Oxbridge Entrance
Successful Oxbridge Entry:
Some Personal Views on the Current Myths &
Realities
(C) Data & Conclusions
TGGS Oxbridge Candidates Academic Profile 2009
Students
GCSE Profile
AS Profile
Average AS UMS %
Other Relevant
Successfully
(Range 7A* to 10A*)
(Range 3A &1B t0 4A &
score
Information
1B)
(Range 81%-97%)
Obtaining a
Conditional
Offer
A
10 A*
4A & 1B
91%
A Grade in AL Maths in
Y12 (taking Further
Maths). A in AS Critical
Thinking.
B
10 A*
4A
88%
A Grade in AL Maths in
Y12 (taking Further
Maths)
C
8 A*
3 A & 1B
95%
300/300 UMS in one
AS. BMAT.
D
9 A*
3 A & 1B
87%
Suburb interviewee
E
7 A*
3 A & 2B
81%
A in AS Critical
F
9 A*
3A
93%
Thinking.
A Grade in AL Maths in
Y12 (taking Further
Maths).
G
10 A*
3A
97%
A Grade in AL Maths in
Y12 (taking Further
Maths).
Unsuccessful
Students
GCSE Profile
AS Profile
Average AS UMS %
Other Relevant
(Range 4A* to 8A*)
(Range 3A &1B t0 5A)
score
Information
(Range 83%-99%)
H
8 A*
3 A & 1B
86%
I
7A*
5A
88%
A in AS Critical Thinking
J
4A*
3A&1B
99%
300/300 UMS in one
K
8 A*
3A&1B
83%
AS. BMAT.
Comments

Twenty one Y12 students initially either expressed an interest in applying for Oxbridge themselves &/or were recommended by staff.

The ten that eventually decided not to make an Oxbridge application did so for a variety of reasons including:


Deciding that the Oxbridge ‘experience’ & approach to learning was not for them;

Availability of alternative, & for them preferable University courses & Institutions;

Disappointing AS results.
All eleven students who eventually applied were predicted straight A grades in their A level subjects (& eventually achieved these
grades).

All eleven (100%) students who applied successfully obtained interviews – seven (64%) were offered & eventually gained places.

The average Oxbridge Application Success Rate in tends to be around 24% (Source: www.oxbridgeapplications.com)

All eleven candidates (whether successful or not) found the application experience worthwhile & felt they
learned something from the process!
1
TGGS Oxbridge Candidates Academic Profile 2010
Students
GCSE Profile
AS Profile
Average AS
Successfully
(Range 6A* to
(Range 3A/1B to
UMS %
Obtaining a
9A*)
4A)
(Range 87% to
Conditional Offer
A
University
Other Relevant Information
97%)
9A*
4A
94%
Cambridge
Phenomenal
evidence
of
passion
demonstrated. 198/200 UMS in one
AS.
B
8A*
3A; 1B
89%
Cambridge
A grade in AL Maths in Y12.
C
7A*
5A
93%
Cambridge
Work submitted. 200/200 UMS in one
D*
6A*
5A
87%
Oxford
AS.
*
Obtained
Conditional Offer
-
BUT 3 UMS below Grade A in AL
Chemistry so failed to obtain place!
ABA Bacc. Grade A for EP. A (very
high) A grade in AS Critical Thinking.
Unsuccessful
Students
GCSE Profile
AS Profile
Average AS
(Range 2A* to
(Range 2A & 2B to
UMS %
9A*)
4A & 1B)
(Range 75% to
University
Other Relevant Information
82%)
E
9A*
3A; 2B
82%
Oxford
AQA Bacc. Grade A for EP. B in
F
7A*;
3A; 1B
82%
Oxford
G
7A*
3A; 2B
81%
Oxford
ELAT taken.
H
6A*
2A; 2B
82%
Oxford
Obtained
AS Critical Thinking. BMAT taken.
AQA Bacc. Grade A for EP. A (low)
in AS Critical Thinking. LNAT taken.
Interview.
(Experimental
Psychology) TSA taken.
I
4A*
3A; 1C; 1D
75%
Oxford
TSA taken. AQA Bacc. Grade A
for EP. Grade A (90%) in AS Critical
Thinking
J
2A*
3A; 2B
78%
Oxford
LNAT taken. AQA Bacc. Grade A
for EP. Grade B in AS Critical
Thinking.
K
2A*
4A; 1B
80%
Cambridge
Obtained Interview (Architecture – late
subject choice) Work submitted. AQA
Bacc. Grade A for EP.
L
2A*
2A; 2B
80%
Oxford
ELAT taken.
AQA Bacc. Grade
A* for EP.
M
1A*
3A; 1B; 1C
79%
Oxford
TSA taken
Comments

