Oxbridge Information Evening

1. Oxbridge Information Evening www.ox.ac.uk www.cam.ac.uk

2. Applications in General • All university applications are made electronically through UCAS • Students may apply for 5 courses • However if applying for medicine this reduces to 4 medical courses – the 5th application must be for a non-medical degree • Offers are made on the basis of predicted grades • Students accept 2 offers – 1 as their preferred choice, the 2nd should be an ‘insurance’ offer that they will take up if they fail to get the grades needed for their 1st choice

3. Why are Oxbridge Applications Different? • The deadline for these applications is much earlier – October 11 as opposed to January 12 • They often involve additional tests that need to be taken – usually in advance of A levels • For Arts courses in particular, they often involve sending exemplar work • They always involve an interview • The competition for places is incredibly high • They require exceptional examination results – A*AA for Cambridge, A*AA/AAA for Oxford

4. Oxbridge • May not apply for both Oxford and Cambridge • May not apply for more than one Oxbridge course • Minimum offers for Oxford will be AAA. Minimum offers for Cambridge will be A*AA

5. Full list of courses at Oxford asking for at least one A* • Biological sciences (A*AA, with A* in a science or maths) • Chemistry (A*AA, with A* in a science or maths) • Computer Science (A*AA, with A* in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics or Computing) • Computer Science and Philosophy (A*AA, with A* in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics or Computing) • Earth Sciences (A*AA) • Engineering Science (A*AA, with A* in Mathematics, Physics or Further Mathematics) • Engineering, Economics and Management (A*AA, with A* in Mathematics, Physics or Further Mathematics) • Materials Science (A*AA) • Materials, Economics and Management (A*AA) • Mathematics (A*A*A, with the A*s in Mathematics and Further Mathematics if taken) • Mathematics and Computer Science (A*AA, with the A* in either Mathematics or Further Mathematics) • Mathematics and Philosophy (A*A*A, with the A*s in Mathematics and Further Mathematics if taken) • Mathematics and Statistics (A*A*A, with the A*s in Mathematics and Further Mathematics if taken) • Physics (A*AA, with A* in either Physics or Mathematics) • Physics and Philosophy (A*AA, with A* in either Physics or Mathematics)

6. Teaching at Oxbridge – The College Based SystemThe teaching in Oxford and Cambridge is broken down into two main components; university based teaching and college based teaching Students can choose a college based on where they want to live: location, facilities, accommodation, size, gender etc. If musical, there might want to consider colleges that have active ensembles etc. They may also want to look at the academic interests of the Admissions Tutor for their subject. They should investigate colleges using the University website but should draw up a shortlist of no more than 3 to visit on open days.

7. Applying to a College In Cambridge it is possible to make an open application, rather than to a specific college. The University claims there is no disadvantage in making an open application. Students should only be wary of these if: • There is a particular college that they do not want, for example, single sex colleges. • The application is quirky or unusual in some way, perhaps with a strange combination of subjects that might require negotiations/discussions with the college before application • If they have a disability that might preclude some of the older colleges • If applying for deferred entry. This is particularly important if applying to study maths as many colleges frown on maths applicants taking a gap year • Students under 18 – some colleges are reluctant to accept underage students now because of child protection legislation Oxford operates an intercollegiate applications system that may mean that applicants may not be offered a place at the college they applied to but instead may be offered an alternative place.

8. Mechanics of Application • Students should base applications on a desire to do a particular course. The best way to do this is to read the prospectus carefully, attend open days and speak to current undergraduates. • Once students have decided on a particular course they need to complete an electronic UCAS form. The deadline for applications is 15th October 2011. • If applying for Cambridge, could consider whether it would be appropriate to apply through the Cambridge Special Access Scheme (CSAS). Incidents where this would be appropriate might include where a student is a first generation university applicant; where the student has suffered long-term illness; where a student has special educational needs; a student whose education as been significantly disrupted due to staffing issues at school. A CSAS must be supported and evidenced by the school

9. Information Required Before Interview • Cambridge will send students a Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) asking for more information – including AS module UMS. • For many arts based courses at both Oxford and Cambridge, students will be required to submit written work. Students will be asked about this at interview. • Maths applicants at Cambridge will be required to complete a ‘step’ paper in June – the required Step grade will be part of the offer. Maths applicants (and Computer Science) at Oxford take the Maths Applicants Test • English Literature at Oxford requires a ELAT test. History requires a HAT test • Economics applicants at Oxford take a TSA test. • Vet/Medicine applicants (and Biomedical Science at Oxford) will take a BMAT test that requires them to apply their GCSE knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths to a problem. • Law at Oxford requires the LNAT test for critical thinking and analysis. Cambridge have their own Law test. • BMAT, LNAT, ELAT, TSA and STEP all have own websites where students can practice before taking tests

10. Who gets an Interview • Oxford asks around 80% of applicants to take a test as part of their application. Tutors then shortlist applicants based on students’ applications and performance in the test. Where applications are around three per place, over 90% of applicants are shortlisted. For the most competitive degrees, this may be only 30%, to allow those who most closely meet the selection criteria to have multiple interviews. AS level grades and UMS scores are not a key element in shortlisting. • At Cambridge only applicants for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine are required to take a test before interview. Tutors do relatively little shortlisting, and interview over 80% of their undergraduate applicants. Usually an average of 85% UMS across the three most relevant AS subjects will guarantee an interview. AS level grades and UMS scores are considered alongside all the other information available to selectors both in deciding which applicants will be invited to interview and which will be offered a place.

