to read natural sciences in Cambridge few years ago, he did Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics at A Levels, he said he wishes he did Further Maths as he knew he would be gravitating towards Physics anyway.

Your dd needs to think carefully what to choose for her 4th subject.

in the end he specialised in Physics and now finishing his Masters in Neuroscience and hoping to carry on with PhD

tasting oh, that shows how much I know about it

She knows probably, and we will go and visit both unis next year. She and we all have never been to both cities/universities, dh and I got our degrees abroad.

She is least keen on Physics, definitely won't do that for AS. And I'm fairly sure her school do only 3 subjects at A2, maybe plus further Maths.
DD is very interested in English lang/lit for AS and possibly Computer Science or Music.
To me it seems she is so widely interested, it's difficult for her to boil her interests down to 4 subjects.
Especially as her career idea could change.

Why do they have to make those difficult decisions while so young?

OP, Oxford dont do natural sciences - you do a single science at Oxford - eg biology or chemistry or physics. its Cambridge where you take Natural Sciences and then you choose your mixture of subjects.

its really important to choose the course not the place - the first thing she should be looking at is what she wants to study, not where. the approach to most subjects is very different between Oxford and Cambridge.

and you certianly dont need 12 A for either place. it is true, statistically, that 95% of studnets there have 8 A or more. but that means that some don't. and one B wont harm her chances.

and although cambridge use ASs in their selection process, rather than gcses, it is still the case that the majority of successful applicants have 8 or more A*s......

She wants to do Biology and Chemistry.

I will contact the careers person today if he is at school, we did speak to him earlier this year and speakers from Oxford and Cambridge have been at her school giving talks. That's where she got the idea from.
We don't share the "Oxbridge or nothing" mentality of some of the parents at her school so I can't talk to them.
The hype they create is quite offputting.

I hope we will find the right uni for her, based on what she wants to do.
Thanks for your advice!

beckandcall

95% of students there have 8 A* or more gcse's

Where is that stat info coming from?