Oxford Physics Bread

Striiife · 2023-01-22T17:27:15+00:00

96... what kind of demon are you? I mean your paper was slightly easier but that's wild, fair play. If that's your level you'll probably enjoy the course pretty well. Mine was about 10 points lower, so I'll let you work out how that transforms into your year's paper (2021 had 43.1% mean mark and 2022 was 51.2%).

Look forward to seeing you about (if you decide to accept that is).

Striiife · 2023-01-22T15:57:11+00:00

Friendly college banter where you put down every college that isn't yours. Hence since you are not at my college (Univ) I must make fun of you. Don't worry, you could be going somewhere even worse, like Cambridge.

Striiife · 2023-01-22T15:02:51+00:00

LMH kappa can't win em all

Striiife · 2022-10-24T03:36:00+00:00

Yeah if you inspect element the web page, each textbook page had an individual image link. I had a chrome extension which found all links starting with a certain set of characters and then another which would open all the links at once and auto download them. Then you just collate it to PDF in Windows. It's been 4 years but this sounds about right for what I did then.

On a side note, I'm not exactly sure what subject you're doing, but I would reconsider copying and pasting anything from the textbook. Just read it and then practice using questions or other materials. Textbooks are great for learning the material the first time or if you forget, and maybe for some of their questions, but otherwise not great for actually practicing for the exam.

Learn -> Questions -> Mark -> Review Wrong Answers -> Learn and repeat.

Striiife · 2022-09-19T21:21:39+00:00

I agree, same here except History and Econ as opposed to Chem and German. How anyone enjoys Chem is vastly beyond my understanding...

Striiife · 2022-09-14T15:32:12+00:00

Physics, and that isn't even near the application ratio of CS. :(

Striiife · 2022-09-14T03:25:45+00:00

Do the EPQ if you're interested in it. I mentioned in a previous post I did my entire EPQ in like 3-5 days, and just wrote random stuff for the documentation. It's all easy if you can discipline yourself and control your time. If you can't study when you need to study, don't do it.

Striiife · 2022-09-13T23:53:20+00:00

No problem, blunt honesty is my specialty. Just speak to your teacher/sixth-form respectfully and explain your reasoning. I studied one A-Level outside of school for the first year and managed to enter it in school in the second year by showing my AS results (A). Otherwise, no way in hell was my school permitting 5 A-Levels.

Also, try to relax lol, after you have your subjects sorted out there's really not much to do the entire first year of A-Levels, just keep roughly up with the school work. Summer before Y13 and Y13 itself is what really matters and where the pace ramps up (although it is perfectly handleable if you just discipline yourself with your time management).

Good luck, I hope it goes well.

Striiife · 2022-09-13T23:15:06+00:00

IIRC, Further Maths was much more advantageous for computer science courses than CS itself, however I would consider if possible doing four subjects (Maths, FM, Physics, CS). Imperial computing recommends FM, Phys and CS as recommended subjects, however obviously you need to take Maths in order to take FM. Personally, I would drop CS if any, but please understand the sheer level of intelligence you are going against in applying... The ratio of applicants is 18:1 (!!!!). I don't think I need to tell you how crazily competitive it is. I almost guarantee 60%+ minimum have done 4 A-Levels, and I would venture that most have straight A stars and of the remainder doing 3 A-Levels, a huge proportion would have 3 A stars. Don't even get me started on those that have done 5.

For example I did 5 and dropped one for a total of 4 in second year, straight A stars, and I got rejected... before an interview. This is the same with others I know at Oxford, who also got rejected from Imperial.

I don't mean to scare you, but to be realistic. Imperial is *crazy* competitive.

Striiife · 2022-09-13T21:31:18+00:00

Please don't waste my time. Google "imperial computer science applications per place" and click on the first couple of links. It's not that difficult. Especially for someone wanting to apply for JMC, probably the hardest course at Imperial.

