Medicine - Which A Levels should I choose? Subject Dilemma

So I want to eventually study medicine in the future and I know that it is ridiculously competitive so I want to make the best decision I can about my A Level choices

I've just started year 11 and I want to go to a different sixth form in year 12


Here it is compulsory to study Health and Social Care as an A Level equivalent and then you can choose an addition of 2,3 or 4 other A levels from a specialised curriculum

So far I have my heart set on studying Maths, Biology and Chemistry in addition to the compulsory Health and Social Care. If I choose another A level, I would end up with 5 A2 Level subjects plus AS Geography (I'm studying that now in year 11 and I'm predicted an A)

Basically, my question is: Should I do physics (or a different A Level) too or would it be too much work for me? Do I just do physics to AS Level? Do I just do Bio, Chem, Maths, H&S care plus my AS Geography so that I have more study time?

Sorry for the long question, I'm really confused and I want to submit my application early.

Thank You

Hi. I'm not going for medicine but am currently an A2 student doing Chemistry, Biology, Geography. I did Maths at AS
Do not do 5 A-levels!
All you really need for medicine is your Chemistry & Biology. I'd suggest selecting easier A-levels after that. i.e. not the physics/maths unless you really want to.
The science a-levels are very hard especially the chemistry & I know physics A-level is a killer as well.
Make it easy for yourself because you may not realise now but Biology and Chemistry and Maths are very hard subjects & adding phsyics to that is sooo much work/difficulty.
Take an arts or humanities subject as your 3rd & 4th subject I'd suggest.

As you will already have an AS geography, would this count towards a uni offer as your fourth AS. I'm under the impression that some unis like to have all of the AS and A-Levels completed in the two years, so perhaps it would be safe to take a fourth AS, something which you enjoy and know you'd do well in, just so you have the grade (more important than the subject it's in).

I'm wondering about this too. I'm planning on taking maths, chemistry and biology and I'm not sure which fourth AS to take. I'm thinking French because I enjoy it, and I feel like I could do well, but it doesn't really link in with the other subjects which I'm taking. What do you think?

Why is the health and social care qualification compulsory? I've never come across this before. Is it compulsory for all A level students or just those studying the Sciences?


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Thank You

I'm 100% doing chemistry, biology and maths
Plus the health and social care qualification that I would have to do

I just didn't want for universities to see my H&S care qualification as not good enough so I didn't want to end up with 3 A2 levels because I know that many have 4.

The only problem with choosing an "easier" 4th A Level is that the sixth form I want to study at has a specialised curriculum so the only other options suitable for me are psychology and physics.

I'm the same

I'm sort of worried that the H&S care qualification I have to do (Which takes up as much time as an A level) might not count as a traditional A2 Level and would simply act as something to boost what I would already have.

The sixth form has a health specialised curriculum so it doesn't offer any humanities or art subjects that would typically be ""easier"". I could do psychology but I know that to some universities it is seen as not very valuable so I'm reluctant to take it.

I think French would be good to have at A level! It gives you life skills and adds some substance and personality to your application. I would just think about how good you are at it and if you could handle it amongst your other subjects.

The uni will not care about the H&S since you'll already be doing the core subjects of chemistry & biology.
I'd say choose psycholohy because it is easier.
Many people in my sixth form chose 3 sciences and maths and I know majority greatly regreted it because it it so hard.

It's a shame that your sixth form doesn't offer any non-medical related subjects, as this will make it a lot of work to keep up with. I'm not sure whether having 4 A2 levels is a huge advantage or not, because practically all unis base offers on 3 A2 levels I believe. However, I suppose it shows you can handle a heavy workload. I've heard that often work experience is highly regarded, especially for medicine, and often over extra qualifications, as long as you do very well in the ones you are taking.

Thanks for your reply over French. That has definitely make me feel more inclined to take it, plus I think it will 'break up' the hard work of taking a fourth subject such as physics or further maths (which would be my other options). Plus, I definitely enjoy it.

I would advise you not to take physics and do psychology instead. Since you're doing maths already, physics will be too difficult and you will probably not be able to cope with all of the complicated content. Psychology is a lot 'lighter' in understanding but will be as acceptable for your 4th AS/A2 as any other subject to be honest. I'm doing bio, chem, psychology & history. Most of my friends who did physics dropped out even though they got A*s in physics (triple) and maths at GCSE.

Yeah, thank you! I'll keep thinking about it and consider psychology

I definitely wouldn't base your decisions on what other people find easy or difficult.

Everyone is different, so make sure your choices are based on your strengths and preferences.

That is such a valid point :')

I think that for me it's more of a question of whether or not the workload would be too difficult rather than the subjects themselves. I would say that I'm good at sciences and I'm definitely interested so I just need to consider how much work they take.

Well I wouldn't necessarily assume that the sciences would have the highest workload. Again, that would depend on your individual strengths.