Anonymous
09/04/2025 08:06
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Oxford mainly only cares about APs related to the course you're applying forAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
I can't find language that talks about the 2 year requirement.
My sophomore wants engineering. He likes the idea of studying abroad, but hasn't made any decisions about where to apply, so the goal is just to keep that door open.
He wants engineering which is a A*A*A course, and requires exams in math and physics. If he takes the exams in the years he takes the courses he'll have
8th grade
CSA
Freshmen year
Physics 1 and 2
2 other exams
Sophomore year
BC Calc
Chemistry
some other exams
Junior year
Biology
some other exams
Senior Year
Physics C -- both parts
some other exams
He's gotten a 5 on every thing so far, but of course who knows.
If he continues to get 5's, is the fact that BC was in 10th really going to mean that Oxbridge isn't an option? That seems nuts to me.
Are the “some other exams” APs? If so you’re fine. He has 3 STEM APs in 11/12 - bio and two physics. Toss in AP Lit, Lang, Euro, or whatever non-stem ones he also has happening.
Yes, he'll take a language exam or two, and probably AP Lit and Lang, APUSH etc . . .
Anonymous
09/04/2025 08:04
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
It's the interviews that go deep, not necessarily the UK curriculumAnonymous wrote:In our experience - it's not just the stats but the interview process. Our DC applied Oxford PPE and the level of specific questions from each of the three disciplines were very high (as UK system does deeper dive into specialty areas with A-levels than US highschools do)
Anonymous
09/04/2025 08:00
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
My kid graduated from Oxford three years ago so this is all dated but they had a conditional offer, needed two more APs of 5s and end of senior year. (He had more than 5 but some were freshman year. Or maybe freshman and sophomore?). Anyway. He took 3 AP classes and tests and retook an AP test he took freshman year just to make sure had two.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 07:55
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
My kid's offer to Oxford was contingent on "five APs with a score of 5"; it did not specify which subjects those APs had to be in. So as long as a kid has the numbers in junior and senior year, I don't think that having taken the subject ones in freshman or sophomore year would be a problem. Maybe there's a difference in STEM, but I doubt it.
When was this?
They have updated their US requirements recently. So if it was in the past couple years, its moot.
Was in the past couple of years. There might be variation by course, though. Some courses may require specific AP exams. My kid's did not.
Those courses where the subjects are not specified for exams, are the more unusual majors. Good for him though, that's a great result. Did he go?
DP: where do you find that courses have specified AP exams? I see Admissions Requirements for 2026 by course ( https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-requirements/admission-requirements-table ), which specifies essential, recommended, and helpful fields of study, along with required subject tests.
I also find Qualification Requirements for international students by country, which lays out that for some courses with required math, students must take Calc BC if available: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/for-international-students/international-qualifications
My DS is applying for PPE, which is one of the largest courses, I believe. They recommend "Maths" and say History is "helpful", but they do not mention anything about required AP exams. DS can't take AP Micro until senior year, so he won't have a score for it.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 01:33
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
My kid's offer to Oxford was contingent on "five APs with a score of 5"; it did not specify which subjects those APs had to be in. So as long as a kid has the numbers in junior and senior year, I don't think that having taken the subject ones in freshman or sophomore year would be a problem. Maybe there's a difference in STEM, but I doubt it.
When was this?
They have updated their US requirements recently. So if it was in the past couple years, its moot.
Was in the past couple of years. There might be variation by course, though. Some courses may require specific AP exams. My kid's did not.
Those courses where the subjects are not specified for exams, are the more unusual majors. Good for him though, that's a great result. Did he go?
Anonymous
09/03/2025 17:44
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
My kid's offer to Oxford was contingent on "five APs with a score of 5"; it did not specify which subjects those APs had to be in. So as long as a kid has the numbers in junior and senior year, I don't think that having taken the subject ones in freshman or sophomore year would be a problem. Maybe there's a difference in STEM, but I doubt it.
When was this?
They have updated their US requirements recently. So if it was in the past couple years, its moot.
Was in the past couple of years. There might be variation by course, though. Some courses may require specific AP exams. My kid's did not.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 16:09
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
My kid's offer to Oxford was contingent on "five APs with a score of 5"; it did not specify which subjects those APs had to be in. So as long as a kid has the numbers in junior and senior year, I don't think that having taken the subject ones in freshman or sophomore year would be a problem. Maybe there's a difference in STEM, but I doubt it.
