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Secondary education

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Original poster

A Levels for Medicine

39 replies

Georgieporgie29 · 29/10/2020 15:51

My DS is due to sit (maybe) his GCSE’s next Summer and has just decided he would like to go down the medicine route for A Levels.
Looking into it it seems he needs Biology, Chemistry and maybe Maths? I’m getting different information from online searching on whether Maths needs to be one of the 3 or not, some saying yes and some saying it can be any 3rd A level.
Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it worth him picking a potentially easier A level or would this hold him back when he gets to university level?

OP posts:
Redburnett · 29/10/2020 16:00

It is best to check the individual medical school requirements as they may be different. It would be a good idea for him to start doing research about other requirements such as voluntary work or work experience, perhaps emailing the admissions staff to ask about their expectations, especially given current circumstances with Covid. A high grade in chemistry is usually essential everywhere. The Student Room forums are also a useful source of information. Good luck to your DS!

Mancala57 · 29/10/2020 16:03

This compares A-level requirements: www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/choosing-a-medical-school/comparisontool/

There are 39 med schools in the UK. About two-thirds require Chem and Bio, but certainly not all. Chem, Bio and Maths are a common combination.

Berthatydfil · 29/10/2020 16:21

It’s not a requirement. Some/most require just chemistry plus 2.
Some ask for chemistry and biology plus one.
Generally they don’t accept maths and further maths as 2, and require “academic” subjects so exclude general studies but I know of history, English, PE French, being included as the third a level as long as the grades are A/A*
My advice is look at the med schools they are most interested in and tailor choices accordingly while not making things more difficult than necessary.

Original poster
Georgieporgie29 · 29/10/2020 17:02

Thank you so much for your replies, we will definitely have a look through.

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khaleesi71 · 29/10/2020 17:21

I work in admissions for medicine. 4 a levels are not helpful overall and check with the schools of choice but generally Chem and Bio are good and you could take drama as a 3rd choice if they wanted. What is important is their Medical admissions score, work experience and what they gained from it (we see 3000 statements and it's amazing how bland many of them are).

mumsneedwine · 29/10/2020 17:36

Nowhere needs maths. Biology and chemistry leave all options open. 3rd can be anything. DD has peers who took drama, pe, history, art. Getting the grades is most important thing 😊

randomsabreuse · 29/10/2020 17:56

Maths is definitely a helpful A-level for Chemistry and Biology, to the extent that my school ran a "Maths for Scientists" course for those not doing maths.

If he finds maths a relatively easy subject (for him) the overlap will actually mean less work.

Maths also has the advantage that it is very much a closed effort subject, no temptation to keep "improving" an answer. Essay subjects are much more time consuming, practical subjects will expand to take all available time and then some...

Just because maths is seen as 'hard' doesn't mean it will necessarily be super hard!

BobbinThreadbare123 · 29/10/2020 18:00

I used to teach the 'Oxbridge' class - physics looks good on a medical application. Very useful if you're considering anaesthesia as a specialism...

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 29/10/2020 18:06

My son has not applied for medicine but we were told at an information evening at sixth form that the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine requires

A A A at A level. Applicants must have A level passes in Chemistry and two of Biology/Human Biology, Physics, Mathematics.

So they do specify the 3rd subject. They might be alone in that but they do.

Good luck to your son. Medicine is very competitive to get into so the sooner he/you look at what can get you ahead the better.

Original poster
Georgieporgie29 · 29/10/2020 18:30

Thank you for this, these are all great ideas.
Tbh I don’t know how far he will go, this is the first time that he has actually made a decision about his future and whilst he is capable he doesn’t always put the effort in, however, since his decision he has really started focusing. I think he needed something to aim for. He has discussed being a surgeon but also going into the research side. I just wanted to support him the best I could but was getting confused by the third A level. He’s probably a steady grade 7 across the board with a couple of 8’s thrown in.
There’s definitely lots to think about here, I have forwarded all of the links to him and will go through the posts with him and hopefully it will give him a better idea.
Thank you all again.

