How does the Medical School feel about a candidate re-taking qualifications?
People who re-take their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent) are qualified to apply to our course but will be in competition with a large number of candidates who passed at a high level at the first attempt. Applicants to our course achieve at least three A grades at A-level, and most have already gained high numbers of A* and A grades at GCSE. The University of Oxford offers courses that are academically very demanding and aims to select those students who would best be able to benefit from the challenges they make. Consequently, other things being equal, candidates who are re-taking their GCSEs or A-levels will on average have a lower chance of being offered a place. Nevertheless, we recognize that students sometimes fail to achieve their potential on first attempt at school because of circumstances beyond their control. Examples would include disruption caused by change of school or system, severe discontinuity of teachers, bereavement and one-off debilitating illness. We take pains t
