This discussion was created from comments split from: Applying to Oxford, London School of Economics.
I’m wondering if anyone on here has any information about taking the Oxford Entrance subject exams in this environment. We are in NYC. Enrollment for the test began on September 1st, but none of the sites listed on Cambridge Assessment are offering it (1 is out of business, 1 is closed for Covid, and the other 2 don’t answer phone or email). The only other site in the entire region is in CT and is also closed to outsiders. My daughter’s school is not sure they will offer it due again to Covid. My child wrote Cambridge Assessment and they basically told her to do the things we had explained we could not do (register at sites listed on their engine, take it at her school). Has anyone received any guidance on this?
You are unlikely to get more help than that- sorry.
Have you looked up other international and high-flying schools in your area? British International Schools will definitely be hosting them, and I know that there is one in NYC.
Also, I suggest getting somebody from your school to make the contact - I have found that the college counselor network is strong and can sometimes get in doors that you might have a harder time with.
To date, private schools that have been offering testing (SAT subject) have reserved them only for their own students for both practical and competitive reasons. One of the perks of paying $50K in tuition is your institution looks out for you when things get crazy. If the British School is open (or can open to offer it), I am willing to bet they will not be taking outsiders but worth a try.
I’m assuming that what is a problem in NYC will be a problem in most places given that our virus load is currently among the lowest and that so many sites are closing to all testing. I read like 45% of the SAT sites canceled for the Aug 29th date. I know the NYC private where my kid was supposed to take subject tests did.
The rep from Cambridge Assessment said something vague about more information coming out soon whatever that may mean. If anyone gets better guidance, I’d be grateful.
It’s going to be a crazy year for Oxford and Cambridge already and now they look likely lose the bulk of their international students due to the new cost structure. My friends in Europe say the new international fees for EU are a deal breaker for most kids there, which makes sense. So, I guess it may be a while before they get around to a ruling on this .
So you think it will have no effect? That would surprise me. The fees are so out-of-line with what EU residents pay for their home schools or other EU schools and Oxbridge previously had no incentive to keep them low since they actually compare favorably with the tuition at peer institutions in the US for those who pay full freight.
My son took the MAT at OHC on 26th Street. I’m assuming that’s one of the bad locations.
I seem to recall that it is possible for a school to get itself certified as an approved test location. Not sure if there’s enough time to do that or if it’s even feasible in the current environment, but something to check on as well.
Your easiest option is probably your home school. Assuming you have a teacher writing your reference then push them to help, otherwise their work will be wasted. It sounds like your school may already be registered if they’ve done it in the past. So then you just need a teacher or college counselor to agree to invigilate the test itself. Be creative, how about putting a desk in the middle of the sports field, wearing a mask?