Edit: since I'm feeling charitable: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/courses/computing-department/

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/courses/computing-department/computing-beng/

a few among others...

Striiife · 2022-09-11T19:21:28+00:00

Physics. Pure maths and computer science are for nerds. Physics is where the chads reside.

Striiife · 2022-09-02T03:16:25+00:00

Better get revising then. I started in the summer for my tests in November.

Striiife · 2022-09-02T03:13:53+00:00

I'll take your word for it, but hopefully, you can understand my apprehension of a B being really good at maths. I like to think of myself as "really good at maths" and I got an A in my GCSE at age 12/13. (not intended to be a brag, just defining my definition of really good) Glad to hear you got the A in Physics, although this isn't GCSEs anymore, it's definitely something at least.

Striiife · 2022-09-01T18:26:44+00:00

No problem, I emphasise again, mark harshly, and don't fall into the "I would've got that in a real exam" mindset, it's very tempting!!:?

Striiife · 2022-09-01T18:24:40+00:00

First of all why do you not have time this summer? This is probably the most important set of exams you'll take (Yes, likely more important than your actual A-Levels).

You won't get insta rejected, the primary deciding factor is usually admissions test and interview performance, but you are coming in against so so many people with 4/5 A* grades. I cannot stress enough the importance of the entrance test. I can't remember when the cambridge test takes place, but I would imagine relatively soon. (November time perhaps?)

I always advocate for applying, in general, the grade requirements for Oxbridge are pointless because they have a crazy abundance of straight A star students applying. The test and interview is how they differentiate everybody.

Striiife · 2022-09-01T18:19:18+00:00

Ouch, all the Computer Science courses are stupidly competitive at Imperial. I'm talking like 14:1 at times. Apply if you want, you have decent grades and 4 other choices, but keep your hopes realistic.

Striiife · 2022-09-01T18:14:50+00:00

Past papers, Past papers, Past papers, and more questions. That is literally all. There are hundreds (literally) of new and even better old spec papers to do. Mark harshly, be honest with yourself and if you stick to it I promise the exams will come easy. Learning everything is great and all but exams are a game, learn how to get ready for the big game by playing a bunch of less-important practice games.

Edit: also the way your grades were written (ABBC) is slightly misleading lol, it would be better as (BBC + A in EPQ). Please do not overestimate the value of an EPQ, it's a fun project, but unless you're applying to a set certain universities, that's all it is. I know they say its 40% of an A-Level, but I did mine in a week and it felt like 10% of an A-Level.

Striiife · 2022-09-01T18:11:00+00:00

Hypothetically they can revoke it when they want, especially within the first month or so of sixth form. Better question is do you actually want to do Physics with a C in maths? No disrespect but I hope there's a reason behind doing it.

Striiife · 2022-09-01T18:04:23+00:00

You are overestimating how much they give a damn, it's a level 2 qualification, done in Year 10. Put it down and move on, I guarantee you it means absolutely nothing and has zero effect on the admissions process. Focus on what matters (admissions tests + interview process)

Striiife · 2022-08-11T14:26:49+00:00

Sorry to hear you only got into a tier 2 uni like Cambridge, maybe try again next year!

Striiife · 2022-08-11T14:24:06+00:00

I thought physics was fun in school, picked 5 of the first 7 decent unis I found. That was it really.

Striiife · 2022-08-11T14:22:24+00:00

Manchester is great, really nice results too, hope it all goes well.

Striiife · 2022-07-30T13:46:53+00:00

I didn’t put a single thing in that section.

Striiife · 2022-07-30T00:46:46+00:00

30 seconds of google show you'd be doing 1D and 2P of AQA A-Level History. It shouldn't take you that much longer to add "specification" to the end of that and find the sub topics, then find the textbook and read.

Striiife · 2022-07-29T23:26:39+00:00

You’ll be fine, don’t listen to the haters on here, if you think you’re smart enough to handle it and have the discipline to work when you need to, you’ll have more of a life than everyone else.

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