Can i get into oxbridge with 3 A*'s at GCSE?

**Tuggummi** · 20-11-2009, 10:45 PM

Basically i just got my GCSEs and feel like **** because my parents are disappointed in me. I only got 3 A*s and they are now saying I have no chance of getting a good Uni for Medicine. Is this true? (btw i am doing A levels in 6th form)

Thank you

p.s i know my results aren't terrible and i don't want to sound like a prat, but i am just worried.

**Remus** · 20-11-2009, 11:12 PM

I wouldn't be too worried, mate. a friend of mine got invited to interview at Oxford with similar grades (only 2 A*'s at GCSE), although he did have a good BMAT score and A-Levels. also, i think Cambridge are more lenient with regards to GCSE requirements compared to Oxford, so you have an even better chance with them.

**Rippy** · 28-11-2009, 09:18 PM

Neither university is "lenient" with GCSEs. With 3 A*s, I would advise against applying to Oxford, as they use % of GCSE A*s combined with BMAT score to decide who to interview. You would have to do VERY well on the BMAT. (How many GCSEs did you do in total?) Obviously, you would still have a chance of getting an interview, but it's just that it's quite a risk to take, as your BMAT would have to be great.

For Cambridge, 3 A*s will be below average probably considerably for medicine, but you would still have a chance obviously if your BMAT, interview, and AS UMS scores were good.

**Gowrav** · 29-11-2009, 12:00 AM

Like the above said..applying to oxford will be very difficult since they usually interview the top candidates. However for cambridge go for it...i know someone who has got 3A*'s and has had an interview at cambridge prior to BMAT results. But bear in mind most people at cambridge have like 8A*'s. So you must to extremely well in the BMAT, interviews and A-Levels. Because at the end of they day a lot if candidates at the interview do well.

**Martigan** · 29-11-2009, 01:22 AM

Tuggummi - Why do you want to to go to Oxbridge?

**BGG** · 30-05-2010, 03:12 AM

Can't speak for Cambridge but I'm relatively familiar with the Oxford processes as I did my first degree there and know a number of people (in various subjects including medicine) who run interviews for colleges.

In short it's going to be very hard indeed with those results as you'll be up against candidates who have substantially better grades than you. Sorry if that sounds brutal (as you rightly say your grades are good) but that's pretty much the reality.

About the only thing that might change that view is if either you did your GCSEs at a school which gets way below average GCSE scores or if there was some very serious problem before your exams that you can evidence (family bereavement etc) and which your school was aware of at the time.

Having already achieved a great score on the BMAT and already got (not predicted) the top grades at A-level would probably give you a good shot.

**House Jr.** · 30-05-2010, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by BGG

Can't speak for Cambridge but I'm relatively familiar with the Oxford processes as I did my first degree there and know a number of people (in various subjects including medicine) who run interviews for colleges.

In short it's going to be very hard indeed with those results as you'll be up against candidates who have substantially better grades than you. Sorry if that sounds brutal (as you rightly say your grades are good) but that's pretty much the reality.

About the only thing that might change that view is if either you did your GCSEs at a school which gets way below average GCSE scores or if there was some very serious problem before your exams that you can evidence (family bereavement etc) and which your school was aware of at the time.

Having already achieved a great score on the BMAT and already got (not predicted) the top grades at A-level would probably give you a good shot.

by this do you mean schools whose students get very low %A* at GCSE or schools with a very low % 5 A*-C grades.

**Gowrav** · 30-05-2010, 04:19 PM

I believe it is the latter. Since a school can have a low percentage of A*'s but might have a very high percentage of A's.

**BGG** · 30-05-2010, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Gowrav

I believe it is the latter. Since a school can have a low percentage of A*'s but might have a very high percentage of A's.

I don't know exactly how they will calculate an average/which average they use but I suspect it's far more likely to be something like the 5 A-C average.

In any case the original point still stands: if your grades are below what they're after one of the few things which is likely to change their is that your grades are way, way better than your school average. If your school averages lots of A's and you got a few more A*s than is normal at your school I can't imagine they'd care very much, if at all.

**House Jr.** · 31-05-2010, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by BGG

I don't know exactly how they will calculate an average/which average they use but I suspect it's far more likely to be something like the 5 A-C average.

In any case the original point still stands: if your grades are below what they're after one of the few things which is likely to change their is that your grades are way, way better than your school average. If your school averages lots of A's and you got a few more A*s than is normal at your school I can't imagine they'd care very much, if at all.

hmmm, the trouble with that system is that there are quite a few schools which move up their % 5 A*-C by introducing BTECs, and so this system would not clearly indicate whether an applicant did achieve significantly higher than the average student at their school, and since Oxford look at %A* when shortlisting, I would assume this system is quite ineffective.

But yeah, the point still stands that it would be difficult to get into oxford with those grades, however getting a high BMAT may make it possible