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Original poster

oxbridge and module resits - Do they know?

92 replies

NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 20:27

DS has got his AS results today from the modules he sat in January

They are all fine ...apart form one and we knew it was not going to be great

we had asked that ds not take it as he had really not grasped mechanics and had asked to move class . Unfortunately they insisted that as he was set one he take it - despite the three other sets not taking it until may/june.

Anyway whats done is done.

The results as a whole were not fabulous for mechanics and school are advising re-sitting the module for the majority.

I would be fine with this had i not read on here that oxbridge will know - if they are re sits.....

Any advice or knowledge on the subject gratefully received.

If he is repeating they need to know by Monday latest!

OP posts:
scienceteacher · 12/03/2009 20:32

You can't turn back the clock. He will be better off with a higher grade, even if it means a resit.

If he is taking the subject to A2, he will want to have the extra UMS points.

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 20:46

Thanks science teacher

he is fairly certain that even with an abysmal 3rd module he will scrape an A

Will Oxbridge know that is is a low A?

Would he be better repeating for better more solid A ( he is much more confident in mechanics now he has changed teacher)

I was advising him to stick to what he had - he was keen to take it again....

OP posts:
Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 21:45

bumping

OP posts:
senua · 12/03/2009 21:47

I believe that, for Maths, Oxbridge will not merely enquire into the grade for the overall AS but for each, individual module.

Is there any chance that there was an error by the examiner?

Will you have other evidence of DS's Maths ability - UKMT etc

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 21:50

Thanks Senua so would you advise repeating - or not???

OP posts:
Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 21:50

(he does not want to read Maths btw)

OP posts:
senua · 12/03/2009 21:55

Sorry, I'm going to chicken out - I'm not that much of an expert and would hate to give the wrong advice. Some others on here are experts so keep bumping for them.
What is he thinking of reading?

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 21:58

Thanks Senua i understand !

hmmm medicine!

I do not know if cambridge is a dead cert but do not want him to fall at the first hurdle as it were and it all seems very complex...

his other results were all good btw!

OP posts:
Catz · 12/03/2009 22:04

Only if the school give them in their reference at the moment but (a) lots of schools do and (b) that could of course change for next year or subsequently.

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 22:15

thanks so much for that Catz!

Just been on the phone to a friend whose son goes private and only one boy in the year group got above 80% so feeling a wee bit more up beat

OP posts:
senua · 12/03/2009 22:28

Sorry, I'd forgotten that he was applying for medicine.

This is the admissions website. It implies that the Chemistry A Level is the most important. Also, he will have to take the BMAT; I presume a really good/bad performance in that will put an AS result in the shade.
Cambridge will invite most applicants to see them so if he can give a barnstorming interview then that will, again, put one wobbly module result to the back of their minds.

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 22:41

senua thanks so much for the reassurance

great link as well-thanks

i think that at the moment we are erring towards a re take

OP posts:
brimfull · 12/03/2009 22:48

dd got her results today as well
she was pleased with her B though as she's not a natural at maths

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 12/03/2009 22:51

well done ggirl dd !! so pleased for you

OP posts:
bagsforlife · 13/03/2009 06:57

Up until last year Cambridge had a separate 'paper' application form where students had to fill in every module and result for each subject, so they would know the exact marks.

Last year they axed the separate application form and it was done online. I think they sent the applicants an online information sheet to fill in, I do not know what they asked on that, presumably more or less the same info.

Most students at my DCs school re-take any 'iffy' modules. Many do Oxbridge (and get in).

lazymumofteenagesons · 13/03/2009 11:57

I don'tunderstand why they take the modules early. Not even the top sets at my sons school do this. However, we had a HE talk the other evening and were told that the majority of the school successfuloxbride candidates got 89/90% inall AS modules and they got 85 places last year about 45%!

lazymumofteenagesons · 13/03/2009 11:58

Sorry my space bar is temporamental.

bagsforlife · 13/03/2009 14:52

Most of the students who are applying to Oxbridge at my DCs school get 90%+ in their modules (some get 100% - it is scary). I would imagine most of the successful Oxbridge candidates across the country are getting these sort of results. I imagine they have to look at module scores to differentiate between the candidates who are all predicted 3/4 As.(BTW I am not an admissions tutor or anything but I do have some input into the university applications at the school so I know what sort of results they are getting). But they still have to take the BMAT test and will have an interview.

Milliways · 13/03/2009 16:44

On the entry forms you have to list the UMS points gained in each module up to AS level, and they get the points for all modules at A2 level later.

DD got a "low" A grade in 2 oral exams so re-sat them this Jan to bump up her final A2 mark and try to ensure solid A's. She was questioned about this grade in her interview! (even though had overall A grade AS levels in 5 subjects).

SOME subjects state a % required in certain modules at A2 level rather than just A grade (eg friends have offers of 100% in Maths, or 95% in X module), but generally if he is taking early and gets the new result before the application is required, they need never know.

Milliways · 13/03/2009 16:46

Bagsforlife - you are right. DD had an online application requiring all UMS marks and I think the school have to verify them.

Catz · 13/03/2009 19:21

Is that the case in Cambridge Milliways? Just the usual UCAS form is now used (the Oxford form has gone and it didn't have modules on)

bagsforlife · 13/03/2009 19:38

Yes, it is just the UCAS form now for applying, no separate 'paper' form (there used to be a blue, quite complicated form for Cambridge, with space to add every module and result, and a smaller form for Oxford!!)

So they just put Oxford/ Cambridge on the UCAS application as one of their choices, as per the other universities. But then they are sent, online, a questionnaire from Cambridge which will include module results.

Module results are also referred to by their academic referee at the school in their reference if they are exceptionally good. Students can also refer to their results in their Personal Statement for other universities who don't ask for the module results (i.e everywhere bar Oxbridge, I think, although I may be wrong re medical degrees...).

Catz · 13/03/2009 19:52

Sorry I meant to say that just the usual UCAS form is now used at Oxford (was rushing to get DD her milk and didn't read it back!) No idea at Cambridge. The old Oxford form has now been abolished and didn't have modules on it. So there is no requirements as far as I know for modules to go on for Oxford applications BUT that may always change and many schools do put modules on the references.

I guess you mean re-sits in the summer? I.e. the new mark would be out before the UCAS form goes in? In that case I think a re-sit might be a good idea. A bad module mark wouldn't be the end of the world if all else was good but the competition will have very high marks and it is difficult to have confidence in a predicted 'A' if the module marks don't seem to back it up. I don't think that a re-sit would show-up at Oxford unless the school said (no idea about Cambridge) and many people do re-sit, I've come across schools with a policy that everyone re-sits even with a good A!

Original poster
NotAnOtter · 13/03/2009 21:14

thankyou ALL for the very very helpful advice

i rang school today but no nearer a solution as they really did not know - need to talk to someone else monday

this one paper does seem to have been universally appalling results so i am thinking repeat it with 'honesty as the best policy' if questionned just say all concerned got low marks ( not only his school)

i am annoyed as sets 2 - 3 - 4 for maths did not take it yet - i asked before he took it for him to defer as he felt so unconfident

alas what's done is done

he did well in the rest with one 89 four mid 90's and critical thinking 100!

OP posts:
bagsforlife · 13/03/2009 21:32

I am sure will be fine. Wasn't sure whether to post info as your DS has done very well otherwise and he doesn't need to be disheartened at this stage BUT he does need to know what the level is he is aiming for. Those other modules sound fab!!!

I'm sure Cambridge will take into account students taking modules unnecessarily early etc.

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