Author Topic: GCSE's and A levels (Read 7730 times)

Woogie · « **on:** May 31, 2008, 05:00:12 PM »

If I wanted to get into a fairly good uni would they be looking at my GCSE's or is it mainly A levels?

I`m not looking forward to the poetry essay :(

Jonny · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2008, 05:10:29 PM »

If you're going for Medicine or something like that, you'll need to be top dog.

But USUALLY, it's only your AS Levels. And then of course, your A2 levels.

Simon D · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2008, 05:45:06 PM »

It may have changed since I applied for uni (almost 10 years back), but if I remember right, they'll mostly be looking at your A levels (or whatever you do these days).

donovan.x · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2008, 06:57:56 PM »

Both, so work harder Biotch!!!!! :lol:
No, kidding. Without trying to sound lame, do as well in both as is humanly possible, even if it means sacrificing some of that all important social life. I am 28 and I am doing a O.U degree because I messed up back in the day.

Good luck.

dave_mc · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2008, 08:59:28 PM »

depends on the course (and university), i'd guess. as said, something like medicine will look at both...

waves · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2008, 12:54:00 AM »

From what I've been told this year, GCSE's are not that important and as long as you did reasonably well in the subjects that tie in with the course you want then you'll be fine. From what I was told, it's only really oxford and cambridge who look at A*'s. I went to an oxbridge entry evening at my school and the speakers there (both high up in admissions at repespective unis) said that you needed at least 6*'s at GCSE's, and they were talking statistically. I think they only use GCSE marks because everyone applying probably has 3A's so they need to need some distinction out commitment/pride etc etc.

It's all gonna change next year though with A*'s at AS/A2 level. I'm sooo glad i've missed them. I don't see why they can't just use UMS.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2008, 01:47:17 AM »

GCSEs aren't really that important at all - Just make sure you get into the courses you want to do at A level!!!

Even for Oxbridge. Statistically, yes, their students do have very good GCSE results, but thats simply because the type of people that get to Oxbridge would have done well at GCSE.

That being said, you can still get to Oxbridge with bad GCSEs, as long as you get your As at A level and you impress them enough in interview.

Roobubba · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2008, 11:19:10 AM »

I have been involved with admissions at Oxford for chemistry (but have sinced moved on), and I can tell you a bit based on my experiences there. First of all, different colleges have different ideas about what they're looking for. In my experience they're looking for top quality candidates (A levels are really only considered, GCSEs didn't really have any impact at all) who can adapt and excel in the interview too.
Certainly at Oxford, how you perform in the interview is what sets you aside from other candidates. The interviewers are looking to push you out of your comfort zone and see how you cope with questions you can't possibly know the answer to. If you can reason your way through, that's a really good thing. The A level grades are what get you to the interview - how you perform in that is what gets you the place or not. GCSEs might get looked at by some, but I never bothered, and no-one I knew did either.

People develop at different times. Two years before my GCSEs, I was in the dunce's maths class. By the time I took GCSE maths, I got an A*, then 100% in two of my 4 A-level papers.

Interestingly, I got my worst GCSE marks in Chemistry. I went on to get a 1st from Oxford in Chemistry, and have since done a PhD in Pharmacology and Chemistry (I don't consider myself a Chemist any more, by the way).
Don't know if that helps or not, but I thought it might be useful to share my experiences from the other side of the table, so to speak.

Roo

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2008, 01:22:37 PM »

Quote from: Roobubba

I have been involved with admissions at Oxford for chemistry (but have sinced moved on), and I can tell you a bit based on my experiences there. First of all, different colleges have different ideas about what they're looking for. In my experience they're looking for top quality candidates (A levels are really only considered, GCSEs didn't really have any impact at all) who can adapt and excel in the interview too.
Certainly at Oxford, how you perform in the interview is what sets you aside from other candidates. The interviewers are looking to push you out of your comfort zone and see how you cope with questions you can't possibly know the answer to. If you can reason your way through, that's a really good thing. The A level grades are what get you to the interview - how you perform in that is what gets you the place or not. GCSEs might get looked at by some, but I never bothered, and no-one I knew did either.

People develop at different times. Two years before my GCSEs, I was in the dunce's maths class. By the time I took GCSE maths, I got an A*, then 100% in two of my 4 A-level papers.

Interestingly, I got my worst GCSE marks in Chemistry. I went on to get a 1st from Oxford in Chemistry, and have since done a PhD in Pharmacology and Chemistry (I don't consider myself a Chemist any more, by the way).
Don't know if that helps or not, but I thought it might be useful to share my experiences from the other side of the table, so to speak.

Roo

Great story - And all from a guy who plays metal from K100s :D:D:D:D

Kabeer · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2008, 06:37:10 PM »

GCSE's matter mostly on certain courses and certain harder to get into unis (like Oxbridge).

EVERY degree requires you to have an above C grade GCSE in English. So you could say English is the most important of all the GCSE's.

As long as you dont do ok (read not TERRIBLE) then universities dont bother much with GCSE's. A-levels are the thing they are looking at.