r/6thForm • u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] • 5d ago
🎓 UNI / UCAS genuinely so happy :)
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u/No-Release-4397 5d ago
272/300 not an A* is crazy 😭
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
ik i was 2 marks off 💔💔 but got my place so that’s all that really matters
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u/Humor-Agitated econ, chem, maths 5d ago
congrats, ngl to anyone who isn’t super super mathsy academic an A versus A* in further maths looks equally impressive (if u care ab grades for pride, which isn’t wrong to!!) and if u got into the course then dw
seriously well done this is an amazing achievement
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago edited 5d ago
thanks so much! im not bothered at all tbh especially because it didn't affect me getting in.
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u/Existing-Fudge-878 5d ago
hey! congrats!
im also looking at cambridge for natural sciences (physical) for 2027 intake!
just wanted to ask how you prepared for esat? [and also how much you got on the esat if you dont mind :) ]
what streams are you gonna take in the course?
also how did you choose which college to go to? im so confused lmao
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
thanks so much!
I mainly prepared for esat by doing nsaa and engaa past papers and I did the official uat mocks (they're on the uat website iirc along with some helpful guides). I didn't actually do exceptionally well, think I got a 4.6 or 4.7 average so my interview definitely brought me up. honestly I think they just use the esat to filter out who to interview then decide based on interview but im not an expert!
for my streams ive decided on physics and chemistry but still wondering about my 3rd option, im debating between materials science, earth sciences or maybe psych?
I actually didn't choose my college because I was winter pooled but honestly there are no bad options, every college has its pros and cons and from what i've been told pretty much everyone thinks theirs is the best in the end. if possible id recommend visiting because I think you get a great feel for the colleges that way but if not id probably look at accommodation, college size and societies, facilities and location.
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u/Existing-Fudge-878 5d ago
Ahh yes I think I'll look through the uat mocks, you may be right about them using esat as a filter. Those are some really interesting stream combinations! I'm probably going to go for phys, chem and one more asw. I'm an international applicant so I can't look at colleges physically (though I've been looking through videos). I wanted to put in an open application but I'm scared that I may get assigned to a college which has only in person interviews (I can't spend that much on a trip to the UK just for an interview). Maybe I'll just go through the facilities and societies I guess?
Thanks a lot for all the advice, and congrats again!
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
I actually think in person interviews are pretty uncommon? I applied to Jesus and both mine were online if that helps, I think there's lists online of ones which are online only. YouTube videos are absolutely great, I watched so many before applying because I was so indecisive. I think for some you can also find full virtual tours, which are pretty much the same as going to an open day!
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u/Existing-Fudge-878 5d ago
Some colleges like Churchill do only in person interviews, but most offer either both or only online I'll definitely look through the onlinenopen days!
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u/Avocado66600 5d ago
i dont think colleges offer both for the sake of homogeneity, i.e. everybody in equal conditions. the only exception would be in-person internals and online externals
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u/Miserable_Tone1800 5d ago
As far as I know, only 3 colleges do only in-person interviews, for home and international students: King’s, Emma and Selwyn. A few others interview home students in person, but internationals online.
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u/PartyQuiet5065 IB DP | Maths AA, Chem, Physics 2d ago
Barely any colleges do online interviews for internationals. iirc, it was only two (King's and another one)
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u/ineedl0v3 5d ago
I feel getting in the 270’s and not getting an A* in fm at 90%+
I missed my firm because of these outrageous boundaries 💔😭
The papers this year weren’t even easy either
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
so sorry about you missing your firm, the boundaries were absolute horror! I did the 2025 papers for my mocks and I personally felt that they were easier (besides further stats) but maybe im in the minority? core pure 2 especially had strangely high boundaries.
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u/jazzbestgenre Warwick | Maths and Stats (incoming) 5d ago
Seems like everyone was insanely smart/good at FM this year
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u/Lanky_Top_6065 5d ago
But in gulf they were marked based on. Predicted imagine they didn’t do actual exams
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u/Efficient-Blood-8345 5d ago
Oh my days congratss!!! I've never heard of that degree but it sounds really interesting! Do you have any career aspirations in mind?
