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Original poster

Yr10, wants to do medicine but struggling with biology

63 replies

Thisismynewname123 · 11/01/2022 18:05

DD has her heart set on studying medicine and no matter how many times I say she should consider alternatives in case in doesn't work out. She won't. There is nothing else she wants to do. The problem is that although she is capable of 8s/9s is most subjects, she seems to be struggling with biology. I could get her a tutor. She'd probably be predicted a 6/7 if I asked her teacher today. But even with a tutor, is it worth pushing her to something which isn't her strength? How can I inspire her to something which uses her strengths - I think she capable of 9s in physics/chemistry/maths. Has anyone's child been in a similar position and what route did they end up taking?

OP posts:
sashh · 12/01/2022 11:42

@Thisismynewname123

There are other routes, some universities have a foundation year or a joint year with other health care students.

By the time your DD is applying there may be more routes.

Original poster
Thisismynewname123 · 12/01/2022 09:58

thanks for all the comments, especially those about chemistry being a requirement more than biology for most unis.

@FreeFrenchHens, it's not an issue recalling lots of facts. Her strengths are physics and maths because she has a very good memory for recalling facts. Possibly she isn't interpreting the questions in the correct way, or maybe a teacher issue. She doesn't take it for granted that she'll do well - she studies hard and she knows that she feels better going into tests when she has revised thoroughly.

@catndogslife, yes they have a different teacher for each science, so maybe it is the teacher, as the whole class seems to be performing less well at biology than the other sciences.

@Coronawireless, yes it could be interpretation. She is less strong in English than the maths heavy subjects.

@sashh, thank you for the tip. Next time it comes up I will mention the biomedical science route to a medical post grad.

OP posts:
sluj · 12/01/2022 08:30

It does seem strange that she is just having problems with one science. My DS has just graduated from medicine and actually says that the A level biology was more relevant during his degree course than chemistry or maths though you did need to be competent in those areas. She will need an A in it at A level so unless she gets an 8 or 9 at GCSE then she shouldn't scupper her medicine chances by taking it. She could just apply to the courses that don't need it.

sashh · 12/01/2022 08:24

Another vote for not needing biology.

There are a number of routes into medicine, my niece didn't get the grades but has started a post grad medical course, she took a biomedical science degree and then applied to and was offered 5 places for medicine, she's chosen the one that is graduate entry only.

Coronawireless · 12/01/2022 08:20

It’s a little odd as I would consider Chemistry & Physics to be the more difficult subjects.
As others have said, is it the wordiness of it compared with the more Maths heavy subjects? Is English/languages her weak area? Anyway as pps have said she can drop it surely.

catndogslife · 12/01/2022 08:16

I agree with the poster who says that it could be a teacher problem, likely to be the case if they have different teachers for each Science subject.
Y10 is still very early in the course to be completely sure if this is a problem which will continue or whether it's just the topic they are studying at the moment which is a problem though.
When applying to universities you have 5 preferences and the 5th one has to be something that isn't medicine. So at some stage your dd is going to need to consider alternatives later on.

FreeFrenchHens · 12/01/2022 00:22

YY to Chemistry always used to be the requirement rather than biology, unless things have changed, but it would seem a bit foolhardy to sign up for 5 years of a medical degree if you struggle with Biology.

I think you need to get to the bottom of why she struggles with it. Does she not understand, or is it too hard to retain and recall the volume of facts, or does she not interpret questions correctly, or is there too much drawing? Or something else like she is just used to doing well in other subjects with little effort, and something about the structure of Biology means it just doesn't come quite as easily as things like Maths? Does she struggle with the teacher? Are her notes disorganized and hard to revise from?

The main concern, I think, would be if it's a problem with retaining and recalling the large volumes of information. Medicine involves a lot of learning.

Origamiheaven · 11/01/2022 18:28

My son started medicine last year. All the Unis he applied for didn't ask for Biology. Chemistry seems to be the requisite

LeroyJenkinssss · 11/01/2022 18:25

You need chemistry rather than biology (unless requirements have changed). I know when we started there was an additional programme of lectures for those who hadn’t taken a-level biology. There was very little overlay with a level biology and medicine.

3WildOnes · 11/01/2022 18:19

My sister studied medicine with an A, so a 7, in Chemistry, which I think is actually the more important science. Lots of Med schools didn’t even ask for Biology A level then. I would get her a tutor and hopefully she will be fine. My sister got a mix and As and Bs with and a couple of A*s at GCSE, she was bright but not the brightest. She is now an excellent consultant paediatrician.

SockFluffInTheBath · 11/01/2022 18:17

She doesn’t need biology a-level, she would need chemistry.

TheFutureIs · 11/01/2022 18:11

My understanding is that actually chemistry is the more important subject for medicine so don't discourage her too much

TillyTopper · 11/01/2022 18:08

Personally I'd let her make the choice and support her by getting a tutor for her to help with the biology (it may be a teacher issue if she is strong in other subjects). Let's face it if she aims for medicine and doesn't make it then she's not going to be struggling to find other options so there is no need to say what those other options could be now. I personally think the choice is best left up to them, I just supported mine through.