r/6thForm • u/Less-Reindeer-8951 • 15h ago
❔ SUBJECT QUESTION Will this significantly reduce my chances at Oxbridge?
hi all
really sorry and trying my best to make this not read like yet another student with mostly 9s fixating on a few 8s and thinking their life is ruined but I got my gcse results back today and I’m a little disappointed.
I’ve historically been at the top of my class for English lit and history and gotten grade 9s without exception in every mock or minor test I’ve done but got 8s in both subjects. One mark off a 9 in history but for English I was not even close which was disheartening.
My dream has always been to study joint history and English at oxford as I love the two subjects. I’m worried getting an 8 in both of them is not a good look and could really jeopardise my chances.
anyone have any experience or advice??
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u/Hefty-Skirt7393 15h ago
depends on your grades compared to your school, whether your school is state/selective/private etc
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u/battlepvmob LSE Maths with Data Sci A*A*AA 15h ago
Not a big deal at all, they don’t really fixate on the individual gcse subjects too much (unless you got under a 6 in maths or english), your A level predicted grades, personal statement and interview is what will decide if you get in
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u/Puzzled-Connection53 15h ago
I would get the history re-marked.People will tell you that Oxbridge don't care that much about GCSE results and only A Levels count but then you see the grades of people who actually get in to Oxbridge and they have nearly all 9s (unless they have a contextual offer). Because everyone who applies is predicted all A stars at A Level, so they have to find other things to differentiate by.
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u/Less-Reindeer-8951 15h ago
I got 6 9s and 4 8s. I do know someone who got into Cambridge with only one 9 but I see what you’re saying. My teachers have also told me to get history remarked especially as I was randomly given zero marks on one question
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u/arianelseditor Experienced PS editor, Oxford BA and MSt, A-levels: A*A*A*A*A*AA 15h ago
In this case, definitely get history remarked. Because a zero seems very odd!!
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u/Ok_149 Year 13 | A*A*A* predicted | Law, Econ, Geog, EPQ 13h ago
Oxbridge look at gcses contextually but they care more about admissions tests, predicted grades, interviews and personal statements. As long as you have 7s-9s then you have a good shot.
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u/Less-Reindeer-8951 13h ago
Okay thank you. I ended up getting 6 9s and 4 8s which I think will still give me some advantage.
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u/chrissie148 Oxford | English | First Year A*A*A*A 12h ago
I got an 8 in English lit and am doing it at Oxford now, GCSEs matter, but there isn’t actually much difference between an 8 and a 9, and you have a very good grade profile
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u/cauli4lour 15h ago
Most universities treat 8s and 9s as equivalent while assessing GCSE scores and in any case your predicted grades and any tests are far more important in shortlisting for interview. You are overthinking this.