Congratulations to all of you who received AS level and A level results yesterday – I hope your hard work paid off – well done!

If your results haven’t gone as well as you would have liked, we understand that you may well have questions regarding your application to Oxbridge.

We’ve spoken to a number of students over the past few days and so thought it would be helpful to post the most common queries we have received just here.

 You may of course have a specific query you’d like us to answer or simply want to talk through your options – if you do, we are here to help and so do just get in touch with us – either on the phone or email - 0207 499 2394 / info@oxbridgeapplicatons.com – we’ve all been through the process and know how important the next few steps can be.   

Q)  I’ve got my three As at AS, but I got a B in my fourth AS.  Will this be a disadvantage in my application?

A) Very well done for getting three As.  Despite what the papers say, this is no mean feat.   If you have three As at AS, you have the requirements for applying to Oxford as long as your As are in the appropriate subject – if you want to study English and you got a B in your English AS, then you might be in trouble.  

Cambridge is a slightly different matter as they request at least one A* at A2.  They will want to see your module marks (which you write down in the Supplementary Application Questionnaire).  You need to be getting high marks in at least one of your AS marks – preferably  in the subject you want to study - to ensure you are on track for an A* in A2.   If this isn’t the case, you shouldn’t be immediately put off from applying as Cambridge may still consider your application, but you may think about applying to Oxford instead.

With regards to that fourth B, whilst it is not required by Oxbridge, it’s difficult to say whether, when faced with two similar candidates, Oxbridge might choose the one with 4 As over the one with 3As and a B.  Unfortunately it is impossible to answer this question – Oxford and Cambridge have their own special criteria for admitting their students.   Having 3As and a B will certainly not rule you out – our research has shown applicants with this grade profile have been invited to interview. have got a place and have fulfilled the requirements to take it – but it is impossible to say whether you may find yourself in the situation where a full house of As trumps your 3As and a B.

Q) I’ve just missed my 3As at AS – I just don’t know what went wrong in the exam as I usually do really well.   Should I get my paper remarked or resit it?

A) This is a really horrible situation.  You’ve worked hard and you’re good at your subject, but somehow and somewhere something has gone wrong.   The first thing to do in this situation is to speak to the teacher who taught you for that subject and the teacher who will be writing your teacher’s reference for your UCAS form.   It may well be that they are as surprised as you are.   In this case, they need to make it clear on the teacher’s reference that this results is not a fair reflection of your ability.

You should consider resitting this paper only if it will not be detrimental to your performance in the other exams you will be sitting at the same time.  Oxford and Cambridge will not know that you are resitting the exams and your personal statement is definitely not the place to mention this.   You are unlikely to be able to resit before you send off your application in October, so you will have to submit this mark.

Getting your script remarked is another possibility and if your grade goes up you should have time to include this on your UCAS form.   You can opt for a ‘priority remark’, which will mean that your script comes back to you quicker, although precise timeframes vary from subject to subject and exam board to exam board.  If you decide to get your script remarked, it is also worth getting a photocopy of your script sent to your school so your teacher can have a look at it as well and see where you lost marks.

Q) Will I have to declare my module grades?

A)  You only have to declare your module grades if you are applying to Cambridge.   The Cambridge SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire) has a column which you have to complete to show all your module marks as well as your class sizes.   It is a way of Cambridge finding out a bit more about you.

Whilst Cambridge require A*AA, the fact that they are looking at your module grades implies that they are looking for high grades – although if your class size has been particularly large, it may give a clue as to why your modular grades are not as strong as they could be.   If you are worried about your modular marks, you could check out some similar courses at Oxford, and maybe consider switching your application over.

....

Unfortunately there are not hard and fast answers to how your grades will affect your Oxbridge application.  This is in some ways very frustrating, but in others quite reassuring: Oxford and Cambridge have developed their own way of choosing their students and are looking for more than just A level grades.  This means that you need to focus on making your application as strong as possible by perfecting your personal statement, performing as strongly as possible in your admissions tests, making sure your written work is the best it can be and by being as prepared as possible for your interview.

As I said, if you do have any individual questions, or if you think we could help you with your application, do just get in touch with us directly on 0207 499 2394 – we are here to answer your questions...

The A level enigma

It’s that time of year again:   The days are hot and more or less sunny; the jingle of an ice cream van rises on the wind and a familiar question sweeps the broadsheets of our fair land.  Are A levels getting easier?

When the results come in on Thursday morning certain cynics will roll their eyes at yet another record breaking year.  Even as an impartial outside observer, it can be difficult not to see some truth in the accusations.   How can each successive year out-do the previous one if it isn’t something to do with the exam?   Surely the chemicals in the water can’t be that effective. 

So what is going on?

