Grow Your Grades: Medicine

Hii I'm Amy. I'm 17 years old, a sixth form student currently studying for my AS level examinations this year and subsequently my A Level examinations next year.

Within my GCSEs I obtained a total of 8 A* and 2 A grades. Currently I am studying for A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Spanish. I hope to study Medicine in the future, possibly entering the paediatrics field yet I'm still uncertain about what I would like to specialise in. I would love to study at Cambridge (although this is highly unattainable), Edinburgh, Manchester or Liverpool. Therefore it's extremely important that I aim for the highest grades possible

Aspirational AS Grades:

Biology - A
Chemistry - A
Maths - A
Spanish - A

December 2015 Mock Grades:

Biology - A (highest in class, with 84% total)
Chemistry - C (60%, DESPERATELY need to work on this!)
Maths - A (81%)
Spanish - A (100%)

I'm aiming for high UMS, possibly above 93% in order to be ranked relatively high in my Cambridge applications. So I am working on Chemistry frantically, since ultimately this is essential for medicine!

Extra Curriculars to boost Medicine Application:

-World Challenge Volunteering Expedition to Sri Lanka
-Volunteering at local hospital, 4hrs per week
-Shadowing consultants at local children's hospital (useful paediatrics experience!)
-Work experience placement at Women's Hospital in the gynaecology outpatient ward
-Work experience placement at local neurology centre
-6th form introduction to medicine course
-Helping lower years in maths lessons

Other programmes I've applied to (not yet received replies indicating failure or acceptance ):
-Cambridge University Shadowing Scheme (lucky enough to receive a place during week 2 at Pembroke College to study Natural Sciences. Planning on attending numerous medicine lectures and visit a 'Life as a Medic' Course!)
-Cambridge Genetics and Biochemistry Masterclass
-Nuffield Foundation Research Placement
-Sutton Trust Summer Schools
-Unilever Work Experience Placement
-Cambridge Magdalene College a Residential
-Oxford Uniq Summer School
-Liverpool scholars programme
-Social Mobility Foundation

I'm currently part of my school's More Able Programme. I'm also working towards 25 community hours, after which I will earn an employability award. I was a GirlGuide for 5 years where I completed numerous activities raising awareness of local charities.

I did gymnastics and dance for many years yet I eventually quit due to school requirements.

Revision Schedule:

At the moment I am planning on revising for 3 or 4 hours per weekday, steadily increasing closer to exam time. During weekends I often revise more, depending on other responsibilities.

I am hoping to finish writing my revision notes as soon as I learn the content in lessons, allowing me to have more time for exam preparation in which I will consolidate knowledge previously accumulated through revision and lessons. In this way I will have full understanding of the topics whilst also having awareness of the typical exam questions, their expectations and how to approach them. I will also attempt to teach myself further units in order to increase time efficiency so it's not all rushed near May/June. Exam season is stressful enough - I need to make myself feel as prepared as possible haha!

In order to improve my chemistry grade, I'm planning on using numerous resources. Personally I enjoy using the ChemGuide website which I find to be very thorough and detailed, providing both difficult and simple examples of mechanisms and concepts, meaning the more complex exam questions are easier to approach. I am a visual learner, so I enjoy watching videos and looking at bright colours to help me remember important details. My favourite method of revision is drawing out mind maps, posters, diagrams... I also enjoy watching Tyler DeWitt videos on YouTube, as well as Allery Tutors and CrashCourse Chemistry. I find that this has helped me to ensure I fully understand the content. Revision for biology follows a similar pattern.

As for Spanish, I plan to write at least one essay per week for each relevant topic. I currently attend a Spanish speaking session each week with a native in which I prepare for my Spanish oral exam.

For maths, I plan on completing a past paper a week alongside Solomon papers. I enjoy watching YouTube videos by ExamSolutions which are extremely useful when revising the more difficult exam questions.

During the summer I am planning on reading A LOT of medicine related books, as well as preparing for medical admission tests (BMAT/UKCAT).

Medicine books I'm interested in:
-A very short introduction to medical ethics
-The Checklist
-In Stitches
-So you want to be a doctor: the ultimate guide to getting into medical school
-The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a hat

Motivation for studying:

I honestly just want to make my parents proud. I'm so grateful to have an education so I might as well make the most of it

Of course haha I'm very passionate about languages and I have been on a Spanish exchange which sort of shows my communication skills. I did a lot of competitive gymnastics which shows balance i think. I also was a girl guide which is non academic and I'm planning on doing St. John's ambulance which could be classed as non academic I think? Haha idk, but of course I spend a lot of free time with my friends. I don't think I could deal with all the pressure from school if I didn't have my friends supporting me, they're like my saviours. My best friend goes to a different sixth form so we always spend time together during the weekend

Revision Timetable:
Currently it is my half term. Over the past three days I completed a 6th Form Introduction to Medicine course which I found extremely interesting. I particularly enjoyed shadowing doctors within A+E because I had proper patient contact and took part in the diagnosis and treatment of their problems. I really enjoyed the high pressure environment so I am now considering a career in paediatric A+E! It was lovely meeting one of my friends from my previous sixth form since I didn't realise she also wanted to do medicine.
However I still have an awful lot of both revision and homework to complete before Monday when I return to school so I'm making this timetable to organise my time efficiently. I am currently mentally exhausted after the past few days so I'm looking forward to catch up on my sleep and begin powering through my heavy workload.

Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: I've also recently found out that I have been accepted onto the Oxford Pathways Study Days to study Biomedical Science which I'm really excited about!

Gosh! What a busy week, although with your motivation you are sure to do well

Best of luck

Hi! Did you use the Specimen paper as the mock for Chemistry? If so it was a real killer. I think over the two classes in my sixth form the average grade was a U!

Hi! Did you use the Specimen paper as the mock for Chemistry? If so it was a real killer. I think over the two classes in my sixth form the average grade was a U!

Hi!

Hopefully potential medic here too your profile sounds amazing and I'm really struggling to work out how you have time for everything haha! But keep it up!

My school used questions from the Aqa spec paper for our mock and they were really tough: enough so that the grade boundaries were lowered so 65% was an A! I only just managed to scrape an A but we're about two weeks from finishing our course so I think that'll give enough time to do more questions from the new specification.

You've signed up for so many programmes! It's nice to come across someone so motivated about what they want to do.

Good luck revising over the remaining weeks of Easter!


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