[s.was99]

Hi all,
I am currently in Year 10, sitting my GCSE's and I want some help choosing good A-Levels.I'm not really sure what job I want to do, but i know it's something in the medical field.
I've got a vague idea on what i want to choose, but i just want to know what I'll be studying and how hard they are, etc.
The four i'm thinking about are:
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
History- this one just looks out of place but it is easily my best subject
Some people are tellling me to do maths aswell

thanks in advance,

[vxrz]

Take physics out and replace it with maths - you don't need all three sciences.

[myyrh]

(Original post by s.was99)
Hi all,
I am currently in Year 10, sitting my GCSE's and I want some help choosing good A-Levels.I'm not really sure what job I want to do, but i know it's something in the medical field.
I've got a vague idea on what i want to choose, but i just want to know what I'll be studying and how hard they are, etc.
The four i'm thinking about are:
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
History- this one just looks out of place but it is easily my best subject
Some people are tellling me to do maths aswell

thanks in advance,

If you're interested in doing medicine then Biology and Chemistry are essential. The other two subjects should be what you enjoy and are confident of getting a high grade in. History is perfectly fine. Don't switch it with Maths if you don't want to.

[Dandaman9999]

Why are you choosing A-Levels in yr 10??

But anyway, you don't need maths for medicine.
What you are taking is fine since you've got chemistry (a must) and biology (some top unis want this) so you're not ruling out any universities.

And if you enjoy History then go for it. I took History too for next year (in yr 11 right now) and it isn't out of place at all. Do what you enjoy the most and want to do for the next two years.

[Dandaman9999]

(Original post by vxrz)
Take physics out and replace it with maths - you don't need all three sciences.

You don't need maths either.

[Picture~Perfect]

(Original post by myyrh)
If you're interested in doing medicine then Biology and Chemistry are essential. The other two subjects should be what you enjoy and are confident of getting a high grade in. History is perfectly fine. Don't switch it with Maths if you don't want to.

Actually biology is not prerequisite for studying medicine. I know many people think it is but actually most universities ask for AAA in chemistry and two other subjects at least one which should be biology, physics or mathematics. Nothing you learn in A-level biology is terribly useful for medicine as human biology at university starts from the basics.

To the OP
As I mentioned above chemistry is a must. I personally would recommend physics, especially if you get to do OCR physics A, as the A2 book includes a module on medical imaging. If you're interested in medicine, you enjoy this topic. In addition physics and mathematics really help to work on your problem solving skills. Though if biology is a favourite subject of yours then you should take it further. You should know that biology can be very hard as a lot of the exam work in based on application of knowledge.
As for your final subject pick something you enjoy/good at, if thats history then go for it.

Best for luck for the future

[myyrh]

(Original post by Picture~Perfect)
Actually biology is not prerequisite for studying medicine. I know many people think it is but actually most universities ask for AAA in chemistry and two other subjects at least one which should be biology, physics or mathematics. Nothing you learn in A-level biology is terribly useful for medicine as human biology at university starts from the basics.

To the OP
As I mentioned above chemistry is a must. I personally would recommend physics, especially if you get to do OCR physics A, as the A2 book includes a module on medical imaging. If you're interested in medicine, you enjoy this topic. In addition physics and mathematics really help to work on your problem solving skills. Though if biology is a favourite subject of yours then you should take it further. You should know that biology can be very hard as a lot of the exam work in based on application of knowledge.
As for your final subject pick something you enjoy/good at, if thats history then go for it.

Best for luck for the future

I'm well aware that Biology is not required for all medical schools and that many would be satisfied with it at just AS. However in general it's beneficial to take because if anything, at least you have more options of medical schools to choose from when it comes to applying.

[vxrz]

(Original post by Dandaman9999)
You don't need maths either.

Not if you want to keep your options open.

[Dandaman9999]

(Original post by vxrz)
Not if you want to keep your options open.

No university i've researched has ever had a requirement of maths at A-Level (at GCSE, yes). Have a look at the medicine forum and it says that you don't need maths to get into medicine. By not taking it he hasn't ruled out any possible universities.

However, I do agree it is a very useful and interesting A-Level (and I'm taking it) but I would recommend the OP should take what he feels the most confident in and what he enjoys the most... It's better to get a grade A in Physics than a grade B in maths, for example.

[Picture~Perfect]

(Original post by myyrh)
I'm well aware that Biology is not required for all medical schools and that many would be satisfied with it at just AS. However in general it's beneficial to take because if anything, at least you have more options of medical schools to choose from when it comes to applying.

I think the OP should know that biology isn't essential, they shouldn't feel that they have to take it. It's really a personal choice, if you don't want to study biology at A-level than you don't have to, yes it means you cut out a few university choices but not many.
I wish someone had told me that biology wasn't essential to go on to study medicine. Then I would of dropped it after AS...

[s.was99]

thanks for all the replies, they've helped a lot.
could you tell me what the syallabus is for the these subjects please?
Sciences=AQA
i'm not sure about history

[myyrh]

(Original post by s.was99)
thanks for all the replies, they've helped a lot.
could you tell me what the syallabus is for the these subjects please?
Sciences=AQA
i'm not sure about history

Go on the AQA website and have a look a the specification of the particular subject. It will show you what content you need to learn and what unit it's in although I'm puzzled as to why you are doing this whilst you're still in year 10

[Smko]

(Original post by vxrz)
Take physics out and replace it with maths - you don't need all three sciences.

Just saw this thread. Yeah maths would be good, but please DONT TAKE A SUBJECT LIKE GEOGRAPHY/HISTORY if you want to do something within the med field, dont bother!

You might aswell do 3 sciences and maths , thats the best thing

[myyrh]

(Original post by Smko)
Just saw this thread. Yeah maths would be good, but please DONT TAKE A SUBJECT LIKE GEOGRAPHY/HISTORY if you want to do something within the med field, dont bother!

You might aswell do 3 sciences and maths , thats the best thing

Why?

Doing 3 Sciences and Maths gives you absolutely no advantage whatsoever.

[Oaktree]

Biology and chemistry, definitly

Psychology if you want to go into mental health

Maths, if you think you will get a good grade, will give you an edge when applying for uni. But dont do it just because it gives you an edge, you wont be regected without it

Possibly a language? Would help get into a good uni, and would widen oppurtunities to where you can work as a doctor

my friend wants to be a doctor and she is taking Biology, chemistry, Maths, Further maths, and Spanish

Hope this helps

[brendonbackflip]

Biology and Chemistry you should definately keep.

There's nothing wrong with doing History, but if you're planning to take Phsyics, Maths is usually preferred - I know of colleges that don't let you take Phsyics if you don't do Maths. So my advice is look into your sixth form first of all to see what they say (at mine, you can get extra maths lessons to help you, yours might do similar) and make a decision.

You don't need Phsyics btw, so don't feel like you have to take it