As a junior right now, I have a question about filling out the UCAS application. For test scores, what happens if we don’t have the required test scores yet (SAT, SAT II’s, and 1 AP next spring)? Do we will it blank or do we “lie” about our SAT scores? I plan to take the required course examination that is in the fall as well. Also do interviews always happen?
Thanks
-Paul
Attending Oxford is all about test scoress. Without a high enough score on their very difficult version of the SAT you won’t be invited to interview. I had a near perfect score on the SAT but just made the cut-off for an interview (I didn’t prepare enough for it).They don’t care about your extracurriculars. They don’t care about your GPA. They care a lot about your AP scores. They care a lot about your essay which bears no resemblance to the Common App essay. Your counselor’s rec also matters a lot.
You will have to submit official tests scores. Don’t bother applying unitl you have them.
Not everyone is shortlisted for interview, but you won’t get an offer without one. Don’t lie about scores - you will at some point have to provide evidence of them. However, if your school/teacher rec can provide a predicted score (maybe based on your PSAT?), that would be fine for now. You would just have to meet it later.
What subject are you interested in at Oxford? What APs do you have in hand now, and plan on next year?
Even though my son had taken the ACT/APs and filled them in on his UCAS, his offer letter this year was still conditioned upon achieving the required scores (ACT 32 and three APs 5s in relevant areas).
If you have none of those in hand by the October 2017 UCAS submission date, then I would leave them blank and have your reference writer talk about predicted scores.
If you receive an offer next January, you will have until March 1 to submit certificates for tests you have already completed. If you need APs from your senior year, you will have to wait until next July to see those results and submit them then to satisfy your conditions.
You can also use SAT 2s in lieu of the APs.
But as other posters have said, the biggest determinant in getting shortlisted for an interview is your score on the course specific aptitude test which happens in November and the quality of any written work that you might need to submit.
To summarize & clarify the above posts:
For tests that you have not taken yet, your GC ‘predicts’ a score. Be aware that if you get an offer it can be ‘conditional’ on your actually achieving that score, and scores will absolutely require verification from College Board.
Is “the required course examination” that you refer is the aptitude test for your subject (ie, TSA / MAT / ELAT / etc)?
Oxford shortlists for interview based on aptitude test + existing/predicted standardized test scores (SAT/AP) + Personal Statement + LoR. The % of students who are interviewed varies by subject (reflects the # of students who apply / # of places available); on average they interview approx 3x as many applicants as there are places available.
As I’m sure you know, you will have to have an SAT of1470+ and not less than 3 AP (5) or Subject test (mid-high 700s) scores in relevant (non-duplicative) subjects. Applying in Oct 2017 for entry in Autumn 2018 with no actual scores in hand will make it harder to be shortlisted for interview, though a dazzling score on the aptitude test and strong rec will help. Oxford tries to keep it’s offers tight (that is, once they have selected you they don’t want to lose you b/c you didn’t meet the conditions of your offer), and having no data on your ability to handle major standardized tests (much less several at the one time), may be too risky for them.
I would suggest getting a book on oxbridge admissions strategy. My daughter found hers very useful and it helped to organize her entire high school experience towards admission (to Cam).
ECs are considered if they are directly relevant to your subject as well as to college life (on occasion). My d was a singer and wanted to join a choir, which did interest the college that made her an offer from the pool.
Testing scores are considered to be the same as the UK national grading system (GCSE’s, AS Results). Whilst they are important, so many other factors play a part. I was told when I applied that you would only ever have a chance of getting in if you got all A’s on your AS results. I got AABC and was still shortlisted to interview. I applied for History, and like most other subjects, you have to sit an aptitude test. The professor told me that the aptitude test was the most important component of the application before interviewing. They understand everyone has different educational experiences, and making all applicants sit down and take a test on things they have never covered before, and how they can apply their skills to unknown situations, is the best way to judge someone’s potential and capability. Thus, whilst if you are serious about applying to Oxford in the fall, I would STRONGLY recommend retaking the SAT beforehand to try and boost your score, I would also take some practice aptitude tests (past papers found on Oxford website) and get used to the format as it will likely be something you have never experienced before. Another vital piece of advice I would recommend would be to practice speaking your thoughts out loud. If you get an interview, they want to see how your mind ticks, and being able to express your thought process out loud with them is something that will really play to your favour. Ask friends, family, teachers, anyone to sit down with you and question you on spontaneous topics related to your subject. A favourite trick of Oxford is to provide the candidate with some pre-reading/ skills questions 30 mins prior to the interview so practicing handling difficult and chunky texts/ questions will also be so so helpful to you. If you do get shortlisted to interview, I’m not sure if it is within your financial means to travel to Oxford for the interview, but if it is, I would recommend this. Not only will you get a feel for the university, but you are also more likely to have extra interviews. Most students who travel there have interviews elsewhere to their allocated college, and is a really good way to boost your chances. For example, if your college is oversubscribed with an abundance of talented students, and the college think your good enough for Oxford but just not the best out of the cohort at that college, they will refer you to other colleges (my friend went to 6 different ones), and then you can have a chance at succeeding there, too. Whilst they say Skype interviews are judged the same as face-to-face, it’s unlikely that they go to such efforts to organise extra interviews for you. Hope this helps and if you have any other questions about UK applications/ UCAS/ Oxbridge feel free to message me. Best of luck in your upcoming college endeavours.
@ezzy98 gives good advice. Did you go to Oxford?
No, ultimately I did not end up going there. However, I know lots about the process as one of my EC’s was working alongside the school’s guidance councillor. I’m from the U.K. too, so had lots of visits and talks there 
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@Lindagaf I have the met the minimum sat requirements i.e. 1480(6|4|6) with 780+ scores on 4 subject tests, and 5s on 5 APs but my first SAT score was 1410. I think I messed up on my SAT and wanted to know if the September ACT scores will be out in time for Oxford. I have also taken the June ACT and 8 more APs this year and the results aren’t out yet. P.S. I am from India and our high school scores are considered sufficient to meet the requirements (I have straight As in high school which is better than my performance on the American tests). Can I submit all of them together to meet the conditionals? Will this help? I am confident about doing well on the tests and the interview [if I get there]. @ezzy98 Does this seem enough?
From what I have in front of me here, you seem more than qualified :). A 1480 is a very respectable score for your SAT and in conjunction with the rest of your credentials, I think you are most definitely in a strong position as a potential applicant, and wouldn’t worry too much about taking the ACT in September. They, like US institutions, make extra allowances for international students who sit American standardised tests as they are aware that they have not had the support and practice in the same way US students have, which in any case only highlights your 1480 as an even greater result. I would recommend focusing on school work as they usually ask for a submission of a marked piece of work by your teachers, and also focus on the Oxford tests.