STEP (maths at university)

[STEP234]

Hi all,

Long time member, but have set up a different account for this!

If you know of anyone in year 13 (or year 12) applying (or thinking of applying) to study maths at university then they should google "STEP support programme". This is a scheme run by the University of Cambridge to support students in preparing for STEP.

STEP is a maths exam taken at the end of year 13 which is MUCH harder than A-levels, and many schools cannot support their students (which is why the programme started up).

STEP forms part of offers to study Maths (and sometimes other subjects) at Cambridge, and quite a few other universities (including Warwick, Bath, Lancaster...) are making a reduced A-level offer if a student gets a certain grade in a STEP exam as well.

If we do restart, I suggest that we do it in 'higher education' as I think there will be more traffic there for those looking at STEP.

I did start a thread in "higher education" as well, which got a little bit of traffic. It has been pointed out on there that the Further Maths Support Programme furthermaths.org.uk/ offers some support with STEP, but it does vary a bit region to region. Worth having a look to see!

Still seem to be here

I have looked up some numbers (all available on Cambridge/Oxford websites). These are application and final acceptance numbers for 2016 (most recent I can find). Note: "Oxford" is for just straight maths, not maths+philosophy etc. I can work those out as well.

Cambridge Male Applicants:
972 Applications, 211 Acceptances: success rate 21.7%

Cambridge Female Applicants:
340 Applications, 45 Acceptances: Success rate 13.2%

Oxford Male Applicants:
868 Applications, 138 Acceptances: Success rate 15.9%

Oxford Female Applicants:
465 Applications, 51 Acceptances: Success rate 11%

So for both Oxford and Cambridge males are more likely to get in than females, but females applying to Cambridge are more likely to get in than if they apply for Oxford. However there is a bigger gap between male and female success rates at Cambridge.

Oxford figures across all 4 maths degrees (Maths, Maths+Philosophy, Maths+Stats and Maths+CompSci).

Male:
1240 Applications, 184 Acceptances: Success rate 14.8%

Female:
640 Applications, 68 Acceptances: Success rate 10.6%

Fascinating. Nothing like a few hard cold facts! Scary success rate, I think this is one post I might not wave in dds face.

I hadn't appreciated that Oxford have a smaller straight maths cohort than Cambridge. So 27% of Oxfords cohort were female (35% applied) and 17.5% of Cambridge were (26% applied)

It would be interesting to know the offer rate too to see if its the offers where things start to fall apart, or at the exam results.

Please don't share with anyone you think might be put off! In terms of offers this data might be useful:

Cambridge: 405 Male offers and 122 Female offers

Oxford straight maths: 559 were shortlisted for interview (cannot find a break down of male/female for this one) and 207 had offers (52 female and 155 male)

Oxford all 4 maths: 791 were shortlisted and there were 285 offers (76 female and 209 male). The surprising thing here is that not all those who had Oxford offers made them!

As far as I can see the difference in approach in how they whittle the numbers down.

Oxford (straight maths numbers here): Use MAT to get applications down to 550 ish then use interview to select the 200 ish who will get in (more or less, about 20 did not make offer)

Cambridge: Use interview to whittle down to 550 ish then use STEP to select 250 ish who will get in.

Oh - there is a it of a discrepancy between the applications number for Oxford on the two places where I have got data from. Once has 1973 applicants across the 4 degrees (1368 maths) and the other has 1880 applicants across the 4 degrees (1333 maths). This is because the second set of figures discounts anyone who did not take MAT (without good reason).

"Any applicant who failed to register for the test (including
those who registered late) or who did not sit the test – and did not have exceptional circumstances – was notified that their application was no longer under consideration."

Darn it - I meant to say "anyone who did not have a good reason for taking MAT", not that Oxford did not have a good reason for omitting these from their applications rate. I haven't used the 1973/1368 figures, so the success rates are as high as possible.

If a student from an ordinary state school wants to take STEP what is the procedure for registering for the exam? Is it taken within school or somewhere else?

I am sorry you have misunderstood the point that I was trying to make. Although the literature requests an AAA for Cambridge maths those getting the actual offers are predicted (and usually achieve the 3xA*) because there is such a high volume of applicants who apply with at least these grades but they definitely also need the 1 on STEP 2 and 3.

Sorry to be slow in clarifying myself. I am currently travelling abroad with limited internet access.

LittleHo STEP is usually sat at the students school and the school usually arranges entry for the student (though some schools might ask you to pay the fee).

The dates and costs for this year have not been released yet, but last years details can be found on the Admissions Testing Service Website (where you can also find info on MAT, BMAT etc.)

Allthebestnamesareused no problem - it's good to know the standard offer is being used (but as you say most people will be getting A A A* anyway).

So for both Oxford and Cambridge males are more likely to get in than females, but females applying to Cambridge are more likely to get in than if they apply for Oxford. However there is a bigger gap between male and female success rates at Cambridge.

You're not worried also by the significant discrepancy between application numbers of women at Oxford and Cambridge?

And would you like to give your view on the significant gaps between male and female success rates at both universities?

Thanks STEP234 My other dc have done different subjects so it is nice to know the system ahead of time.