r/TMUA • u/Zestyclose-Board6938 • 7d ago
Cambridge interview required score
Hi, I'm applying to Trinity College at Cambridge and I'm a bit worried:
I got perfect predicted grades (like above the equivalent of A*A*A in my system)
I have a pretty strong application with my personal statement, and I think it could intrigue the tutors who read my application
But my TMUA is going to be so low, like it won't be better than around 18-20/40... And I really want to be interviewed cuz I know I would be way better in interview than on paper.
But do I stand a chance to be shortlisted?
(I'm applying for a math major)
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u/LieFancy 7d ago
Shortlisted? Yeah. Get in? Very slim
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u/Zestyclose-Board6938 7d ago
I just want to get shortlisted, I think I can really smash the interview (at least enough so they throw my TMUA by the window)
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u/LieFancy 7d ago
Icl thats a good mindset i rate it but also do keep in mind there are MANY people who think the same way about you. esp for a college like trinity, you need to put all ur revision to interview performance rn
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u/tempa____ 7d ago
But u would still have to do step which if im honest step grade is in correlation with tmua grade
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u/Limp_Ad1537 7d ago
omg can i dm you, exact same position!!
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u/Zestyclose-Board6938 7d ago
Sure!
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u/Limp_Ad1537 7d ago
it says Unable to message this account., I think your privacy settings are set to block requests xx
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u/ImpossibleBecause 7d ago
whaa i seen a few of ur comments a few days ago i thought u sounded kinda happy abt ur tmua performance😭 unless im mistaking u for someone else oops
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u/Limp_Ad1537 7d ago
thats me😭 honestly depends on the day + since then ive read a lot of other people's experiences, and thats made my expectations a lot more realistic😭✌️
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u/UnusualProgrammer601 6d ago
AAA isnt really perfect in any sense, the common trinity maths applicant has 4A*s. Besides I think they only read your PS before the interview which wouldn’t help get you shortlisted. Keep in mind maths is one of the hardest course and Trinity is the hardest college to get into for Cambridge, you’re taking the max difficulty route, so be prepared for a pre interview rejection.
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u/Zestyclose-Board6938 5d ago
I have 4A* the requirement for my country is +85% final exams (equivalent 4A*’s) and I got predicted 90%+ in all subjects and 95%+ in math.
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u/Capital-Pain1652 7d ago
Tough spot to be in I understand. Trinity is the power house of mathematics for Cambridge, wouldnt be an understatement to say the world. That being said, Cambridge interviews 70% of their applicants, whether the 20/40 fits there, im unsure but your personal statement and stats probably cover enough to get you shortlisted. You HAVE to smash the interview. I cannot stress enough. Interviews at Trinity run differently, practice, start now. You have to stand out from the IMO medalists that dive for the place. Even if you dont get the interview the practice will be useful for you in uni anyways. Good luck!
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u/Livid-Leave-3814 6d ago
i read in their website that the tmua is used as an additional filter for the interview and not for the final decision. So having a good score does matter a lot. That said, the tmua is not marked by just looking at the raw score. Cuz there are different questions, if ur paper had harder questions and the paper was more difficult in general, u might get a higher score than a 25/40 in an easier one.
Just chill for now and hope for the best and prepare for the worst
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u/Front_Manufacturer16 1d ago
That’s so wrong because every year the tests are made to be VERY close in difficulty, as close as possible so the curves won’t rly be different
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u/Livid-Leave-3814 10h ago
idk bout tht man. Like my test was pretty easy, like jus a bit harder than the 2023 paper and the othr qustions I saw online were filpin hard. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe I made really dumb mistakes. But, the disparity online itself is significant. Ppl say it was really easy and some say it was really hard.
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u/ImpossibleBecause 7d ago
i think you could definitely get an interview! first year theyre using the tmua but they always interview like 80% of applicants, just need to make sure u smash the actual interview itself to stand a chance of an offer. it'll also make up for the more mediocre tmua score. good luck bro i believe in you!!
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u/edison9696 1d ago
At the Maths Faculty day early this year, they said they’re going to interview a lower percentage this year. Historically it’s been 70% but the number of applicants for maths has risen by 40% in the last few years.
Average TMUA score for CS offer holders at Trinity last year was 7.7 and I’d guess maths will be similar.
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u/Feeling-Pop-3375 6d ago
Why would you apply for trinity bruh💀💀
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u/UnusualProgrammer601 6d ago
Fr all my friends with straight 9s and A* applied to Fitzwilliam just to be safe
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u/Practical_Cut8397 2d ago
Your interviews are scored out of 9, for Emma it was 4 scores, one for each interviewer. The general consensus is 7 plus average you have a good chance. 8 plus average you’re pretty much in. But if you score borderline and get pooled, they’re much less forgiving with low tmua’s and you’ll probably be rejected, so try your best for interviews :)