OP posts:
NotDonna · 29/10/2020 18:40

Is he a decent mathematician? If he’s likely to get an 8/9 in gcse maths then he’s likely to get a decent grade in maths A level. He needs it to be an A grade for medicine. If he’s more like a 7/8 in gcse maths, then whilst an A at A level maths isn’t impossible he may be better off doing a 3rd subject that he personally finds easier in order to achieve that essential A. He also needs high grades for Chemistry & ideally biology. Highly competitive course that demands high grades, work experience and more than just an interest.

mumsneedwine · 29/10/2020 19:11

New maths A level is hard. Even kids who love maths end up hating it. I'd chose whatever he enjoys the most - only do maths if he really really loves it !
And all he needs are lots of 7s - don't believe the 'they must have 27 grade 9s'. Yes the better the grades the more options, but some Unis (Sheffield as an example) just specify a minimum and after that it's all down to UCAT. Some score GCSEs but 8/9 counts as the same.
Once he has his GCSEs he can narrow down his choices and then look at style of teaching - it varies a lot. Does he want dissection, early patient contact ?
Then it's the UCAT and/or BMAT. These are crucial as nearly all Unis use them for ranking (Cardiff use GCSEs and Exeter use predicted grades).
He will get the best results in subjects he enjoys. So 3rd A level should be a favourite subject. Good luck

fairydustandpixies · 29/10/2020 19:16

My DS took biology, chemistry and English. English was considered a good choice as it helps with essay writing. He's at Brighton med school.

Hopeful201 · 29/10/2020 19:31

My DS is doing Maths, Biology and Chem. He is interested in medicine, but we are really struggling with the volunteering side! Bit tricky right now.

mumsneedwine · 29/10/2020 19:43

@Hopeful201 there are some great on line MOOCS that the Unis like. Various ones about being a doctor.

mumsneedwine · 29/10/2020 19:48

bsmsoutreach.thinkific.com/courses/VWE

Original poster
Georgieporgie29 · 29/10/2020 19:51

He’s a 7/8 at maths. He does enjoy it but I’m nervous about doing it at A level. He’s predicted 7’s in English, however, I would say it is probably a low 7. Would geography be a good A level to try? He’s predicted an 8 and could probably push himself towards a 9 so he might enjoy the A level a bit more than English. He’s also doing history and enjoys that so that could be an option.
Yes, I think he may struggle with the volunteering side especially with the way things are at the moment.
I really do appreciate all this help, I never did A levels or university so this is all foreign to me.

OP posts:
EarlySignsOfSpring · 29/10/2020 20:14

Watching with interest for dc1.

Hopeful201 · 29/10/2020 21:02

Thanks @mumsneedwine

fairydustandpixies · 29/10/2020 21:09

Just noticed the volunteering comment - very important! My DS volunteered for six months in the local hospital, got a week of work experience at a GP surgery (including going out on house calls), volunteered at a nursing home and helped at a school in Kenya for a month whilst doing A levels and is now working part time in a hostel for vulnerable adults whilst doing his degree. All a bit different now I guess thanks to our dear friend Covid 🙄

Zodlebud · 29/10/2020 21:13

Do they still do maths with statistics at A-level? That’s what I did. It was half pure maths, half statistics. Arguably a little easier but it was so useful in my science degree. I actually enjoyed it too.

mumsneedwine · 29/10/2020 21:15

Mine volunteered at a riding stable teaching kids. Did 1week at GP and 3 days in a hospital. You never needed lots of volunteering as Unis are well aware that not everyone has access to doctors (or money). But she did have a job which they like. Shows commitment, time management, patience and customer service. So get a supermarket or McDonald's job. DD got 4 offers so it works.

Original poster
Georgieporgie29 · 29/10/2020 21:23

Would you look to do the volunteering beforehand, so whilst doing A levels? Or would you wait until starting uni?

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