A Levels for Medicine

[Georgieporgie29]

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?

My advise as a teacher who worked in school Sixth Form as s tutor so dealing with UCAS statements and requirements would be

1. Do Biology and Chemistry
2. Do third subject with no coursework. I have seen very good students get so bogged down with their coursework it has negatively impacted their other 2 subjects.

Start by doing 4 A level and see how each goes in either AS or end of year 12 internal exams before dropping subject (not Biology or Chemistry) drop the one he gets lowest grade in. 3 Revise as you go. So, complete first and second unit then revise unit 1 whilst completing unit 3. Do unit 4 and at same time revise unit 2. This circular revision means more information sticks. Buy revision guide at beginning of course and use throughout rather than just last month. Do all the past papers available. Make spplication meaningful. Include voluntary work, DofE, Maths challenge, part time work and any sporting achievements. Admissions want candidates who are well rounded.

Good luck to your son.

The volunteering / relevant work experience etc and U.K. CAT needs to be done before the September of year 13 really so that it can go in the UCAS application personal statement. So years 11 and 12 are key and pretty pressured.

@Georgieporgie29 the courses I linked to are useful as Unis are aware it's tough to get experience at moment. I'd look for next summer and see if can get something planned - most GPs will take students so email a few practice managers. MIf Covid has gone away he might be lucky.
Google local hospitals and see if they offer a work shadowing or experience programme. Lots do for local kids. But you need to book them way in advance so be for next year anyway.
But you don't need loads of medical stuff. Volunteering in a caring environment is just as valuable. So things like cubs, sports clubs, care homes are useful.
Use this time to do research so ready to go once Covid has gone.

Chemistry, biology and maths is the normal, many have 4 a levels though, physics commonly but others have a non science subject for a 4th.

You do not need 4. No one counts 4. No Uni wants 4. 3 new A levels is enough because they are hard. An EPQ on a medical subject is more useful than a 4th A level as gives you something to talk about at interview. And can lower your offer (AAB at Sheffield is get an A on EPQ).

In case I wasn't clear. You don't need 4 A levels. You need 3 with very good grades.

Would you do an EPQ through sixth form or is it something you do yourself?
When he did his bronze DofE his volunteering was at our local Parkrun, we both carried on with the volunteering part afterwards (he runs it sometimes) after Covid we will both be going back to that so that’s a start I suppose.
Such great advise here, thank you so much.
I would have liked to go to actual open evenings, however, the two I have gone to have been virtual and covering a lot of subjects. One said 3 Alevels Chemistry, Biology and any other and one said chemistry, biology and maths, and that there is no such things as AS levels now and no point starting a 4th and stopping after the first year.

My dd is doing chem, physics and psychology.
Medicportal... Website mentioned up thread is brilliant to work out requirements for different schools.
She doesn't have great gcse results as was in hospital for most of Yr 10.
So we have filtered out uni by looking for ones that don't use gcse as criteria, and ones that don't insist on biology (most).

And my d is doing an epq in an ethical medical dilemma.
Volunteers in the prep part of school and has done copious amounts of varied work experience.
The extra curriculum stuff is really important, medical admissions want to see interesting well rounded resilient young people not just 4 A*

No point doing 4 A levels.

Chemistry is a must. Look at individual universities on UCAS to see if he has to take biology or can be more flexible. If he's thinking geography then I would take biology.

Volunteering ANYWHERE he can atm is vital, needs to be started before year 12.

GCSE grades are important too. 7s in maths/science etc will hold him back. He needs 8s at least. The other subjects need to be consistently high but not 27 9 grades like others said. Students who can't get an 8 at GCSE won't get an A at A level.

He does NOT need 8s and 7s will not hold him back. Might limit options but there are many many Med schools that have a minimum GCSE figure (6 x 7s) and once you've got they they don't care if you have a fist full of 9s. It carries no more weight, all done on UCAT.
Please please research yourself (Uni websites are brilliant - look for the selection criteria, not admissions). Lots of incorrect advice given out about medicine and it can be off putting as it sometimes seems like you need to be perfect to get in. You don't.
3 good A levels - bio and Chem keeps options open but lots only need one and Newcastle don't need either. EPQ done in either year 12 or early year 13, most schools offer it now. Volunteering on line as below, and park run sounds great. He needs to think what he learns from that (commitment, people skills, working as a team etc).

And I've taught a lot of students who got 6 or a 7 who got an A star at A level Chemistry. Maturity plays a huge part.

@mumsneedwine thank you. That’s a relief because I really don’t think he will get 8’s. He might get a couple at a push but I doubt any will be sciences.
We are going to have a proper sit down this weekend and work through everything thank you so much.

My dd got 7 in chemistry... 6 in maths, 6 in biology and 9 in physics.

She had missed most of Yr 9 and 10.

She is storming through a level chemistry, though does have 1:1 coaching to fill in gaps.
She is also enjoying it much more than she thought.
Her lower gcse results will limit her uni choices but she will still have a choice...
Do not get too panicked about people saying your ds will need all 9's to have a chance of doing well at a level and a chance at medical school.

I second what @mumsneedwine said... It is about a well rounded application, showing you have experienced the profession via work experience so you have some realistic idea of what being a doctor means.
And volunteering or part time job demonstrating commitment and experiencing caring as a "role".
My d godson got into Birmingham with ABB two yrs ago, as he had a fantastic range of experiences, work, volunteering and he interviewed well.
I work in medical education and am a doctor and I can say there is real intent to find young people who can demonstrate resilience and commitment and are well rounded rather than just those that can get a squillion A*