Academic achievement is at the heart of the Oxbridge decision-making process.
- GCSEs.
- A Levels, IB and other qualifications.
- Making the choice between three or four+ A Levels.
- Genuine interest in your subject.
- Evidence of critical thinking.
- Being able to express yourself.
What kind of student does Oxford look for?
The only things that Oxford students have in common are academic ability and intellectual curiosity. Our students come from all over the world and bring with them an amazing range of backgrounds and interests. This helps make our University one of the most exciting learning environments anywhere.
What do Oxford look for in a candidate?
They want you to feel able to be yourself in the interview, and to allow you to demonstrate your skills and abilities. They will probably ask you a few simple questions to begin with: perhaps about something in your personal statement or why you have applied for a particular course.
How do I stand out in Oxford application?
3 Tips To Help Your Application To Oxford Stand Out
- Show enthusiasm for the subject. It is important to start thinking of which subject you would want to apply for university early on in your high school career so that you can begin to prepare your application early.
- Wider Reading.
- Prepare well for the Interview.
What are Oxbridge looking for?
We’re looking for students with the academic ability and potential to thrive at the University. Therefore, you should be aiming for excellent examination grades.
Do Oxford care about GCSEs?
Yes, your grades will need to really dazzle. GCSEs are seen as evidence of work ethic – and you need a really strong one of those to cope with studying at Oxford or Cambridge. Our guesstimate is that the average successful applicant has around eight 8/9 grade GCSEs under their belt.
Can I get into Oxford with A * AA?
Offers for Oxford places are between A*A*A and AAA at A-level, depending on the course. (See course pages.) See a list of Oxford courses with conditional offers including at least one A*.
What GCSEs do Oxford want?
None of our courses have a specific GCSE requirement; however, there are some parts of our admissions process that use GCSE grades to contextualise applicants’ performance (see https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/decisions/contextual-data for more information about our use of contextual
Do you need 4 A levels for Oxford?
If you’re thinking of applying to Oxford, Cambridge or another top university, you might feel you need to take four A levels to prove that you are clever or to get a competitive edge. However, taking extra A levels isn’t necessarily the best way to do this, and there’s the potential for your plan to backfire.
How do you increase chances of getting into Oxford?
7 tips for getting into Oxford
- Check the specific subject requirements of your course.
- Aim to get the best possible grades you can.
- Think about the long-term plan.
- Prepare for your admissions test.
- Get relevant work experience.
- Invest plenty of time into writing your personal statement.
- Prepare for your Oxbridge interview.
Which subject is easiest to get into Oxford?
Oxford
- Best chance of getting an interview (%) Chemistry 96.2. Classics 95.9. Human Sciences 92.8. Modern Languages & Linguistics 92.5.
- Highest Success Rate (%) Classics 40.1. Chemistry 33.6. Theology & Oriental Studies 33.3.
- Highest Success Rate (%) Classics 50.3. Music 48.3. Archaeology & Anthropology 45.1.
What should you not do in an Oxford interview?
3 things you should avoid during your Oxbridge interview
- One mistake in your interview won’t dramatically damage your chances of being offered a place on your chosen course.
- Absolutism.
- Dismissiveness.
- Suffering in silence.
How do you smash an interview at Oxford?
How can I prepare?
- Familiarise yourself with the selection criteria for your course.
- Research the kinds of interview questions tutors might ask in your subject.
- Watch mock interviews (see Subject Specific Resources below for links)
Do Oxbridge prefer 4 A levels?
Oxbridge entry requirements
Oxford and Cambridge Universities are known for demanding the highest grades of As and A*s off students. However, doing 4 A levels over 3 is neither required nor preferred.
Can you get into Oxford with B’s?
Do you mean ALL Bs and Cs for GCSE, or a few? I currently have an offer for Oxford despite having two Bs at GCSE, so it’s certainly possible to get in with a few Bs. For my course they actually only looked at your top 8 GCSEs I think, so a few Bs wouldn’t even hold you back never mind kill your application.
Is a * aa good enough for Cambridge?
Cambridge usually requires A*A*A for most sciences courses and A*AA for arts courses or 40–42 in the IB, including core points, with 776 at Higher Level. AAA is usually required at Advanced Higher grade, for students in Scotland.
Is 7 GCSEs enough for Oxford?
Again, getting into a top place like Oxford and Cambridge will be much harder. Successful applicants to both universities generally have around eight grade 9 to 7 (A* to A) GCSEs.
Do you need all 9s to get into Oxford?
Oxford reasonably expects, but does not specifically require, that you will have consistently good grades at GCSE – most, if not all, will be in the A-A*/ 8-9 sort of bracket.
Is a 2.1 from Oxford Good?
Employers may consider a 2:2 from Oxford a better result than a higher class degree from many other universities. See some employers’ views on how they view degree results below.
Can you get into Oxford with 5 GCSEs?
You’d want about 6-7 As and A*s, but even if you only get a few, it’s not going to ruin your chances completely. There are no specific minimum GCSE grades required for Oxford.
What happens if you fail an exam at Oxford?
Research degree students who fail to satisfy the examiners at their first examination are entitled to one re-examination within one year of having been issued with the examiners’ report from the first examination.