Percentage A*

stevew61 · Post by **stevew61** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:39 pm

Hi jemima,

Thanks for sharing your experience, we are at the choosing GCSEs stage and I was playing spot the A* potential, your information has heightened my thoughts on tactics.

Why can't DC just study, experiment and enjoy different subjects at GCSE? Surely the focus and specialisation should start at AS level?

Thinking about options, Chemistry is good, Reading is brilliant

. If you are between chem. and med. then Reading also offer Pharmacy?

As you say a gap year might offer other opportunities.

Here is me thinking 11+ done, that's the end of the hard decisions, duh.

steve

Flamenco · Post by **Flamenco** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:52 pm

Amber wrote:As AM said - do you have to declare them all?

jemima wrote:Not sure whether he could have 'not declared' the rest.

Just thought Iâ€™d flag up a caution here!

I remember distinctly having read somewhere, maybe at Oxfordâ€™s or UCASâ€™s website about having to declare the public exams you took even if the results were less than desirable. It surprised me when I read it and thatâ€™s why I remember it well . . .

KenR · Post by **KenR** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:59 am

Sad to say that the Oxbridge philosophy at the moment is to reject applications due to any minor factor, academic or otherwise. I guess they have so many applications that they need any reason.

My DD has also just received a rejection from Cambridge for medicine.

Loopyloulou · Post by **Loopyloulou** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:42 am

Reading is a marvellous place for Chemistry.

Amber · Post by **Amber** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:03 am

I remember distinctly having read somewhere, maybe at Oxfordâ€™s or UCASâ€™s website about having to declare the public exams you took even if the results were less than desirable. It surprised me when I read it and thatâ€™s why I remember it well . . .

But how would they know?

magwich2 · Post by **magwich2** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:55 am

Have just spoken to v v helpful lady in oxford admissions office. DD has 11A*s and 2As (Latin which was incredibly difficult and English Language [ thank y

ou so much beastly lazy english teacher now left thank the Lord!])Have been told that the 2 As are no problem whatsoever even for medecine which she is not applying for anyway.
I think the general impression I got was that lots and lots of grades not being A* would perhaps be a problem but several slip-ups were absolutely OK.
Have just seen mess I have made of typing this but have no idea how to amend - sorry!

moved · Post by **moved** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:36 am

Surely an appeal could be made as a percentage method is highly unfair.

It makes me worry about DS (yr 8 ) taking his French this year and German next year. He is predicted an A*/A for French. I need to speak to the teacher and DS and make sure that he can definitely obtain an A*.

T.i.p.s.y · Post by **T.i.p.s.y** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:39 pm

KenR, I can seriously recommend Aberdeen for medicine. It is one of the best in the country and I have connections there!

Awful place to live though unless you like golf and hill climbing/ski-ing!

Amber · Post by **Amber** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:19 pm

T.i.p.s.y wrote:KenR, I can seriously recommend Aberdeen for medicine. It is one of the best in the country and I have connections there! Awful place to live though unless you like golf and hill climbing/ski-ing!

Sorry, I really have to take issue with that. The area round Aberdeen is beautiful, the people friendly and Scotland a truly great country to be in. There are those of us who think certain parts of the south east would be 'awful places to live' but would not risk upsetting others by saying so. Please be careful - we all have feelings. A

T.i.p.s.y · Post by **T.i.p.s.y** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:23 pm

Well, being Scottish and having lived there for 5 years and my sister is a junior doctor up there it is not a fun place for students to be and every student I know says they cannot wait to get back to a more vibrant community. Beautiful does not mean it is not boring and Scotland has it's nice parts but it also has some of the worst places to live in the country. Always good to try and not to be too biased I think.

EDIT: At no point did I mention that the people were unfriendly!