top of page

Start your uni application prep for next year this winter!
Blog


What is it Really Like to Study at Cambridge?
A complete, honest guide to the question on everyone's lips this time of year: what's it really like? This guide breaks the glamorous bubble a little – in a good way – so you can picture the daily reality: the highs, the pressures, the quirks, and the genuinely lovely parts that make the hard work worth it. And if, along the way, you realise you’d like help with choosing a college, shaping your application, or preparing for interviews, we work with hundreds of aspiring Cambr
Nov 157 min read


The Mathematics Reading List That Gets You Into Oxbridge
Do more problem sheets. Do more problem sheets. Do more problem sheets. That's probably what you've heard a hundred times over when you're preparing for Oxford and Cambridge (or any highly respected) mathematics courses. But what if that's not the whole truth? Any Oxbridge maths tutor worth their salt will tell you that an offer letter is only partly based on grades – the interview plays a massive role, which probes your method of thinking. To stand out, you need to show tha
Nov 23 min read


The Oxford PPE Reading List
Ah, the infamous Oxford PPE degree. The launcher of prime ministers, economists and journalists alike. If you're drawn to this demanding (but rewarding) course, you're probably also drawn to the big questions: how societies work, why people make the choices they do, and what makes a fair world. If you're still debating whether or not to apply for PPE, have a read of our blog post, Why Study PPE? At Avalon Education, we’ve helped countless Oxford PPE hopefuls build the curiosi
Oct 134 min read


What you need to know about the 2026 UCAS personal statement changes
Changes are afoot... If you’re planning to start university in 2026, your application will look a little different. UCAS has redesigned...
Sep 215 min read


The Oxbridge Economics Reading List
Economics is arguably the most competitive course at both Oxford and Cambridge, which are themselves, of course, among the most...
Aug 223 min read


The Oxbridge Engineering Reading List
You might very well already be top of your class in Maths and Physics at school. Sadly, at Oxford and Cambridge, great grades are just...
Jul 223 min read


The Oxbridge Medicine Reading List
Planning to study Medicine at Oxford or Cambridge? Get ahead with these key books that stay on reading lists year after year. So you’ve...
Jun 253 min read


Straight to Uni or Gap Year? Pros and Cons Explained
Big decision. No pressure. Let's break it down. Weighing up your decisions after results day? You're not alone. In this week's blog,...
Apr 134 min read


Oxford or Cambridge: Key Differences in Application Processes
Should you apply to Oxford or Cambridge? Given you can only apply to one at undergraduate level, the first big decision you'll need to...
Mar 253 min read


How to Boost Your Predicted Grade
Your predicted grade is your key into your dream universities, so it's important to be working hard throughout Year 12 and 13 to be in...
Mar 73 min read


How to Deal with the Anxiety of an Oxbridge Offer
It's the dream, the end goal, the reason you put in all that work last autumn. And yet, if you received an offer letter last month, you...
Feb 204 min read


How to Improve Your Essay Writing
Essay writing is the foundational rock of most subjects, so it's essential to get your skills up to scratch, or you could be missing out...
Feb 103 min read


How to Create the Perfect Revision Timetable
Because the best revision timetable is the one that you can actually stick to. If you're sick of using your phone's notes app as a to-do...
Feb 64 min read


Handling Oxbridge Rejection
How to allow yourself to process your emotions and stay positive for the future. Now that both Oxford and Cambridge have released their...
Jan 314 min read


A Guide to the Road Ahead for Cambridge Offer Holders
Because this isn't the end of the road just yet! King's College in Spring Congratulations! If you've received your Cambridge offer today,...
Jan 305 min read


Types of Revision: Ranked
Spoiler, recall is king. In 2025, effective revision is going to be all the rage, because who wants to spend more time studying than they...
Jan 265 min read


Secured Your Oxford Offer? Here’s What to Do Next
Congratulations on the Oxford offer! This is a huge achievement, and something that people all around the world dream of. Well done for...
Jan 204 min read


Top Productivity Tools and Study Apps for Students in 2025
This year, it's time to start working smarter, not harder. Our 'in' for 2025 is effective working, and there's no better way to revamp...
Jan 153 min read


How to Refocus After the Holidays
Trying to refocus after a particularly lazy Christmas break? We've all been there. Read on for our best study tips. Christmas tree...
Jan 53 min read


Last-Minute Oxbridge Interview Preparation Tips
In the first half of December, interview season descends upon hundreds of Oxford and Cambridge applicants. Unfortunately, it's also a...
Dec 13, 20243 min read
bottom of page
