# of AP tests required for private school students applying to Oxbridge

[Anonymous]

I've read the website and it stated clearly (5) AP tests are required for Oxbridge. However, when speaking with our private school (NYC) college counselor, she said (3) is needed, and that she's not aware it's 5. Our school has sent kids to Oxbridge quite frequently, so I assume they have experience with UK schools.

Anyone know if the requirements may be different depending on what high school you're applying from? Our school do not have AP classes.

I find that so strange, and want to hear from other private school parents.

[Anonymous]

Oxford and Cambridge have different requirements. Here’s my understanding but I’m not an expert on UK admissions so welcome any corrections.

For Oxford’s highest level requirements,
“For courses requiring A*A*A:

Either Four APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to)

OR

Three APs at grade 5 (including any subjects required for the course you are applying to) plus a score of 33 or above in the ACT or 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT. “

Cambridge:
“If you are applying to Cambridge, we would expect you to achieve five or more Advanced Placement (AP) Scores at grade 5.”

[Anonymous]

Each college at each of Oxford and Cambridge and each course might have slightly different requirements so you need to check the website. But it’s not going to be different for private school kids!

[Anonymous]

I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

[Anonymous]

There is a HUGE thread in here about this. Search function is your friend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a HUGE thread in here about this. Search function is your friend

That thread veered off. However, here's a question that might be relevant.

LSE, Oxford etc. state that APs should be taken within 2 (or 3 years) of starting the course. Has anyone had a positive experience if APs (e.g. Calc BC, Physics C etc) taken in the freshman/sophomore years? The Calc BC score would be over 3 years old in this example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

[Anonymous]

OP it was 3 until very recently (2023 I think) but it has definitely gone up to 5

My DD applied to Oxford this year, with 3 x 5's in required subjects for her chosen major and took 2 more AP's in May, which would have also needed to be graded as 5's if she had received an offer of attendance. She didn't receive an offer though she went quite far thru the process, and she is going elsewhere in the UK.

Other UK universities are also asking for 5 x AP's at 5. Most notably LSE but also places like Warwick and Bath for their more competitive STEM subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I applied in 1999 as a lower middle class Army brat living in Illinois. Had 3 5s on AP exams and received an unconditional offer. I flew alone to England - before cell phones and handheld internet - at the age of 17 for the interview. I went and experienced the most surreal years of my life. My impression is it is all very different now.

Oh? How so?

I want hear how you afforded fees + travel and on which course…plus Yanks weren’t allowed to work part-time unlike now, had to register with police, open banking account with Barclays or a building soc w/required minimum subsistence etc

[Anonymous]

No, OP, no special treatment for private school kids. That stops at the border.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Why aren't you consulting the Oxford and Cambridge websites instead of relying on a random college counselor? That's very risky.

3 years ago when I was looking at UK unis for my son, I recall the AP requirements were different for Ox and Cam. PLEASE do your due diligence and follow the actual websites' instructions! They are very specific and not flexible!

Also pay attention to deadline. Some of them occur much earlier than the typical American college deadlines.

In short, do your research and be prepared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,

Why aren't you consulting the Oxford and Cambridge websites instead of relying on a random college counselor? That's very risky.

3 years ago when I was looking at UK unis for my son, I recall the AP requirements were different for Ox and Cam. PLEASE do your due diligence and follow the actual websites' instructions! They are very specific and not flexible!

Also pay attention to deadline. Some of them occur much earlier than the typical American college deadlines.

In short, do your research and be prepared.

OP here: I did check the websites which stated (5) APs - mainly looked at Cambridge because my impression that it's more STEM-y than Oxford, which is what my DC wants to study. And it's not a "random" college counselor - it's the college counselor at our private school which sends 40% to top T10 every year, and have sent kids to Oxbridge pretty consistently over the years.

That's why I'm confused and came here to ask this question. it didn't make sense to me (answer: looks like Oxford has the lower AP requirement, and Cambridge needs more).

I also want to thank everyone else who has responded - many very useful answers here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,

Why aren't you consulting the Oxford and Cambridge websites instead of relying on a random college counselor? That's very risky.

3 years ago when I was looking at UK unis for my son, I recall the AP requirements were different for Ox and Cam. PLEASE do your due diligence and follow the actual websites' instructions! They are very specific and not flexible!

Also pay attention to deadline. Some of them occur much earlier than the typical American college deadlines.

In short, do your research and be prepared.

OP here: I did check the websites which stated (5) APs - mainly looked at Cambridge because my impression that it's more STEM-y than Oxford, which is what my DC wants to study. And it's not a "random" college counselor - it's the college counselor at our private school which sends 40% to top T10 every year, and have sent kids to Oxbridge pretty consistently over the years.

That's why I'm confused and came here to ask this question. it didn't make sense to me (answer: looks like Oxford has the lower AP requirement, and Cambridge needs more).

I also want to thank everyone else who has responded - many very useful answers here!

But... there's no confusion. You answered your own question by looking at the websites. They are the definitive authority on their own requirements.

College counselors in high schools are not that great. It doesn't matter if it's a fancy private or a bad public, OP. Please take everything they say with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College counselors in high schools are not that great. It doesn't matter if it's a fancy private or a bad public, OP. Please take everything they say with a grain of salt.

Even for those that are great, there are lots of details that change year by year. It's fine to ask, but I wouldn't expect one to know the up-to-date requirements of every school without checking the website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College counselors in high schools are not that great. It doesn't matter if it's a fancy private or a bad public, OP. Please take everything they say with a grain of salt.

Even for those that are great, there are lots of details that change year by year. It's fine to ask, but I wouldn't expect one to know the up-to-date requirements of every school without checking the website.

No you wouldn't expect it, but you should.