Oxford Rejection and a Cambridge Offer: IB Predictions and Conditions, with a 2025 Oxford Update

Here is a January 2025 Oxford acceptance story! Read it first, then take a look at the rejection story below as well.

2025 University of Oxford acceptance — Naver Blog

One of my students reached a fourth Oxford interview and was then rejected.

Oh, I feel upset on their behalf.

This student studied SAT Chemistry and IB with me. They became so good that there was actually very little left for me to do.

They were not that strong at first, of course. On an initial SAT Chemistry test, they got about half right.

But after just a month of lessons, they were getting no more than five questions wrong.

That makes this so disappointing.

I had quietly been hoping for Oxford…

So hearing about the rejection was really disappointing. Of course, even if the student had got in, I had only helped with Chemistry and Biology,

so my contribution would not have been particularly large. Still, I was looking forward to proudly saying that one of my students had got into Oxford.

I no longer felt able to send a message. This student had a predicted IB score of 45 and perfect SAT Subject Test scores in Chemistry, Physics, and Math.

I think their SAT score was 1520. It may have changed, but as far as I know, it had not changed much.

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Another student has been accepted to Cambridge, with an offer conditional on 41 points in the IB finals.

They say they might not be able to attend despite the offer, because the condition is so demanding.

Of course, they have been accepted everywhere except one university and could go elsewhere—but Cambridge! How much must they want to go?

I consider this student’s profile even stronger than the first student’s. Naturally, I do not know all the details of their activities.

Their predicted IB score was around 43, and they had top scores in AP Chemistry, AP Physics C, and AP Math.

I think that is an excellent profile.

I do not think they had applied in Korea yet, but they say they will apply to SNU or KAIST.

They told me that, with their three-year overseas-schooling background, they would apply through general admissions rather than the special overseas-student route. They seem to get offers wherever they apply,

so perhaps they do not have too much to worry about.

I really hope they keep doing well and make it to Cambridge.

Watching students get into strong universities has made me think that even students at IB schools benefit from having AP or SAT scores as well.

I have seen how having even one or two additional lines to put on an application can help.

My understanding is that an AP score of 4, even without a 5, can still strengthen an application.