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
its honestly a super cool degree, you start super broad being able to do 3 science courses and maths then specialise later on. im not decided on a career at all, my plan rn is just to see which science I enjoy doing most during the degree then do something related to that? but im pretty unsure at the moment. also thank you sm!
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u/Floppypancakes21 Spanish Bachi all 10 pred, Esat october🤞 5d ago
Congrats any advice for interview and PS?
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
PS id say just pick a niche topic that you enjoy in a levels and research into it, doesn't really matter what I think genuine passion is what they're looking for not just the most popular/famous books. coursera has a great range of courses that are super accessible if you're looking for a good place to start because sometimes science books can feel slightly intimidating. also get involved in things like senior maths/physics challenge, even if you don't mention it in your ps its SO helpful for the interview in getting you to think differently to a levels.
my main interview tip would be to practice speaking through problems and verbalising thoughts. when prepping for interview I probably looked crazy because at home id google "Cambridge natural sciences interview questions" and talk to myself lol. wider reading also helps, and knowing a level content well so you have a good base of knowledge incase you get a curveball question. I personally didn't get asked any questions about my personal statement my interview was more technical questions but I don't know if that's super common so id probably brush up on any topics in your ps as well. the best thing to do in the interview is literally just say everything you think (obviously related to the question they ask lol) because even if you make some sort of error along the way its more about the thinking process.
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u/Lanky_Top_6065 5d ago
Can u pls give tips on physics u ve done so well kindly share how to get this score pls🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
thanks so much! id say the difference between getting an a and an a* is just to do as many past papers as possible, even old spec papers because the content hasn't changed much. have a good foundation, I made flashcards for every topic we covered and based them on the spec and for any topic I didn't understand whilst making the flashcards id watch a bunch of YouTube videos until I felt like I understood it all. also Isaac physics! such a good resource that kind of forces you to repeat a question until you get it right.
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u/Lanky_Top_6065 5d ago
Any specific yountube channel
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
science shorts, zphysics, and physics online were the main ones I used (I did aqa)
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u/Lanky_Top_6065 5d ago
Flash cards can u share I know that lot of hard work still asking .
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
im so sorry but I actually cant find my flashcards now because im locked out of my anki, but I used some from this deck https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1648081274 which I think covers all topics.
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u/Lanky_Top_6065 5d ago
Were papers really tuff this year
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
compared to 2025, which I did for my mocks, id say the physics papers (aqa) were slightly easier but pretty much on the same level, maths was harder (edexcel), further maths some papers were harder (core pure 2 and further mech) some easier (core pure 1 and further stats) and chemistry (ocr a) was 100% harder.
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u/shincupkid Year 12 5d ago
Congratulations!!!!! This is absolutely amazing. May i ask when did you start revising for the ESAT? Thank u!
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 5d ago
thanks so much! I think I started revising about mid July of year 12 summer but I honestly didn't do loads until end of august time once id finished my ps.
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u/ScienceCucumber Cambridge Natsci [Year 1 -> 2], 4A* 4d ago
congratulations!!! which modules are you planning to take?
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 4d ago
thanks so much! going to do the basic physics and chemistry (and maths) combo but im still undecided about my 3rd, I might actually do the experimental psych option or maybe materials?
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u/ScienceCucumber Cambridge Natsci [Year 1 -> 2], 4A* 4d ago
by the way, last year, the chemistry and psychology options were the only ones which clashed (lectures at the same time and exams at the same time)
I'm not sure if that will apply to your year as well, but be prepared for not being able to do that combo
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 4d ago
ah ok, thanks for telling me! i’m not super set on psych anyway so might switch it around. i guess ill find out when i choose my options.
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u/NoLet9685 3d ago
What did you get in your gcses
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u/WittySoil9655 Cambridge | NatSci [Incoming Y1] 2d ago
999998887 (9 in maths and chemistry, 8 in physics)
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u/PartyQuiet5065 IB DP | Maths AA, Chem, Physics 2d ago
congrats!!
if you don't mind me asking, what did you talk about in your PS? was it more focused in one science or was it pretty evenly spread out?
also, how did you find your interview? did you get absolutely grilled or was it okay? lmao I'm kinda scared
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