[Bhalraam32]

Hi guys,

I'm a Singaporean with the following results

Dear Sir/Mdm,

I have just completed my GCE A Levels in Singapore in 2011 with the following results:

H2 Biology*- A
H2 Chemistry -*A
H2 Mathematics -*B
H1 Economics - A
H1 Project Work - A
H1 General Paper - C
H3 Pharmaceutical Chemistry - Merit

H1 - AS Level equivalent*
H2 - A level equivalent
H3 - University Standard Examination (http://www.seab.gov.sg/aLevel/2013Sy.../9812_2013.pdf)
* * * *(Only offered to*candidates*with high*proficiency*in H2 Chemistry)

I had previously taken GCE O Levels in 2009 with the following results:
English Language - B4
Physics - A2
Chemistry - A2
Biology - A2
Elementary Mathematics - A1
Additional Mathematics - A2
Combined Humanities (Geography) - A1

The highest grade attainable for the Singaporean A levels is an A and not an A* which i see repeatedly online with regards to the UK A levels.

So basically, could I get a 5 year Med school Course in UK or would I have to end up taking a foundation year?

Thanks.

[Vulpes]

Instead of all of you quoting the wiki, it might be better to quote the actual Sheffield page:

GCSE requirements

You must have GCSE passes, or their equivalent, at grade C or above in Mathematics, English and the Sciences (which may be dual awards). You should have at least six A grades in GCSE subjects.

http://shef.ac.uk/medicine/prospecti...g/entryrequire

[Domxmb]

(Original post by fallenangel)
My work experience was minimal (I tried for ages, but just struggled to secure anything longer than a few days)

But I made the most of the experience I did get - my reflection certainly helped. It's honestly quality over quantity.

Yeah that's why I'm sort of happy I get to see a lot of different departments ad I'll bring a notepad and write everything vaguely useful down on it.

[Aquar]

(Original post by myyrh)
Honestly they're absolutely fine for medicine, why is your school giving you mixed opinions ?

I go to a very high-achieving school, and it's as if they are trying to put people off medicine to ensure that only those who are truly serious go through with it. I'm not really sure, but I've had my head of year say that I don't have a good chance, but the Assistant Head said I should have a chance if I get my predictions.

All my head of year and others keep telling me is if you're not getting 90% or more A*s at GCSE then you're facing a lot of competition and don't have much of a chance.

[myyrh]

(Original post by Aquar)
I go to a very high-achieving school, and it's as if they are trying to put people off medicine to ensure that only those who are truly serious go through with it. I'm not really sure, but I've had my head of year say that I don't have a good chance, but the Assistant Head said I should have a chance if I get my predictions.

All my head of year and others keep telling me is if you're not getting 90% or more A*s at GCSE then you're facing a lot of competition and don't have much of a chance.

I know what you mean, the head of year in my school also went on preaching about needing 6A*s to stand a chance In reality plenty get in with far far lower grades at GCSE. It's laughable how little schools actually know when it comes to applying for medicine. The whole 90% A* thing is only really applicable for Oxford with a few other schools requiring high numbers of A*s. The best place for information on entry requirements will always be from the universities themselves, the rest should be taken with a pinch of salt.

[AishaTara]

(Original post by Aquar)
I go to a very high-achieving school, and it's as if they are trying to put people off medicine to ensure that only those who are truly serious go through with it. I'm not really sure, but I've had my head of year say that I don't have a good chance, but the Assistant Head said I should have a chance if I get my predictions.

All my head of year and others keep telling me is if you're not getting 90% or more A*s at GCSE then you're facing a lot of competition and don't have much of a chance.

please please please don't listen to this. im in the same situation - at my school there are two girls for instance with straight A*s but no people skills, and many other potential doctors with 5a* and amazing people skills and other attributes and teachers are trying to deter them.
Schools say this as they hope to get you to apply else where, and be almost certain of an offer to result in a higher university success rate, as in reality if 20 people apply for medicine not all are going to get in. I know many people with straight A*s who got rejected and believe its due to their academics solely because they dont seem to get that medicine is also about more then grades.
At the same time I've met people with NO A*s and got in, and infact teachers told them not to apply as they got a B in AS chem, but they still got an offer, so don't take it to heart, and don't give up. Its your future not theirs, and you'll never know until you try

[Brainsandgains]

I know they require 6A's but if I got the A levels do you not think I would get away with it?

[myyrh]

(Original post by Brainsandgains)
I know they require 6A's but if I got the A levels do you not think I would get away with it?

Doesn't work like that. Your GCSEs are screened first to make sure you meet the minimum requirements regardless of your A levels. They set a particular cut off like that because it just helps cut down the numbers of applicants who make it to the non academic screening stage.

[mia_hilton]

Hi, i'm currently sitting my GCSE's and all I've ever wanted to do is medicine, i'm on track to getting 10-12 A*'s and am going to take Biology Chemistry Maths Geography for A-levels what are my chances in getting into Oxford Medical Uni?

[myyrh]

(Original post by mia_hilton)
Hi, i'm currently sitting my GCSE's and all I've ever wanted to do is medicine, i'm on track to getting 10-12 A*'s and am going to take Biology Chemistry Maths Geography for A-levels what are my chances in getting into Oxford Medical Uni?

Well academically you're fine provided you get AAAA at AS. However you should know that a lot more goes in to applying other than just academics. No one can really give you a definitive answer. Right now just focus on getting those string of A*s because applying is still a while off.