When was this?
They have updated their US requirements recently. So if it was in the past couple years, its moot.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 15:15
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
I can't find language that talks about the 2 year requirement.
My sophomore wants engineering. He likes the idea of studying abroad, but hasn't made any decisions about where to apply, so the goal is just to keep that door open.
He wants engineering which is a A*A*A course, and requires exams in math and physics. If he takes the exams in the years he takes the courses he'll have
8th grade
CSA
Freshmen year
Physics 1 and 2
2 other exams
Sophomore year
BC Calc
Chemistry
some other exams
Junior year
Biology
some other exams
Senior Year
Physics C -- both parts
some other exams
He's gotten a 5 on every thing so far, but of course who knows.
If he continues to get 5's, is the fact that BC was in 10th really going to mean that Oxbridge isn't an option? That seems nuts to me.
Are the “some other exams” APs? If so you’re fine. He has 3 STEM APs in 11/12 - bio and two physics. Toss in AP Lit, Lang, Euro, or whatever non-stem ones he also has happening.
Yes, he'll take a language exam or two, and probably AP Lit and Lang, APUSH etc . . .
Anonymous
09/03/2025 12:47
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
I can't find language that talks about the 2 year requirement.
My sophomore wants engineering. He likes the idea of studying abroad, but hasn't made any decisions about where to apply, so the goal is just to keep that door open.
He wants engineering which is a A*A*A course, and requires exams in math and physics. If he takes the exams in the years he takes the courses he'll have
8th grade
CSA
Freshmen year
Physics 1 and 2
2 other exams
Sophomore year
BC Calc
Chemistry
some other exams
Junior year
Biology
some other exams
Senior Year
Physics C -- both parts
some other exams
He's gotten a 5 on every thing so far, but of course who knows.
If he continues to get 5's, is the fact that BC was in 10th really going to mean that Oxbridge isn't an option? That seems nuts to me.
Are the “some other exams” APs? If so you’re fine. He has 3 STEM APs in 11/12 - bio and two physics. Toss in AP Lit, Lang, Euro, or whatever non-stem ones he also has happening.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 10:06
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
I can't find language that talks about the 2 year requirement.
My sophomore wants engineering. He likes the idea of studying abroad, but hasn't made any decisions about where to apply, so the goal is just to keep that door open.
He wants engineering which is a A*A*A course, and requires exams in math and physics. If he takes the exams in the years he takes the courses he'll have
8th grade
CSA
Freshmen year
Physics 1 and 2
2 other exams
Sophomore year
BC Calc
Chemistry
some other exams
Junior year
Biology
some other exams
Senior Year
Physics C -- both parts
some other exams
He's gotten a 5 on every thing so far, but of course who knows.
If he continues to get 5's, is the fact that BC was in 10th really going to mean that Oxbridge isn't an option? That seems nuts to me.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 08:40
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
My kid's offer to Oxford was contingent on "five APs with a score of 5"; it did not specify which subjects those APs had to be in. So as long as a kid has the numbers in junior and senior year, I don't think that having taken the subject ones in freshman or sophomore year would be a problem. Maybe there's a difference in STEM, but I doubt it.
Anonymous
09/03/2025 07:33
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Crikey!
Anonymous
09/03/2025 06:52
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the 2 years rule?
Does an exam from sophomore year count?
If my kid has 5 or more 5’s in junior/senior year, but some of the obvious ones for his major were taken in freshman or sophomore year or earlier, will that be held against them?
Yes it counts against him. Read the OXford website
Anonymous
09/03/2025 06:34
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Your kid can always go to St Andrews. They take any full pay kid from the USA with a pulse.
Not true, but nothing wrong with having a kid at Stoxbridge.
Stoxbridge is not a thing to anyone except you
And the Guardian, gostudyin.com and you can even get a mug - https://urbandictionary.store/products/mug/stoxbridge-17636606
Anonymous
09/03/2025 06:05
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So I know what their new entry minimums are, and how they want AP's taken over 2 yrs and SAT scores to be higher from the start, not as a result of multiple sittings etc. I know about the subject entrance exams and I know about the interviews.
What I really would like to know, very specifically if any of your kids are attending Oxford this year (or recently)is
What was their actual SAT score. How many AP's did they get as 5's
That is all. Thank you.
1580 SAT. 11 APs, all 5s.
Thank you. This is exactly the range that I have been hearing.
Why would you trust anonymous posters?