What GCSE Grades do I Need for Oxbridge?

What GCSE Grades Do I Need to Get into Oxbridge?

This is the tricky part. There are no grade requirements for GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications, meaning there is no hard and fast rule about what you need to achieve at GCSE. For both Oxford and Cambridge, A-level (or equivalent) grades are much more important than GCSE grades.

However, since you apply only with predicted A-level grades, the universities do use the GCSE grades you have already achieved as proof of your academic performance in an exam setting. As such, most successful applicants tend to have mostly grades 7, 8, and 9 at GCSE.

The Bottom Line

There are no hard rules for GCSE grades to get you into Oxford or Cambridge. Both universities will look at your GCSE results as an indicator of your academic performance and work ethic, but will consider grades within the context of your personal or school situation. Most applicants have grades 7, 8, and 9 in their GCSEs, but applicants with some lower grades may still have a chance due to the greater importance of predicted A-level grades, admissions test performance, and the personal statement.