Applications to Oxford and
Cambridge
Victoria Saunders
Oxbridge Tutor
Stamford High School
Geoffrey Brown
Oxbridge Tutor
Stamford School
WHAT DO THEY LOOK FOR IN
APPLICANTS?
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Passion, interest and commitment to the subject
Strong record in examinations
Academic potential to succeed at the highest academic level
Vocational commitment (where appropriate)
Stamford Endowed Schools
MYTHS
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It helps if you captain a sports team
Head boys/girls get in
They are looking for all rounders
Alumni connections are needed
It is harder if you are from an independent school
It is easier if you are from an independent school
Interviewers like to play tricks
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SELECTION CRITERIA
Admissions decisions are based on:
• A level (or equivalent) grades and subject combinations
• AS grades and (Cambridge) unit marks
• GCSE grades
• UCAS school/college reference
• UCAS personal statement
• Submitted work (where requested)
• Test results (where applicable)
• Interview performance
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Examinations
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Appropriate subject combinations
A levels: predicted or achieved grades
Other post-16 examination systems
AS unit scores (Cambridge)
GCSEs
Profile of an ‘average’ Oxbridge applicant:
– GCSE: 5-8 A*s
– AS: 92% across three most relevant, or best, subjects
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APTITUDE TESTS
• How do they use aptitude tests?
– To inform about ability not otherwise revealed in
examinations
– In the event that interviews ‘malfunction’
• In advance of interview: e.g. BMAT, LNAT, HAT & PAT
(Oxford)
• At time of interview: e.g. TSA (Cambridge)
• More informal tests
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Interviews
• Around 75% of applicants are called for interview
• Interviews usually take place in December; some Cambridge
applicants are called for additional interviews in mid January
• Interviews are conducted principally by the preference College
(Cambridge), or by the preference College and an additional
College (Oxford)
• Applicants have 1, 2 or 3 interviews, each lasting 20-45
minutes, at each College
• Interviews are conducted by lecturers and are predominantly
academic and subject-focused
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WHAT DO INTERVIEWERS
SEEK?
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Genuine subject interest
Appropriateness of chosen course
Enthusiasm for complex and challenging ideas
Clarity of thought and analytical ability
Intellectual flexibility
Vocational or professional commitment (where appropriate)
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The Standard Offer
• Cambridge
• Oxford
A*AA (Arts) A*A*A (Sciences)
AAA
• In both universities lower offers may be made in specific
cases, usually for access reasons.
• Offers can be higher eg. A*A*A*A for Law at Cambridge
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UNSUCCESSFUL
APPLICATIONS
• Every year thousands of unsuccessful Oxbridge applicants go
on to achieve three or more A grades at A level
• The strength of competition makes decisions VERY difficult
• The ‘Pool’ (Cambridge)
• Feedback is available but limited
• Re-application (contact them)
• Conditional offers: they are conditional
• It is not the best place for many students
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PROCESS Y11
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Make sure GCSEs are the best they can be
Trip to Oxbridge Conference in Lincoln (February)
Start researching courses and A Level subject combinations
Reading
Work experience (where appropriate)
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PROCESS Y12
• Ensure work in Y12 is as good as it can be
• Attend introductory talk from admissions tutor in January
• Attend Monday lunchtime introductory sessions led by Oxbridge
tutors within school
• Attend Oxbridge Conference (February)
• Read around the subject
• Seek out super-curricular opportunities
• Attend open days
• Research courses and colleges
• Draft personal statement
• Research entrance tests
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PROCESS Y13
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Finalise UCAS form by 15th October
Work with subject specialist mentor
Attend Monday Oxbridge sessions
Practice interviews within school and with LGS
Continue super-curricular activities and reading
Entrance tests (where appropriate) in early November
Send written work to admissions tutors
Interviews (early December)
Offers/rejections (early Jan)
Confirmation of decision on results day (Aug)
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Successful candidates 2014
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More Information
Useful additional information is available in prospectus and on
websites at:
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www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate
www.admissions.ox.ac.uk
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Useful books
So you want to go to Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana.
• A link to this presentation will be on the Digest
Stamford Endowed Schools