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Original poster

GCSE English. Does a B mean Oxford is out of the question?

37 replies

3littlefrogs · 21/08/2014 19:13

Just that really.
Does a B in English mean Oxford will not be an option?
All the rest are A* and A.

I have posted on a couple of other threads, but didn't want to hijack.

OP posts:
summerlovingliz · 21/08/2014 19:16

I wouldn't have thought so if A level results are good enough. It may depend on how competitive the course is.

WhereforeArtThou · 21/08/2014 19:17

It's probably completely fine. (Although not great for medicine) What subject does your son want to study?

Toadsrevisited · 21/08/2014 19:20

Not necessarily.

Lang or lit gcse? Which board?

Have you looked at remarks and resits? Obviously an A would be better so if it's near a grade boundary, this could be an option.

queenofthemountain · 21/08/2014 19:30

No.The website says a C grade in English is required

Terrierterror · 21/08/2014 19:33

Any chance of a remark?

Original poster
3littlefrogs · 22/08/2014 00:17

Thanks everyone.
I have just come back to this as I have been out all evening.
Hoping to study modern foreign languages.
A*s are in languages (just not English Sad ).
I am doing a bit more research on the Oxford website ATM.

OP posts:
MillyMollyMama · 22/08/2014 01:17

How many A*s? Are they just in languages?

HawthornLantern · 22/08/2014 03:14

No it's not ruled out. I read English with a C in Eng Lang at GCSE and still got in. I'll obviously defer to others with more precise information - but in my era and later (and as currently described in the admission section for my old college) they do try to get across the idea that uniform perfection ain't necessary. They are looking for potential and there can be other ways of demonstrating that.

FishWithABicycle · 22/08/2014 04:44

I admit this was a few decades ago but I went to Oxford with my GCSEs being only 4As & 5Bs including Bs in English Lang&Lit. With A* in the subject being applied for, and good A Level predictions, it won't be an issue. They are more interested in evidence that someone can work hard, think independently and originally and contribute actively to the academic community.

There's loads of publicity about the place at the moment about thousands of children getting a lower grade in English than expected this year due to the change in assessment criteria - the oxford admissions people will be aware of the issue and will not judge over-harshly if everything else looks good.

mollyb101 · 22/08/2014 10:21

Im not 100% sure but think it might be worth looking into retaking the exams during the 6th form. Oxbridge candidates are picked against each other so any aspect that is lower will show up and could count against them.

Theres usually no problem resitting to get higher marks although it does add pressure to an already busy year!

Original poster
3littlefrogs · 22/08/2014 10:38

A* in Maths, languages, Sciences. English Language and Art are both A.

The English lit appears to be just 2 marks off an A, so might be worth considering a remark.

OP posts:
Portlypenguin · 22/08/2014 12:54

I was at oxford starting in 2001 with one B at GCSE. Didn't appear to be an issue. I would just go for it if desired and if it doesn't work out then the DC will go off to another fab university :)

mateysmum · 22/08/2014 12:58

I don't think it's an issue. Cambridge is more worried about GCSEs; Oxford relies more on A levels and their own pre admission tests. It shouldn't be a deal breaker.

antimatter · 22/08/2014 13:58

Cambridge is more worried about GCSEs; Oxford relies more on A levels and their own pre admission tests. It shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Are you sure?
I read the opposite...
www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/can-a-perfect-run-of-a-gcse-grades-dictate-how-the-rest-of-your-life-will-pan-out-8761839.html

"There is a noticeable correlation from good performance at GCSE, although not merely straight A* performance, but a stronger correlation from AS," explained Mike Sewell, director of admissions for the Cambridge colleges. "What we do now say very publically to students, to teachers, is that the better they can do in sixth form exams the stronger the chances of receiving an offer."

Sewell said that each year Cambridge admits some students without a single A* at GCSE, including for its most competitive courses such as medicine.

LeBearPolar · 22/08/2014 14:02

I hope Mike Sewell, director of admissions for the Cambridge colleges, can actually spell 'publicly'.

Otherwise, if he's leading by example, I wouldn't worry at all about the B Grin

Seriously, I shouldn't worry about it. But at two marks off, I might apply for a re-mark...

antimatter · 22/08/2014 14:27

OT - LeBearPolar I am no proof reader and I had to check it...
word publically exists and is used in English language
www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/147463-publically-or-publicly

www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/is-there-a-case-for-publically-part-1

LeBearPolar · 22/08/2014 15:47

Sorry - I just go by Oxford which states: Note that the spelling is publicly, not -ally, although I do accept that other dictionaries disagree.

mateysmum · 22/08/2014 17:00

antimatter Who knows? I was told the same thing by my sister who is a teacher dealing with Oxbridge admissions and the careers teacher at DS's school.

However, I think we're all agreed that a dropped grade at GCSE is not the end of the world.

TeaAndALemonTart · 22/08/2014 18:47

Get it remarked if it's just two off.

TalkinPeace · 22/08/2014 20:31

DD is one mark off the A boundary (she got 239, its 240) in Eng Lang
the school are going for a cohort remark but if that does not happen, I'll get it checked anyway

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 22/08/2014 21:32

I have a C at English language GCSE and went to Cambridge.

Admittedly I did maths where they don't care about anything other than maths, further maths and extra hard maths.

KatherinaMinola · 22/08/2014 21:37

I can top that. I have a B at GCSE in English Literature and went to Oxbridge to read... English Literature! Grin I'm not sure I'd get away with that nowadays, but I agree they are looking for a spark rather than freedom from errors.

TalkinPeace · 22/08/2014 21:58

Please, please, please
do not compare the grades we got in the 80's with what our kids are being put through now.

Its an A or higher grade at GCSE to be allowed to do the A level
and an A* at A level to be considered for the degree in that subject
the fees / debts are huge, as is the global market in brains

I did 8 O levels
the brightest girl in my fee paying selective private school did 9 and is now a world renowned research scientist

DD did 13 (and got good grades in all)
times have changed
"past performance is not a guide to future returns"

stonecircle · 22/08/2014 22:15

I second what Talkin says. My university offer to do English Lit a few decades ago was BCC and they took me with ADD. According to their website they now require AAA to do Eng Lit. Times have definitely changed.

Cerisier · 22/08/2014 22:16

One of my students was told by Durham this year that he was not given an offer for physics due to his B for GCSE Eng lit. All his other GCSE grades were A* and A.

I would go for a remark and if that doesn't result in an A then resit next year.

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