jasmine16193 (Offline)

-- like essay writing, something which A-level students who do pure sciences often struggle with at university.

Specifically with languages, you can do an "ab initio" language -- a language set at beginner's level for those who have never done the subject before. This may address your concerns about languages in the IB. But I don't think you'll be able to take up a language to SL or HL without prior experience and if you don't have any prior experience of languages then "ab initio" is the way to go.

I hope this helps! Good luck.

Kind regards
Naim

Hi Jasmine,

Thanks for your message, sorry for the late reply, I haven't really used TSR in a while and just stumbled back by chance.

Firstly I would say that neither IB nor A-levels will increase your chance of getting into medical school. You won't be discriminated 'for' by doing IB or 'against' by doing A-levels, or vice versa. So let your choice be a personal one based on the subject you want to do, rather than impressing medical schools.

Now with regards to IB, it's certainly more work than A-levels and I'd do it if you're interested in the wide range of subject you have to do. I specialised in the sciences and maths higher (chem, bio, maths) and English, French and psychology I took to standard level. If the thought of doing English or languages in sixth form really doesn't tickle your fancy then I'd stick with A-levels but if you don't mind these, it certainly adds breadth to your education and teaches you skills useful for university