An Admissions Tutor’s An Admissions Tutor’s

PerspectivePerspectiveAugust 25August 25thth, 2011, 2011

Dr Mike SewellAdmissions Tutor, Selwyn College

HOT TOPICSHOT TOPICS

A* at A LevelA* at A Level The IB and Cambridge offersThe IB and Cambridge offers Subject Choices and GuidanceSubject Choices and Guidance Admissions ResearchAdmissions Research Resources Resources Preparing and supporting applicantsPreparing and supporting applicants

A* AND CAMBRIDGEA* AND CAMBRIDGE

Of our AL offer-holders Of our AL offer-holders 94%+ achieved at least one A*94%+ achieved at least one A* And And 77%+ achieved at least two A*s77%+ achieved at least two A*s

Proportions achieving various numbers of A*s:Proportions achieving various numbers of A*s:

0                7% in 20100                7% in 2010 6.3% in 2011 6.3% in 2011 1               16%1               16% 16.5%16.5% 2               25%2               25% 23.3%23.3% 3               26%3               26% 27.8%27.8% 4               21%4               21% 22.9%22.9% 5+ 5+        5%        5% 3.2% 3.2%

Note: Some of the 0 A* students achieved at least 1 in 2010; Note: Some of the 0 A* students achieved at least 1 in 2010; Some with 0 A* will not have been confirmedSome with 0 A* will not have been confirmed..

A* CONTINUEDA* CONTINUED

7469 A* grades (6973 last year) among 7469 A* grades (6973 last year) among 2934 students holding conditional offers2934 students holding conditional offers

53.3% of these A* grades (3977) were 53.3% of these A* grades (3977) were

achieved by students attending UK achieved by students attending UK maintained sector schools and colleges maintained sector schools and colleges

41.6% (3107) were achieved by students 41.6% (3107) were achieved by students attending UK independent schools. attending UK independent schools.

A*, PART IIIA*, PART III

This is in line with proportions of offers This is in line with proportions of offers mademade

Our offer-holders averaged 2.55 A* Our offer-holders averaged 2.55 A* grades each, 2.4 in 2010grades each, 2.4 in 2010

Independent school applicants averaged Independent school applicants averaged 2.65, maintained sector students 2.472.65, maintained sector students 2.47

Any disparity can be accounted for by Any disparity can be accounted for by the availability of Further Maths A Levelthe availability of Further Maths A Level

2011 RESULTS: OTHER 2011 RESULTS: OTHER MATTERSMATTERS

Re-marks will raise the number of A* Re-marks will raise the number of A* AAA* offer may have driven AAA* offer may have driven

performance upperformance up EPQ EPQ gradesgrades not considered or part of not considered or part of

offersoffers Pre-U: D1 and D2, few D3 gradesPre-U: D1 and D2, few D3 grades IB predictions and results remain an IB predictions and results remain an

issueissue

SUBJECTS AND CHOICESSUBJECTS AND CHOICES

Contrary to what the press allegesContrary to what the press alleges All open and nothing hiddenAll open and nothing hidden Fitness for purpose the keyFitness for purpose the key Not subject title or noveltyNot subject title or novelty Colleges offer guidance Colleges offer guidance So too the University’s collective So too the University’s collective

websitewebsite

SUBJECT MATTERSSUBJECT MATTERS

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/docs/subjectmatters.pdf

SUBJECT MATTERS, 2SUBJECT MATTERS, 2

Essential/required subjects Keystone subjects Useful subjects Other subjects Combinations of subjects

http://www.cam.ac.uk/http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/admissions/undergraduate/

teachers/teachers/

INCLUDESINCLUDES

A guide for teachers/advisersA guide for teachers/advisers A guide for parents/supportersA guide for parents/supporters Cambridge/Oxford differencesCambridge/Oxford differences Events/CPDEvents/CPD Behind the HeadlinesBehind the Headlines Admissions ResearchAdmissions Research

ADMISSIONS RESEARCHADMISSIONS RESEARCH

Our OFFA Targets and how we came Our OFFA Targets and how we came to themto them

AS/A2 Level modular performance AS/A2 Level modular performance and the Triposand the Tripos

School sectors and the TriposSchool sectors and the Tripos IB and the TriposIB and the Tripos Watch the space there will be moreWatch the space there will be more

ADMISSIONS RESEARCH, 2ADMISSIONS RESEARCH, 2

STEP the best (for Maths)STEP the best (for Maths) UMS strongly correlates to our examsUMS strongly correlates to our exams BMAT, GCSE correlate, but less stronglyBMAT, GCSE correlate, but less strongly TSA also helpfulTSA also helpful Exam correlations not affected by Exam correlations not affected by

school typeschool type IB correlations interestingIB correlations interesting

THERE IS NO ‘SECTOR GAP’ IN THERE IS NO ‘SECTOR GAP’ IN CAMBRIDGE EXAM PERFORMANCECAMBRIDGE EXAM PERFORMANCE

www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/research/

THE IB AND SCIENCESTHE IB AND SCIENCES

THE IB AND NON-SCIENCESTHE IB AND NON-SCIENCES

CAMBRIDGE DEVELOPMENTSCAMBRIDGE DEVELOPMENTS

Different approach from Oxford Law Test, TSA and other tests alongside interviews Interviews Statement and references important AS/A2 module scores vital Successful applicants average better than 93% in their best/most relevant three subjects

GUIDING APPLICANTSGUIDING APPLICANTS

Course choice first, university second The importance of Year 11 choices GCSE results matter AS results are vital Realism and ambition It is never too early to do extra-curricular

reading an academic engagement

PREPARING STUDENTSPREPARING STUDENTS

Exam record is crucial Interview is only one element of the

assessment Conversations about academic matters Academic focus not extra-curricular Discussion of recent work and new ideas Extended projects may be good material

MORE INFORMATIONMORE INFORMATION

Additional information is available in our

prospectus and on our websites at:www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/ Contact Admissions Tutors in the Colleges Ask questions!