What GCSEs do Oxford look for?

Asked by: Caroline Stanton  |  Last update: October 4, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (48 votes)

GCSE grades are just one of the things that are looked at. While there is no minimum requirement, a high proportion of successful applicants have grades of 7, 8 or 9. This is usually an indication of work ethic, and how hard you have worked up to that point and is usually looked at in context with other things.

What GCSEs are needed to go to Oxford?

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, and we are not able to use other Level 2 qualifications (or equivalent) to replicate those measures for students not taking GCSEs.

Do you need good GCSEs to go to Oxford?

Get good grades

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. Don't have top GCSE grades?

Do you need all 9s at GCSE for Oxford?

Oxford state that 'higher grades at GCSE can help to make your application more competitive, and successful applicants typically have a high proportion of A and A* grades or 7, 8 and 9 grades. ' Applicants to LSE need to have 'achieved a strong set of GCSE grades including the majority at 7 to 9, or equivalent.

Do you need all 9s for Oxbridge?

Most universities ask for at least five 9s or 8s (old A* and A) grades, though this is entirely variable. Oxford, for example, has no specific GCSE requirements, but state that most successful applicants will have largely obtained 9s and 8s at the GCSE level.

What GCSEs and A levels does Oxford look for? (2017)

21 related questions found

How rare is it to get all 9s in GCSE?

It's also important to remember that it doesn't matter if you don't end up getting all 9s. 8s-6s are still great grades (and even if you just pass that's fine since that's all most employers will ask for anyway at GCSE Level). Only the top 5% will get all 9s.

Do you need all 9s at GCSE to get into Cambridge?

There are no GCSE (or equivalent) requirements for entry to Cambridge. GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, but within the context of the performance of the school/college where they were achieved.

What is the average IQ of students at Oxford?

The lowest was around 100, the highest 149, and the average 129.

What GCSE grades do top universities get?

Regardless of the subject you want to study, the majority of university courses look for at least a grade 4 or 5 in English, maths and perhaps science. Some university courses go further and ask for specific subjects at GCSE, with certain grades, so check directly with universities if you're in doubt.

What grades do Oxford want?

Range from A*A*A-AAA, depending on the course. Total score of 38-40 points (depending on the course) including core points, with 6s and 7s in subjects taken at the higher level. An average of 85% or above, with scores of between 8 and 9 in subjects specified at A level or equivalent.

Do Oxford care about GCSE grades?

So how important are GCSEs to an Oxford University application? Oxford, like most universities, do take GCSE results into account in its admissions process, and having a high proportion of 7, 8, and 9 grades at GCSE does make your application more competitive.

What GCSE grades do you need for Harvard?

What are realistic scores and grades in order to be admitted to Harvard? Admitted students typically will have excellent grades: GCSE: Grades 7-9 (numbered system), or A/A* (lettered system) AS levels (where taken): Grades A/A*

Do you need straight A's to get into Oxford?

However Oxford usually only has around 3,300 places each year so even excellent grades will not guarantee you an offer. 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*.

Does Oxford care about extra curricular?

It's all about academics at Oxbridge

While other universities may decide to offer you a place based on other skills, extracurricular interests and experience you have, it's your academic performance and ambitions that really interest Oxford and Cambridge admissions tutors.

How does an American get into Oxford?

The University of Oxford requires applicants from the US to submit either their SAT scores or ACT scores. Like most colleges and universities, Oxford doesn't prefer one standardized test over the other. The minimum SAT score required is 1480. On the other hand, the minimum ACT score required is 33.

What exams does Oxford accept?

  • BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test)
  • CAT (Classics Admissions Test)
  • ELAT (English Literature Admissions Test)
  • GAT (Geography Admissions Test)
  • HAT (History Admissions Test)
  • LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test)
  • MAT (Mathematics Admissions Test)
  • MLAT (Modern Languages Admissions Test)

What GCSE subject has the highest pass rate?

Here are the five easiest GSCEs ranked by pass rate:
  • GCSE Drama. GCSE Drama has a pass rate of 74.1%, making it the GCSE with one of the highest pass rates. ...
  • GCSE Religious Studies. This is an easy and relaxed subject with a pass rate of 71.9%. ...
  • GCSE Physical Education. ...
  • GCSE Film Studies. ...
  • GCSE Food Technology.

Do American universities look at GCSE grades?

Entry requirements for American Universities

Entry requirements will vary across the US but as a minimum you will likely need 5 GCSEs A* - C to include English and Maths. You will need to be studying post-16 qualifications (ie A-Levels) for four-year universities but you could get into a community college with less.

What is the highest GCSE grade ever?

A schoolboy has stunned by achieving straight 9 grades in his GCSE exams, the highest result possible. 16-year-old Louis Huxford attends The Cooper School in Churchill Road and is planning to stay on at the school for his A Levels.

What is the top 98% IQ?

An IQ of 120, therefore, implies that the testee is brighter than about 91% of the population, while 130 puts a person ahead of 98% of people.

What is the average IQ of an Ivy League student?

While the average IQ of all college graduates in the country has barely changed (from 111 to 113), the average IQ of Ivy League college graduates has increased from 120 to 142. That's an extraordinary gain. The mean of the elite 12 universities in the US rose to over 140.

Is a GCSE 9 an A *?

In the current grading system, a score of 9, 8 and 7 are equivalent to an A* and A. A 9 is for a student who has performed exceptionally well. A grade of 4 is the equivalent of a C grade, known as a standard pass.

What GCSE grades do you need for Oxbridge?

Most students applying to Oxbridge will have 7+ GCSEs at grade A and above.

What GCSE grades do Cambridge want?

Most students who apply have at least four or five As or A*s at GCSE (7, 8 or 9 in the new system), but there are always exceptions, and we consider everyone very carefully. So yes, your GCSE scores do matter, but by themselves they're not make-or-break — they're only one part of a big picture.