UCS sixth form

[Harriet09101]

Hello, my DD has been recommended to go to UCS by her English teacher, I understand UCS does not offer past papers for their entrance exams, but I was wondering if anyone could offer context on what the exams are? Are they similar to the UCAT?

My DD is also in a similar position, we are also stumped about their GCSE requirements. Does UCS want DD to have an average of 7.0 in all her GCSES or only the subjects she wants to choose for A-Level?

Also, I wish your DD well in her applications!

The exams are similar to the Oxford TSA. Conditional offers are typically on the basis of a grade 7 average across all GCSEs, possibly with higher requirements in specific A level subjects.

In addition to the TSA-style multiple choice paper, there’s a writing task which is likely to be a short essay on a topical subject.

Thanks for your help! DD is averaging with grades 7, 8, and 9s however she is concious about her mathematics grade as she usually manages to get a 5 or 6.. Do you think this will massively affect her application?

@cerise1975 What A Levels does she want to do (they have to choose 4 to start with)? If she can smash the multiple choice test (which includes quantitative questions) then that will go a long way towards getting a conditional offer. But she will have to meet that conditional offer in due course. And for quantitative subjects they will want to be sure the maths is solid (including Economics for which they really want them to get at least an 8).

Perhaps in the first instance get her to do some past TSA papers (published online by Oxford University) and see how she gets on.

@cerise1975 I should say that my DD also felt vulnerable on her maths and really pushed on with it over the summer holidays leading into Y11. She had got a 7 in her Y10 exams and used MathsBuster (an online revision course from CGP) so as to be working at an 8 by the time she started Y11. That meant the school could safely predict her an 8, which put her maths in line with her other predictions and I am sure helped her secure an offer from UCS and the other selective sixth forms to which she applied.

Hello! My DD is currently in the exact same position as Cerise here so i was hoping to also have your point of view, my DD is 100% set on history and politics for alevels and the other 2 are currently undecided but if the only maths related subjects she could possibly take would be chemistry, biology or psychology. She wants to get into international law and is securing outstanding grades in history including maths orientated subjects specifically in the 3 sciences, my main concern is that if all of her grades in her year 10 mock are amazing but maths still hovers at a 5/6, will that be a problem? she is predicted to hopefully bump those grades up over the summer holidays and hopefully achieve a high 6 low 7 in the December/easter year 11 mocks but regarding applications that are due in September, will these year 10 mock grades be detrimental? Or do predicted grades set by teachers hold more value? Thank you!

She is interested in doing biology, chemistry, history and economics hence why shes particularly stressed about her maths grades in fear that it will hinder her chances of being able to study economics. However thank you very much for your tips and and advice! I will make sure she really works hard to get herself beyond where she needs to be!

@Harriet09101 I am not privy to selection decisions, but I would guess from our experience (also seeing who did and didn’t get an offer from among DD’s friends) that there might well be a difficulty if maths is where you say it is. That was our impression when we asked at the open evening about maths possibly being a weaker area. Autumn mocks will be too late - really you need to secure a good prediction by whenever the school reference goes in. And do really well in the entrance exam.

OK @cerise1975 well we specifically asked the Economics staff at the 2023 open evening about maths requirements, and faces visibly fell when she said she had a 7 at the end of Y10! Thankfully, as I say, by the time the reference went in she had satisfied her teachers that she was on track for at least an 8 (and when August comes I won’t be surprised if she’s sneaked a 9). With lots and lots of practice you well may find the maths can be significantly improved.

Thanks for your help! Just curious, when did your reference regarding grades get sent in? I’m aware my DD would be applying around July time with the assistance of her teachers, my DD was quite disappointed with her maths grade but she is dedicating her time over the summer holiday to improve and she wants to prove herself to her school but she’s worried it may be too late. Sorry to ask so many questions, she’s my eldest and Im unsure as to when predicted grades get decided as her maths teacher said they’re not deciding them this year.

I think the school reference went in October, between the application deadline and the invitation for interview.

We received a set of grade predictions from DD’s school before October half term in Y11.

@Harriet09101 Why apply as soon as July? I’d have thought that risks the school reference being requested earlier than you’d like, in the circumstances.

Just to add: we caught up with some local friends today and there were quite a few girls heading for UCS in September subject to meeting their grades. Those who are going to do sciences at A level are required to get an 8 in maths (in contrast to Economics which is more like “if you don’t get an 8 you may struggle with the maths content”).

Thank you so much for your help! So I’d assume that a grade 8 is imperative for all subjects at A level that can be taken at GCSE? I’ll contact admissions to ask if applying earlier may risk a reference also being sent earlier.
Apologies for the constant questions, but times have changed since my teenage years and I was just wondering if your reference included just predicted grades or mock grades? My DD has unfortunately had extenuating circumstances that may of impacted her performance in a select few mocks but speaking to teachers they were more than happy to predict her a 9 as they know how capable she is, I’ve seen debates on whether sixth forms look at mock grades and was curious for your input if that’s okay.