Anonymous
09/04/2025 17:02
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote: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 . . .
I'm the PP above who listed classes. I had my kid email Cambridge. I chose it over Oxford, because I heard it's stronger in engineering.
Cambridge emailed back quickly and said that as long as he has Calculus and Physics C somewhere, and he's planning 5 AP's his senior year, he's good (assuming 5's).
So, I think they are looking for two things. One is do they have the required content -- which for Engineering is Calc and Physics C. The other is can they handle the work load of multiple AP level classes in a single year. That makes sense to me, that handling workload would be a high priority.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 16:26
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote: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.
They will require a "predicted" score for that AP Micro, officially from the school counselor, as part of the application. Without it they won't progress the student towards the interview stage.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 16:24
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote: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 . . .
I would rephrase that slightly to Oxford cares about the AP courses you're taking and how these can apply to your major. So if you're applying for Experimental Psychology and you've got Chem, Bio, Stats, Calc and English Lang you have an advantage because most A level students applying for this course who are taking only 3 A levels (the standard) will unlikely be taking English Language. But if you have that as an AP they know you'll be able to handle the essay content of the course, of which there is quite a lot at different stages of the 3 yr program.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 16:22
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote: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.
Sorry to confuse. The subject majors usually ask for A level subjects as a) required b) suggested or none specifically required. The key in this information is to mirror those subject requirements with the AP choices. Given they are looking for a minimum of 5 APs now, it means you can target ALL the required and / or suggested for certain STEM courses, covering Physics, Bio, Chem, Math, and 1 other.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 08:07
Subject: Stats for kids attending Oxford UK from the US
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting this. Can you be competitive with the minimum requirements? Our school limits APs so our DC will fulfill the minimum AP requirement. SAT will be determined soon.
I am the OP. Yes, if your kid's SAT score is high and they do very well in any Oxford subject tests that may be required. My own DD missed the cut off grade in the subject test by 10 pts. and was told she wouldn't then proceed to interview as a result. Everything else was aligned. No interview = no offers.
Thanks. I have a kid who is very lopsided - very strong in the humanities, so I was thinking applying to a specialized course could fit his interests. He's taking the SAT soon and hoping for 1500+. They say they no longer require a subject test for his course. So it's basically the APs. I'm just not sure if I want to open up anothee application process as we'll need to let our school know and it looks like very few kids have applied in the past 10 years. And the Oxford essay seems very different from the common app one, so he'll have to write another essay.
I also don't want to regret not trying as the US process seems so random. He also won a prestigious UK based award (maybe it won't weigh much in the process...)
UCAS essays are very different from common app essays, make sure he reads a few online to get a feel for what is expected
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.