11. Format of the Interviews • Applicants who are invited to interview in Cambridge are normally interviewed in one College, often on a single day. A College may be impressed by a student’s application but be unable to make an offer because of the strength of the competition at that College. In this case the application will be placed in the ‘Winter Pool’ and perhaps picked up by another College, who may make the applicant an offer or may ask them to attend a second interview in January. • Applicants invited to interview in Oxford will usually stay for at least a couple of days, and may have interviews at more than one College during their stay. For some subjects the interviews at a second College are automatic for all applicants • Most applicants receive two interviews of 20-30 minutes each • They are subject-focused, academic discussions, led by lecturers, who hope to see candidates thinking challenging problems through for themselves • Good knowledge and technical skill are more important to interview success than is sometimes supposed • Applicants should be themselves and try to avoid the temptation to ‘perform’ or second-guess what is going on

12. Cambridge Advice for Candidates Key Things to get Right • Examination results • Choice of subject and course • Wider reading and exploration • Revision in advance of interview Common Pitfalls • ‘Wrong’ subject or course – an especially common occurrence in Economics, Law and Medicine • Too many subjects in Years 12 and/or 13 • Little or no wider reading and/or other exploration • Insufficient critical engagement • Little or no revision in advance of interview • At interview, rehearsed answers, insistence upon ‘performing’, lack of clarity or flexibility of thought, unwillingness to admit to perceived weakness or explain thinking

13. Engagement and EnthusiasmThe Personal Statement The Personal Statement (along with the reference) is a crucial document and it is from this that admissions tutors often decide on the merit of the application. It is very difficult for a student to claw back an initial bad impression given by a weak or vague personal statement. The personal statement must be closely focused on the subject being applied for A successful Oxbridge applicant must show genuine enthusiasm for their subject and a lot of ‘reading around’. For example: • In English Literature they would like texts understood in detail rather than lots of wider reading barely remembered but they would expect all applicants to be very well read and will test this vigorously at interview • Law personal statements are particularly problematic – most Law applicants seem purely motivated by money. All applicants would be expected to have a grasp and interest in any current legal issues that are in the news • ‘Reading round’ the subject in Engineering may be of a more practical nature – an interest in building and flying model aeroplanes for example • This is the key thing – if you are not passionate about the subject – don’t waste the application – they will spot it and you will not get a place

14. Main Differences between Oxford and Cambridge Courses • Assessment at Oxford is entirely dependant on passing the final exam at the end of the third year. Cambridge assessment is more evenly divided between the three terms • It is possible to study for joint honours at Oxford but not at Cambridge • Cambridge offers the Cambridge Special Access Scheme • Students of Science at Cambridge must study all three sciences (physics, chemistry and biology) in the first year before specialising thereafter. In Oxford student will specialise from the start of their degree There are many more subtle differences in individual courses between Oxford and Cambridge. You must familiarise yourself with the details of courses by checking both the faculty and college prospectus

15. What Cambridge look for • Very strong exam record, especially in Years 12 and 13 • Excellent school/college reference • Appropriate choice of subject and course • Good test performance (BMAT) and high-quality submitted written work (Arts subjects) • Academic potential, meaning: knowledge and skill; logic and clarity of thought; intellectual flexibility; imagination • Seek students whose academic record places them in approximately the top 3% of the ability range • Most successful Cambridge applicants have an AS UMS average (across their best or most relevant three subjects) of comfortably above 90% • The mean AS average of students receiving offers from a range of Cambridge Colleges in 2010/11 was 94-96% • There is no minimum required number of A*s at GCSE, though most successful applicants achieved A* in most of their GCSEs

16. Oxford English Literature – 2 students 4.5 A* at GCSE, 90% av at AS 4.5 A* at GCSE, 90% av at AS Physics – 1 student 9.5 A* at GCSE, 92% av at AS Cambridge Natural Science – 2 students 10 A* at GCSE, 99% av at AS 9.5 A* at GCSE, 96% av at AS Economics – 1 student 8.5 A* at GCSE, 97% av at AS Land Economy – 1 student 12.5 A* at GCSE, 93% av at AS Linguistics – 1 student 1 A* at GCSE, 89% av at AS Last Year at SJL

17. Open Days Oxford • 6th and 7th July 2011 Cambridge • 7th and 8th July 2011