Does Cambridge accept students who narrowly fail to get the entry requirements? I have to get AAA in my A-levels plus 1 in STEP II "or" II in STEP III. What if I got AAB+12?

Yes they do sometimes accept narrow failures. The truth is you've already done by far the hardest part in receiving an offer in the first place. If you got AAB + 11 I'm sure you'd be fine. AAB+12 is touch and go. They'd might let you off if the B wasn't in (further) maths (as I'm sure it wouldn't be). Which college are you going for?

Yours,

Michael

It depends on the college, about half of the people at my college failed their requirements and got in, I expect that probably carries through to the rest of the university. I think they set their requirements high so that they aren't forced to accept more people than they can handle.

Hello Michael,

I am pretty sure that I will get AA in maths and further maths, I have already got a 1 in STEP I (which I did in my first year A-level) and I think I'll get a 1 in STEP II but I am not so sure about STEP III (as I managed to do only four questions). Also I am not 100% sure about physics but I will get a B in the worst case. I have applied to Queens' College.

So what do you reckon? Will they accept me?

By they way, you asked about college. I am study at Southgate College and not a single student has taken STEP papers in the past 40 years or so (as my maths teacher told me)!

Thanks a lot

I would think so. Personally I think they have judged you at the interview, and the formal offer is only to make sure you keep working towards something. But that's just me. Certainly if you fail only narrowly. From first glance, and Q1/2 STEP III seems easier than STEP II to me.

Unfortunately I think Neil may be correct that the interview is the dominant selector. I object to this on general grounds; I think exams are much fairer (though not perfect).

If you've got 4 complete questions out, you'll get a 1 in Maths III, almost certainly. Here are the grade boundaries for a 1 in the last few years:

1997 - 59/120 (3 very complete questions)
1998 - 68/120 (4 questions, maybe with a few errors, though you must have the right method for all 4)
1999 - 70/120 (same)

I think the 2000 paper was the easiest of the lot personally (just scraping 1999), so the grade boundary will be higher. Maybe 80-85 for a 1. But if you got all 4 right you'd be on the border-line for 1/2. And as you've got all the credit through complete solutions rather than isolated fragments, they'd rule in your favour and give you a 1. (It was therefore very sensible to only attempt 4 rather than to attempt 6 badly). I really can't see them rejecting someone with a grade 1 in each of STEP Maths 1-3, even with a B in physics. And even if they did, you might get a place at another college through the summer pool, due to the strong STEP grades.

And even if you do get rejected... so what? While Cambridge is an excellent place to study maths, from the evidence I have it isn't in a different league to the other leading universities.

Yours,

Michael

It is important that you realise that there are differences between colleges, and don't rely on what any one person says here. Some colleges have very demanding interviews, some give AAA11 offers. In the latter case, they may well not fill their places with people who have made the offer, and so if you miss narrowly, you have a fair chance.

If you are trying to choose a college, and go to any Open Days, you can always ask about their typical offer, and the ratio of offers to places. If you ask an Admissions Tutor, bear in mind that it will depend a great deal on the subject.