Twenty two Y12 students initially expressed an interest in applying for Oxbridge.

The eleven students that decided not to make an Oxbridge application did so for the same reasons as the Class of 2009

All thirteen students who eventually applied were predicted straight A grades in their A levels

The successful subjects were: Architecture, Biological Sciences*, Modern & Medieval Languages & Natural Sciences

The unsuccessful subjects were: Architecture, Economics & Management, English Literature, English Literature & Language,
Experimental Psychology, Law (two) PPE & Medicine,

The overall success rate (in terms of obtaining Conditional Offers) was 31% with 46% gaining interviews.

Once again, all eleven candidates (whether successful or not) were (eventually!) very positive/philosophical about the application
experience worthwhile & were glad they applied!
2
TGGS Oxbridge Candidates Academic Profile 2011
Students
Successfully
GCSE Profile
(Range 8 to 10A*)
Obtaining a
Conditional Offer
A
AS Profile
Average AS
(Range
UMS %
4A/1B to
(Range 85% to 90%)
University
Other Relevant Information
Cambridge
Late choice of subject (Architecture) –
3A,2B)
8A*
3A (1A*), 2B
85%
massive effort to build up Passion Portfolio.
Work submitted. AQA Bacc. A in Critical
Thinking.
B
9A*
4A (3A*), 1B
87%
Oxford
A in Critical Thinking. AQA Bacc.
C
9A*
4A (3A*)
91%
Oxford
Engineering
D
10A*
4A
90%+
Oxford
Sixth Form in USA .
(equivalent)
Very proactive in
seeking TGGS support (attended two
Seminars!)
Unsuccessful
Students
GCSE Profile
AS Profile
Average AS
(Range 1A* 11A* )
(Range 1A,
UMS %
3B, 1C to
(Range 79% to 89%)
University
Other Relevant Information
5A)
E
2A*
4A (1A*), 1B
84%
Oxford
Obtained Interview (Geography)
A grade in Critical Thinking.
Work
submitted.
Applied
AQA Bacc.
to
Permanent
Private Hall .
F
!A*
1A, 3B, 1C
80%
Oxford
(1 Unit 96%)
Obtained Interview (History). Took HAT
Admissions Test.
AQA Bacc. Work
submitted. Phenomenal passion for subject. B
in Critical Thinking
G
9A*
3A, 2B (incl
81%
Oxford
Chemistry)
BMAT taken.
B in Critical Thinking.
Medical family. AQA Bacc.
H
5A*
2A (1A*), 2B
80%
Cambridge
Late subject choice . Very early de-selection.
I
4A*
4A, 1B
85%
Oxford
Obtained
Interview
(Modern
Foreign
Languages). AQA Bacc. Work submitted.
B in Critical Thinking
J
7A*
3A, 2B (incl
79%
Oxford
Chemistry)
BMAT taken.
AQA Bacc. A in Critical
Thinking (retake). Medical family.
K
11A*
6A (3A*)
89%
Cambridge
L
11A*
5A (2A*)
89%
Oxford
Obtained Interview. BMAT taken. AQA
Bacc. A in Critical Thinking. Medical family.
BMAT taken.
AQA Bacc. A in Critical
Thinking . Medical family. Clinical v Science
Tension re medicine.
M
8A*
4A , 1B
81%
Cambridge
(Chemistry)
BMAT taken.
AQA Bacc. A in Critical
Thinking . Medical family. Submitted SAQ
without support. Very early de-selection.
Comments

Thirty one Y12 students initially expressed an interest in applying for Oxbridge.

