[BigDA]

Hi Everybody.


I'm a bit confused about retaking year 11 exams while doing AS level. Does the University you are applying to see that you retook these exams? Would it be better just to take a whole different GCSE? I'm aiming to get into Medicine , Currently predicted 7A*s 2As and 2Bs.

However the A*s are obviously could go either way ( Could be A or A*), Does anyone know if Universities can tell about GCSE retakes AFTER CERTIFICATION?

Someone please help, I'm really worried, I can handle the stress of the extra exams with AS so please don't go on about that.

[usycool1]

I think universities can see the date of your result, so they could use this to deduce whether you have resat an exam or not. But tbh, I don't think you should resit GCSEs in your AS year (unless you fail an important subject). Your predicted grades are good and an A grade is still really good. I'd advise you to just concentrate on your AS exams next year as they're much more important than GCSEs

[BigDA]

(Original post by usycool1)
I think universities can see the date of your result, so they could use this to deduce whether you have resat an exam or not. But tbh, I don't think you should resit GCSEs in your AS year (unless you fail an important subject). Your predicted grades are good and an A grade is still really good. I'd advise you to just concentrate on your AS exams next year as they're much more important than GCSEs

I can handle the extra exams easily next year. I just had family issues etc... Would Universities really care? I mean I am doing an extra GCSE next year anyway. If I do badly would an extra A level make up for it? I'm really quite confused.

[GreenLantern1]

(Original post by BigDA)
I can handle the extra exams easily next year. I just had family issues etc... Would Universities really care? I mean I am doing an extra GCSE next year anyway. If I do badly would an extra A level make up for it? I'm really quite confused.

Mate. Retaking GCSEs are pointless. Unis know that you have retaken them and so ignore them, as they want to see the grades you can achieve over the alloted 2 years.

If you had family issues then you apply for special consideration when choosing unis and they take this into account!

[usycool1]

(Original post by BigDA)
I can handle the extra exams easily next year. I just had family issues etc... Would Universities really care? I mean I am doing an extra GCSE next year anyway. If I do badly would an extra A level make up for it? I'm really quite confused.

How do you know you'll be able to handle the extra exams next year? AS is much harder than GCSE and you're probably doing AS chemistry (as you want to get into medicine), and chemistry is actually very hard at A-Level. It'd be better for you if you just concentrated on your A-Levels next year You may like to see this thread about GCSE resits.

Also, I don't want to sound like I'm trying to interfere with your plans or anything, but why are you taking an extra GCSE next year? There really isn't much point tbh; it won't help you much in your application. For your last question, are you asking if an extra A-Level will make up for a bad GCSE? If so, no, it won't

[BigDA]

[QUOTE=usycool1;38317222]How do you know you'll be able to handle the extra exams next year? AS is much harder than GCSE and you're probably doing AS chemistry (as you want to get into medicine), and chemistry is actually very hard at A-Level. It'd be better for you if you just concentrated on your A-Levels next year You may like to see this thread about GCSE resits.


Well the I did an extra course on top off the double science award you get , It was basically 60% of the AS exam we do in January for AS chemistry, but as an extension added onto GCSE for an extra GCSE. It wasn't as hard as everyone made out it to be, I found it quite easy , alright maybe if you have three OTHER AS's just as hard and double that much work it could be stressful I guess , but I believe its overrated in difficulty. I guess I can't really judge though WITHOUT having done it for myself so please don't take my word to heart. Alright yeah thanks.

Also I was thinking about doing another GCSE in a language I'm fluent in , Would this by any chance increase my chances of getting into medicine? Should I also do an A level in it?

[usycool1]

(Original post by BigDA)
Well the I did an extra course on top off the double science award you get , It was basically 60% of the AS exam we do in January for AS chemistry, but as an extension added onto GCSE for an extra GCSE. It wasn't as hard as everyone made out it to be, I found it quite easy , alright maybe if you have three OTHER AS's just as hard and double that much work it could be stressful I guess , but I believe its overrated in difficulty. I guess I can't really judge though WITHOUT having done it for myself so please don't take my word to heart. Alright yeah thanks.

Also I was thinking about doing another GCSE in a language I'm fluent in , Would this by any chance increase my chances of getting into medicine? Should I also do an A level in it?

The triple science course? I did that too and you're right, it does help a bit but not much imo for AS. Firstly, the exams in the extra science course at GCSE are far easier than the AS chemistry exams.

Well, if you're fluent in it and can score an A* easily, then you may as well go for it. I don't know if it'll help your chances of getting into medicine or not but tbh, you could do some work experience/voluntary work instead of more exams But if you can score an A* without much work, then I don't see any harm in doing it

[BigDA]

I was informed by the head of science at my college that it was practically the same stuff you had to learn at AS Chemistry as C7 and said when comparing the syllabus found 60% of it to be the same. So for the Chemistry exam board we are on at AS it seems to help a lot. But only up to January! (First exam) or 16.6% of the course.

(Original post by usycool1)
The triple science course? I did that too and you're right, it does help a bit but not much imo for AS. Firstly, the exams in the extra science course at GCSE are far easier than the AS chemistry exams.

Well, if you're fluent in it and can score an A* easily, then you may as well go for it. I don't know if it'll help your chances of getting into medicine or not but tbh, you could do some work experience/voluntary work instead of more exams But if you can score an A* without much work, then I don't see any harm in doing it