[Aquar]

(Original post by AishaTara)
please please please don't listen to this. im in the same situation - at my school there are two girls for instance with straight A*s but no people skills, and many other potential doctors with 5a* and amazing people skills and other attributes and teachers are trying to deter them.
Schools say this as they hope to get you to apply else where, and be almost certain of an offer to result in a higher university success rate, as in reality if 20 people apply for medicine not all are going to get in. I know many people with straight A*s who got rejected and believe its due to their academics solely because they dont seem to get that medicine is also about more then grades.
At the same time I've met people with NO A*s and got in, and infact teachers told them not to apply as they got a B in AS chem, but they still got an offer, so don't take it to heart, and don't give up. Its your future not theirs, and you'll never know until you try

Thank you so much, seriously! I'm definitely going to try now regardless of what they say, it's what I want to do and I know that I can if I try.

Good luck in everything you do, and thanks!

[zhang599]

(Original post by mia_hilton)
Hi, i'm currently sitting my GCSE's and all I've ever wanted to do is medicine, i'm on track to getting 10-12 A*'s and am going to take Biology Chemistry Maths Geography for A-levels what are my chances in getting into Oxford Medical Uni?

Oxford Med looks at the ratio of A*s to Number of GCSEs taken so try and get as many A*s as possible. At AS level you'll need to get all As, get a good score at the BMAT and have a decent Personal Statement. If all this is good then you'll be selected for an interview and your performance at the interview will determine whether you get an offer or not. But for now just focus on your GCSEs and afterwards think about arranging work experience/voluntary placements

(Original post by Aquar)
Thank you so much, seriously! I'm definitely going to try now regardless of what they say, it's what I want to do and I know that I can if I try.
Good luck in everything you do, and thanks!

AishaTara is right, if you don't get like 8+ A*s then it only means you can't apply to GCSE loving schools like Birmingham. There's still plenty of other med schools that don't look too strongly on GCSEs. There are plenty of other aspects in medicine application - quality of personal statement, UKCAT/BMAT scores and interview performace. Although having strong strong academics will only help strengthen your application

[m.a.n]

are my grades good enough for medical school
Eng lang- A* Eng lit- A* Maths- A Maths IGCSE- A Science A Additional science- A History- A
ICT- A RE- A Arabic-A Turkish IGCSE-B

A levels- Chemistry-A Biology- A* Maths-A History (as) A

[m.a.n]

are my grades good enough for medical school
Eng lang- A* Eng lit- A* Maths- A Maths IGCSE- A Science A Additional science- A History- A
ICT- A RE- A Arabic-A Turkish IGCSE-B

A levels- Chemistry-A Biology- A* Maths-A History (as) A

[myyrh]

(Original post by m.a.n)
are my grades good enough for medical school
Eng lang- A* Eng lit- A* Maths- A Maths IGCSE- A Science A Additional science- A History- A
ICT- A RE- A Arabic-A Turkish IGCSE-B

A levels- Chemistry-A Biology- A* Maths-A History (as) A

What do you think?

[AishaTara]

(Original post by Aquar)
Thank you so much, seriously! I'm definitely going to try now regardless of what they say, it's what I want to do and I know that I can if I try.

Good luck in everything you do, and thanks!

no worries im speaking from experience though. I would get myself wound up with their negativity, and infact it affects both your performance and self esteem so badly :/
prove them wrong! :')

[_sparks]

Hi I'm planning to apply to medicine.
I completed my GCSEs this year and got 8A*s 1A 1B 2Cs
However I got a C in GCSE English and a B in GCSE English Literature
Can I still apply to Unis which require a B for medicine?
Please give some advice.
Thanks.

[Vulpes]

(Original post by _sparks)
Hi I'm planning to apply to medicine.
I completed my GCSEs this year and got 8A*s 1A 1B 2Cs
However I got a C in GCSE English and a B in GCSE English Literature
Can I still apply to Unis which require a C for medicine?
Please give some advice.
Thanks.

You achieved a C in GCSE English and you intend to apply to universities that require a C. Whats the problem?

[HassanAD]

I'm looking into doing medicine at uni and I picked my A levels subjects according to what I will need to do medicine at uni and they are Maths, Biology, Chemistry and RE (might change RE to physics, music or physcology). I got offers from the sixth forms I applied to do those subjects, so no problem there.

Now I'm doing my GCSE exams this month and tbh they are good grades accept for English. I think I need a B in English language to get into any medical course but I got a C overall. In English Literature I MIGHT be able to get a B. Apart from that I have all A*'s and A's including maths and science.

So my question is would I still be able to do medicine at uni with a C in English language for my GCSE?

I know I will be able to get the grades in A level because I am dedicating myself to studying through out to get the A* and A's and I'm also doing the subjects I like so it makes it even easier.

[myyrh]

(Original post by HassanAD)
I'm looking into doing medicine at uni and I picked my A levels subjects according to what I will need to do medicine at uni and they are Maths, Biology, Chemistry and RE (might change RE to physics, music or physcology). I got offers from the sixth forms I applied to do those subjects, so no problem there.

Now I'm doing my GCSE exams this month and tbh they are good grades accept for English. I think I need a B in English language to get into any medical course but I got a C overall. In English Literature I MIGHT be able to get a B. Apart from that I have all A*'s and A's including maths and science.

So my question is would I still be able to do medicine at uni with a C in English language for my GCSE?

I know I will be able to get the grades in A level because I am dedicating myself to studying through out to get the A* and A's and I'm also doing the subjects I like so it makes it even easier.

It's possible but you'll make it really hard for yourself because very few medical schools accept applicants with a C in English language so your choices will be very narrowed. You could resit the English Language in your sixth form years. If you are doing your GCSEs now then there is still a chance to bring that English Language grade up.