The majority of candidates who apply to Trinity are studying for United Kingdom A-level qualifications or Scottish Advanced Highers but we are happy to accept applications from academically well-prepared candidates who are following other school exam systems. These notes are intended as a brief guide to those potential applicants who are uncertain whether the qualifications they hold, or for which they are studying, are likely to meet our requirements. There are several general points that must be borne in mind.

• All applications for a place at Trinity are considered on an individual basis and our decisions do not rely on examination grades alone. The school report, any written work that you may be asked to submit, any test taken pre-interview or at the time of interview, plus performance at the interview itself all contribute in important ways to the final decision.
• The grades we ask for are determined only after we have made the decision to offer someone a place, which in turn is only after candidates have been interviewed. Any offer we make is always set at a level which we believe the candidate is capable of achieving.
• The fact that you have obtained, or expect to obtain, very high grades in your school exams is not a guarantee that your application will be successful. The number of strong candidates always exceeds the strictly limited number of places we have available each year.
• The school system in the United Kingdom allows a substantially higher degree of specialization than those of many other countries. If you have followed a curriculum which is much broader than A-levels you may be at a disadvantage, particularly if you wish to study Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or Natural Sciences.

Below you will find examples of offers we make in exam systems we frequently encounter. If the exams you are taking are not listed, you can obtain advice from the Admissions Office.  Information is also available on the University website.

The local office of the British Council may also be able to tell you whether or not specific grades in your exams meet the general requirements for entry to universities in the United Kingdom, but please remember that this would represent only the minimum standard you must attain and offers at Cambridge are nearly always set well above that level. Note that the offers quoted below are only “typical”. Offers made in practice may be either above or below the level stated.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Total of 42 (including bonus points) with marks of 7 in relevant subjects at Higher Level. If you are applying for a subject with a strong mathematical component (Sciences or Economics), and you are taking Higher Level Mathematics, we strongly encourage you to take Analysis and Approaches.

European Baccalaureate (IB)

86% overall, with 9.0+ in relevant subjects.

Australia

An ATAR of 99.

Bulgaria

An overall score of 5.8 in the Diploma with scores of 6.0 in relevant subjects.

China

For students taking the Gaokao, which we consider suitable preparation for studying at Cambridge University, we generally make an offer of a rank in the top 0.1% of those taking the Gaokao in your province, but we also consider the relevant individual subject marks in making offers and evaluating results. 

France

Overall mark of 17 in the Baccalauréat with marks of 17 in relevant subjects.

Germany

Overall grade of 1.2 in the Abitur with scores of 15 in relevant subjects.

Greece

Candidates will usually have to provide evidence of study beyond the Apolytirion, such as A levels in appropriate subjects.

Hungary

5 in all relevant subjects in the Erettsegi.

India

Candidates will usually have to provide evidence of study beyond the Class XII qualifications, such as A levels or APs in appropriate subjects, or be taking the IIT Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced).

Ireland

Three H1 and three H2 for Arts subjects. Four H1 and two H2 for Science subjects.

Italy

98% in the Diploma Di Esame Di Stato.

New Zealand

Level 3 Excellence in at least 3 relevant subjects, as well as an overall NCEA Level 3 endorsement of Excellence.

Poland

95th percentile scores in up to two advanced level subjects and an average of 90th percentile across all subjects taken in the Nova Matura.

Romania

9.5 overall in the diploma, with 9.8 in relevant subjects.

Serbia

5.0 in the Secondary School Leaving Diploma and 5.0 in individual subjects.

Singapore

A in four H2s in the SIPCAL, with a Merit in H3; or AAA in three H2s with a Distinction in H3. If taking the NUS programme, a cumulative average of 4.8 with subject CAPSs of 4.9 in relevant subjects.

United States

Offers to candidates from the United States are normally based on Advanced Placement exams. Five grades 5 in relevant subjects would be typical.  In addition to the AP Tests, we usually expect you to have high passing marks on your school qualification (e.g. the relevant US High School Diploma) and a high score on the SAT (I) Reasoning Test or ACT.

You will need to have a minimum combined score of 1,500 with a Mathematics section score of at least 750 for the following courses:

• most Science courses (Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine)
• Economics

For all other courses at Cambridge, you will need:

• a minimum combined score of at least 1,460, and

• a score in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of at least 730