Question on AP Scoring & Oxford

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hi there, I’m a student from the United States looking to Oxford for PPE. I have two questions:

  1. If I made a bad score on the SAT the first time but an excellent score the second time, will it count against me as we must submit ALL SAT scores for UCAS?
  2. I have otherwise good AP Exam scores, but sophomore year I made 3 on the AP Human Geography exam. If I retake the exam senior year, will my 3 on the first exam still count harshly against me?

Thanks

2

What do you consider a bad SAT score?

Two reasons not to re-take Human Geo: 1) it is not that relevant to PPE & is not rated by PPE tutors and 2). if you do retake it you will have to put it down with a predicted score. You really need Calc (at least AB/BC is better), a good essay-based course (Euro is higher rated, but USHx will do), and Comp Gov and Macro/Micro are actually helpful to the 1st year Politics & Econ modules.

Not your question, but what APs do you have from grades 9 & 10? and what are you projecting for this year & next?

3

I certainly wouldn’t retake geography. S18 got an interview (though not an offer unfortunately) with a 3 on APMEH from sophomore year (he had five more 5s and four predicted 5s in senior year), and that’s a more relevant course. Likewise a poor SAT first attempt is certainly not that rare amongst US candidates, just don’t be taking it repeatedly (eg 3 or 4 times).

Focus on your other APs, including as much math as possible, practicing for the TSA and reading around the PPE subjects ahead of an interview (the latter was probably where my S fell short as he didn’t have a strong enough philosophy and economics background).