Applying for medicine with very polarised GCSEs

[Neednewwellies]

I’m not sure where to put this so I’ve put it both here and in further Ed.
DS1 has his heart set on studying medicine. Personally I think he’s extremely well suited to it both academically and in temperament. He’s Y10. He is mildly dyslexic and predicted the following in His GCSEs:
Maths-9
Chemistry-9
Physics-9
Biology-9
Geography-8
RS-8
English Lit-6/7
English Lang-6/7
French-6
He really didn’t want to do a language but it was school rules. He struggles with French and indeed English due to his dyslexia. It also impacts the written element of his humanities subjects too.

So, if he does end up with the predicted 9s for maths and sciences but gets 3 x 6s for English and French, will that preclude him applying for medicine? He is looking at 4 Alevels in maths, chemistry, physics and biology. His current teachers are as sure as they can be that he is A/A (but more likely A) in each.

Any advice on what he should do? Will his results mean he will be unlikely to secure a place to study medicine or do some universities look at the skew towards the required subjects and his predicted Alevels?

Just a note on the English GCSEs. While the dyslexia is always going to make it harder, if he's of a mathematical / sciencey bent, the formulaic nature of the new GCSEs works in his favour. If you can afford a tutor, find one who marks for the exam board he will be sitting the GCSE with and get them to just drill him in exam technique, mark scheme, timings. You can "paint by numbers" with the current English language GCSE especially. It's boring as hell to learn it this way but if he's set on medicine and this is a possible obstacle he ought to be able to suck it up for an hour a week. (Ex English teacher.)

Op, did you post the same thing in higher education?

Interesting to see very different answers.

BTW Sir Samuel is right. Get help with the weaker subjects. Dyslexic DD ended up with an A* In Eng Land with a lot of credit due to Justin Craig for coaching in exam technique/mark grubbing.

And yes biology was hardest. However DD took more than three A levels so the grade she got did not matter.

There are plenty at Med School who have been tutored to the eyeballs, and beyond, so I would not worry about a bit of extra support in more difficult subjects.

Thanks @Monkey2001, yes, he does struggle with aspects of the biology text.
@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito, I will look into help for his English. Thank you.
@Needmoresleep, yes I did. Sorry, I thought I mentioned it in my op. Maybe not. I’m going to take note of what SirSamuel says and look into exam coaching for English. It will all come down to technique and timing for him. Thank you.

I believe each medical school want something in the region of 2AAs & an A* at A level, definitely in science based subjects for 2 of them and maybe Maths, but could be different for each university. If you look at A100 UCAS code, this could give you a list of universities that hold this degree and what criteria they are looking for, for entry.
They can take GCSEs into consideration, looking at what your child is expected, if these are attained, I doubt they'd have a problem following a career in medicine.

I have no advise about medicine but DS is Year 10 too.

Like yours, mine is more of a Science/Maths person but he looks at English in a formulaic way. It's not going to get him the grade 9s, like those natural at essay subjects. But he's been taught to answer essays with a structure ISLO (Idea, Structure, Language, Opinion) ... He finds this really useful as he sees it as an equation that needs to be worked through (like in Maths) and he does this with every question. He's got it now and is working hard to fill out the structure. He's found Mr Bruff videos (free on YouTube) really handy as he's brilliant vocab to use in the exams. Not sure if it will help

My DD thoroughly disliked Eng Lit especially and improved her GSCE result with the help of Mr Bruff and also Mr Salles (both on YouTube) and got an 8 in the end,
She reckoned Mr Salles was better.
As she said 'I put the word nihilistic in an essay, I didn't even know what it meant before watching the YouTube vids'

Think grade 9s will get him into any college to study any A level subject as 5/6s are needed. I also know some universities look at GCSE grades. Depending on where he wants to study medicine will depend on his A level grades that are needed.. oxbride look at A* AA grades in Math, Chemistry & Biology. I'm not sure he will have to take 4 A levels even though the BMAT test includes all four subjects.

Medic here, also done admissions to a medical school.
The number of medical places has expanded ++++ in the past few years, and what is being looked for is not just academic brilliance. You don't need to be beyond 'bright' to be a doctor, but you do need to be very determined, hardworking and able to communicate well and be interested in people.

I think given your ds has dyslexia that those GCSEs will not be a particular issue. I would recommend:

• Focus on the english and bringing that up if possible.
• Approach the school and see if your ds can drop French. They should be able to be flexible and it frees up for him to focus on the english.
• Make sure the SEN are disclosed on an application so your ds is treated fairly
• Choose a-levels that don't involve lots of writing/english. None of the suggestions do, biology I guess would be the only one with a small amount.
• Don't get stressed about 4 subjects (or indeed number of GCSEs - no one cares), drop the 4th a level when possible or only take 3 to maximise grades.
• do some work experience
• work on advice, a course, practice interviews etc to help your ds with getting a place.

Good luck!