Do You Need 4 A Levels for Oxbridge?

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Most people believe that it’s the grades you get in your A levels that matter when applying to Oxbridge. However, this is not true. The number of subjects you take, and the subjects you study actually matter more than your four A level grades. So what are 4 things other than grades which can help send an application off with a bang?

It’s a common misconception that you need to have 4 A levels for Oxbridge. In fact, many students end up with 3 or 2 A levels and still get in because they excel in other areas such as work experience, leadership positions, extracurriculars etc. We’re going to explore the different ways of getting into Oxbridge with less than 4 A Levels below:

Oxbridge offer a number of scholarships that don’t require an applicant to have any qualifications at all – these are often awarded based on merit so it’s worth applying regardless of what grades you have!  – some universities will accept applicants who haven’t achieved enough points for their desired course if they can show evidence that they’ve got something else interesting going

So what are 4 things other than grades which can increase your chances of being accepted without the 4 A levels!

1) Get involved in extracurricular activities.

This is important for a number of reasons. First, it demonstrates to the university that you’re committed and have more going on in your life than just your school work – this can reassure them that there is actually a person behind the grades who could make an interesting member of their community! Second, extracurriculars allow you to explore what interests you outside of your studies and help you figure out what your passions are. This is important for a number of reasons. It allows the university to see that you’ve got outside interests and know yourself (two qualities which they love in candidates!), second, if it turns out that this isn’t actually something at which you’re particularly gifted then it’s probably not worth wasting your time on.

This doesn’t have to be anything special – it can be as simple as being a member of your local youth theatre or joining the school football team. Showing that you are passionate about something and committed enough to see it through is an impressive quality, especially if there’s evidence in the form of testimonials from adults/people higher up.

2) Work on personal skills like communication and teamwork

Universities are looking for a student who fits into their university community so demonstrating that you have skills that will help you fit in is important. This doesn’t necessarily mean being an extrovert but rather having the ability to be part of a team and communicate effectively with your teachers and peers.

This demonstrates that not only can you get good grades but you can actively contribute to the learning environment and are able to work with others. Again, this doesn’t mean trying every extracurricular activity under the sun – it’s about showing that you have these skills by demonstrating them in other ways.

A teacher smiling at camera in classroom

3) Build your network

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” This phrase has been true for many people in order to get into such a prestigious university. In your college or university years, it may be just as important to have connections with the right people as it is to have good grades. This can be done by applying for a position in the student union, working on an organisation committee or joining a society.

This shows that there are people out there who think highly of you (and may be able to write good references!)

4) Apply for bursaries to reduce costs associated with the university you

When applying for a scholarship, it’s important that you’ve got evidence that shows why you’re deserving of the award. This can be in terms of past grades but also other qualities such as leadership positions and extracurricular activities etc. It’s extremely rare that students are awarded scholarships without having some kind of qualification associated with them.

I hope that this article has given you a better idea of what this university is looking for in students applying to them! If you need help with your A Level then you can also consider a revision course during half term. We run them throughout the year but you need to book early especially our Easter Half Term Revision Course for GCSE and A Level students.

If you, or your parents would like to find out more, please just get in touch via email at info@exam.tips or call us on 0800 689 1272

If you, or your parents would like to find out more, please just get in touch via email at info@exam.tips or call us on 0800 689 1272

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