Predicted UCAS grades and correlation to possible offer grades ?

[chillie]

My daughter would like to do physics at university. She is doing a level, maths, physics, biology and geography. At the moment she is getting c,a,a,a. We have a tutor to improve the maths c into an a we hope by May mocks but what type of offers do you think she might get if the grades stand as is? I’m working on the worst possible scenario at the moment. she is in yr12 and is looking at Russell group universities as well as others.

universities want to protect their average UCAS tariff.

And making someone with predicted grades below their usual offer makes absolutely no difference to their tariff....

remember we're talking about offers here, not accepting those with low grades.

True

Your daughter's predicted grades are superb and I think she is highly likely to get all 5 offers. If she can improve the maths grade to an A, she is looking at Oxbridge.

However, as others have said, maths is an integral part of physics. My late grandfather was a Professor of Physics and I have never met a better mathematician (much better than my father who actually has a Doctorate in Maths). My grandfather's brain was akin to a mini-computer and he tutored our whole family in maths all his life (with A* star results even though we were all completely untalented in that area).

I have a DC doing physics at a high ranking university who is really a mathematician fascinated by the big concepts of physics (specialising in theoretical physics). I get the impression that most who well in that type of course would have found maths at the level of further maths easy at school.
I think I would postpone judgement for your DD until May due to previous poor teaching and the potential to catch up on gaps. She can then think about courses that suit her talents as well as interests. She might be better suited to apply for a natural sciences degree like the one at Durham which include physics options but also flexibility. Or geoscience type courses.
Engineering without a very strong maths A level grade would also be hard to get into one of the more competitive degrees.

OP, why does she want to take physics so much? It may be being lost in translation but at no point do yous at that she says she loves it with a passion? This isn't because of future earnings, or status, is it?

I'd be most wary of what seems a rather flippant (dare I say arrogant?) attitude to geography! At the end of the day, all of these subjects are A Levels. You really can't do brilliantly without putting in work (or at least it is very rare).

At the end of the day, she will most likely get offers from everywhere she applies to (taking Oxbridge out of the equation) but then she does need to actually get the grades after that!.

I take it she is only in year 12? It really is very early days to be confidently predicting outcomes.

Sorry for typo ! should read at no point do you say that she !

Physics is strong as is biology has she thought outside the box a little. What about physiology the physics of how the body works way less Maths and the Maths is relatively straight forward.

Honest question, is there any one around with a child who has got an offer in Physics with a C in Maths A level? There is so much maths in Physics I cannot imagine how someone with a C can survive the coursework.

I did physics and the maths was really hard, I've got no idea how I passed tbh, that was with an A in maths but no further maths.

Honest question, is there any one around with a child who has got an offer in Physics with a C in Maths A level?

Yep RG as well. Tbh the C achieved doesnt reflect dc's mathematical ability, more their laziness in exam technique. Dc in question is coping well though, with no need for the extra maths classes provided, and now understands the importance of not being a lazy sod....

Your daughter's grades are fantastic, but I'm afraid I have to disagree with the poster who said you could be looking at Oxbridge. Not unless your school qualifies for some sort of widening participation allowance.

I know a few of DS's friends who went to do Maths at Oxbridge and they were exceptional at Maths - getting A*s at Maths/Further Maths and Gold in Maths Olympiad etc - they are all, very obviously, naturally talented, brilliant mathematicians.
The maths admissions test is very challenging, as are the STEP papers and it seems unlikely that your daughter would bridge the gap between now and then.

I can't see why your daughter wouldn't get offers from every other university though?
Friend of DS's had an offer from Warwick of AAA, but was still offered a place for Physics when he got AAB.