WHAT NEXT AFTER YOUR AS RESULTS?

Got the AS grades you were hoping for? Well done!!! For students planning to apply to Oxbridge, this usually means AAAA, or at least AAAB. With those grades under your belt, you are a realistic applicant for most of its courses. Time to reward yourself with a super-size ice cream tub and a great weekend with your mates.

But what should you be doing next? If you and your school have been preparing for an Oxbridge application well ahead, it’s OK to now move straight on to your UCAS statement (covered in my previous blog). However, this is only true of a minority of students, especially in the state sector. The rest must first embark on some course-focused reading. Not only will you be able to write about this, but it will help with the interview and some Oxbridge tests.  Start right now, as the new term is just weeks away and you will be inundated with A-level work from day one.

While some websites will move you on, Oxbridge-geared reading means books at this stage. Your teachers, the school librarian or the staff of your local library can offer specific recommendations. Year 12 students should also consult the ‘Suggested (or Preparatory) Reading’ pages of the Oxbridge websites. Inspiring, course-related books which suit both GCSE and A-level students are listed in chapters 2, 11 and 17 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES.*

Make sure you have a valid library card, as a book you need may not be in print anymore.  If you’re still unsure what to pick, consider leaving your screen for a good terrestial bookshop. Britain’s most academic one, Blackwell’s, has branches in a large number of towns and cities, as does Waterstones. In London, Foyles, Hatchards and The London Review Bookshop stock a wide range of university-level titles. Staff are not just friendly but knowledgeable about key texts and just-published books. Buy there and then, without pondering whether a book may be slightly cheaper online. It’s more crucial not to waste money on something disappointing.

All  these well-stocked bookshops, by the way, also run regular author events. Hearing an economist, historian or political scientist talk to a general audience about their latest work will allow you to grasp new, complex ideas.
________________

* - Please note that the alleged downloads of this book offered online are invariably old,   outdated editions. Avoid!