The eighteen students that decided not to make an Oxbridge application did so for the same reasons as the Class of 2009

All thirteen students who eventually applied were predicted straight A grades in their A levels

The successful subjects were: Architecture, Biological Sciences, Engineering & Politics, Philosophy & Economics

The unsuccessful subjects were: Engineering, Geography, History, Medicine (5), Modern Foreign Languages

The overall success rate (in terms of obtaining Conditional Offers) was 31%., with 62% of applicants gaining interviews – pleasingly more
at Oxford than in 2010.

Once again, all eleven candidates (whether successful or not) were (eventually!) very positive/philosophical about the application
experience worthwhile & were glad they applied!
3
TGGS Oxbridge Candidates Academic Profile 2012
Students
Successfully
GCSE Profile
AS Profile
(Range 6 to 13A*)
(Range 6A to
UMS %
4A)
(Range 88% to 94%)
Obtaining a
Average AS
University
Other Relevant Information
Cambridge
Remarkable evidence of her passion (e.g.
Conditional Offer
A
9A*
5A (5A*)
93%
numerous practical experiences linked to
subject & voracious reader).
AQA Bacc
including A* in CT. BMAT taken. Utterly
reliable.
B
6A*
4A (3A*), 1B
88%
Oxford
Extremely teachable & both proactive (e.g.
gained place on Oxford Summer Law School)
& receptive to advice. AQA Bacc including
A* in CT. LNAT taken.
C
11A*
6A (4A*)
92%
Oxford
D
11A*
4A
94%
Cambridge
AQA Bacc including A* in CT.
Long track record of Architecture related
interests. Outstanding Portfolio
E
13A*
6A (2A*)
89%
Cambridge
AQA Bacc including A in CT.
BMAT
taken.
Unsuccessful
Students
GCSE Profile
AS Profile
Average AS
(Range 1A* 12A* )
(Range 2A,
UMS %
2B, 1D to
(Range 73% to 95%)
University
Other Relevant Information
5A)
F
4A*
2A , 2B & 1D
73%
Cambridge
Minority subject choice & family links with it
(Asian & Political Studies). A grade in CT.
Very early de-selection.
G
10A*
4A (2A*), 1C
86%
Oxford
Obtained Interview ELAT taken. AQA
Bacc including A in CT. Work submitted.
H
12A*
5A ( 2A* )
88%
Oxford
I
11A*
5A (5A*)
95%
Oxford
Obtained Interview ELAT taken. AQA
Bacc including A* in CT. Work submitted.
Obtained Interview BMAT taken. Tension
re outstanding scientist & clinical issues
important at I/V.
J
12A*
3A (1A*), 2B
85%
Oxford
Late decision to apply & uncertainty re subject
choice. ELAT taken. AQA Bacc including
C in Critical Thinking. Work submitted.
K
8A*
1A, 3B & 1C
76%
Cambridge
Obtained Interview BMAT taken. AQA
Bacc including B in CT. Contextual
information via Ucas Reference important.
L
1A*
1A, 2B at AL
78% at A2
Oxford
Took HAT. Obtained interview in 2011 –
Y14 ‘post’ applicant.
AQA Bacc. Work
submitted. Phenomenal passion B in CT
Comments

26 started Y12 students initially expressed an interest in applying for Oxbridge.

The 14 students that decided not to make an Oxbridge application did so for the same reasons as the Class of 2009

All 12 students who eventually applied were predicted straight A grades in their A levels

The successful subjects were: Architecture, Chemistry, Law, Natural Sciences & Vet Science

The unsuccessful subjects were: English Lang & Lit (2), Chemical Engineering (via natural Sciences), English & German, History &
Medicine

The overall success rate (in terms of obtaining Conditional Offers) was 42% with 75% of applicants gaining interviews: the subjects &
Colleges chosen by the successful candidates were very competitive/prestigious.

Once again, all 12 candidates (whether successful or not) were (eventually!) very positive/philosophical about the application experience
worthwhile & were glad they applied!
4