The UK’s three major exam boards, AQA, Edexcel and OCR, which set the A level papers are in turn moderated by Ofqual, the government’s Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.   Ofqual states that the levels of questions is roughly even between all three boards and roughly equivalent to the exams of previous years.   Chief Executive Isabel Nisbet says “Whatever grades candidates achieve, they can be confident that they have not been unfairly disadvantaged, or advantaged, because they took their exam with one board and not another.”   It seems that the A levels themselves aren’t getting any easier.  So where does the negative press come from?

Andrew Gilligan’s article in the Telegraph this weekend delved deeper.   Edexcel, now owned by the giant publisher Pearson, runs seminars in some subjects for teachers and students designed to show how to ‘structure’ the ‘perfect’ answer and ‘meet the requirements [of] the generic mark scheme’ - all for a not so small fee.  The problem, it seems, is not that the exams are getting easier, but that schools and pupils are simply being given the answers; that once elusive A grade is fast becoming the norm.  A win-win situation for schools and exam boards perhaps, but those who are really losing out are the brightest students, who find it harder and harder to stand out academically and win their place at the best Universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge.

If this is the case, could there be an easy remedy?   The government could send their meanest looking suits over to Edexcel HQ and tell them to up their game – or else! They could then pop round to give Ofqual a clip round the ear for missing the problem and be home in time for tea.  But although it is frustrating for students, who work hard for two years only for it to be implied that they were spoon fed the answers, it isn’t as simple as that.   Instead each successive Schools’ Minister imposes a new set of changes on the A level system.  First they introduced AS levels, then modules and coursework, all of which have been criticized for lowering the standard. A more recent change is the A* grade at A level, an introduction that brings me out in a cold sweat when I think about my own results.  The A* was introduced to distinguish the top students from the hordes who get straight As, but even here there is a disagreement between the top institutions:  Cambridge requires it, whilst Oxford ignores it.   Now Michael Gove, the current Minister for Schools is planning another shake up: getting rid of AS levels all together.  These changes along with the periodic threat of IB invasion is enough to make even the best teacher’s head spin and again it seems it’s the brightest students who are losing out. Whilst the government may have big plans for the future, A level students are, for the moment at least, stuck with the current system and all its problems.  

So what can you do?  If you’re thinking about applying to Oxbridge, your will already be armed with an impressive academic record.  But how can you ensure that your clutch of As and A*s stand out from the rest and you make the strongest application you can? 

Do your research on the course you are applying for to make sure it is really what you want to do, read around your subject to find out what really interests you and make sure your personal statement is as good as it can be by checking out our useful guide to writing your personal statement.  Admissions tests have become an important part of the Oxbridge admissions process in recent years so make sure you know what will be required of you by looking at our handy test guides.   Above all, be confident in yourself that you can succeed.

Best of luck for your A level and AS level results on Thursday!   And if any one gives you any stick, just pat them kindly on the arm and tell them that this year’s record breaking A levels are just further proof of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution!

Welcome to our very first blog post! (and brand spanking new website).

The Oxbridge Applications team, our tutors and consultants will regularly be posting blog entries here, to keep you updated on all the latest goings on with the Oxbridge application process.

The reason this first blog post is entitled 'what would you like to talk about' is that a number of years ago, one admissions tutor actually asked an applicant that very question in their interview.

We therefore decided to create a blog, asking this very question.. what would you like to talk about? What concerns do you have about the application process? This blog (along with a new free online resources section) is here to provide you with lots of helpful information and advice on the Oxbridge application process...it's here to help motivate and inspire you throughout the process, which at times can feel rather protracted and lengthy!

Oxford and Cambridge Universities both have brilliant websites which share a wealth of information on the application process. We are independent of the two universities, and are here to provide an extension of support and advice on applying to Oxbridge. We have lots of free online resources and very soon we'll be hosting live online debates and podcasts on applying to Oxbridge - from those who have been through the process and succeeded.

In our reading room, we've recommended lots of subject-specific reading suggestions and we will be regularly updating the online room with book reviews, interesting news articles, features, documentaries to watch and podcasts to listen to, to get you inspired about your subject.

University is an absolutely fantastic time to really delve into a subject that you love in greater depth. We are here to give you as many opportunities as we can for you to engage with your subject in an intellectual way, outside of the constraints of their usual examination syllabus, and help your application to Oxbridge and other great universities.

I am sure that some of you have already been getting a taster for Oxbridge life at the open days. If you have headed up to either Oxford or Cambridge, we hope you've had a good time - and at least the sun has been shining! (let's hope it lasts for Cambridge's last open day tomorrow!)

We'll be back with our next posting very soon, but in the meantime, if you have any questions about the application process, please do just give us a call on 020 7499 2394 or drop us an email... we're here to help answer your questions...