Medical Prospects — Double or Triple Science at GCSE?

Hi everyone,

So I'm currently in Year 10, and my school has decided to switch up on everything they've been telling us for the last couple of years..specifically in terms of our choices at GCSE. My school is v strict but to be honest it seems as if they care about their own reputation as a school more than our individual desires for OUR OWN FUTURES. We were led on for an entire year and a half that if we worked hard we would be entered for the Triple Science GCSE course, but whoop-dee-doo, "it's so much better to focus on achieving 9s in double than reducing your average by taking triple" the literal second push comes to shove in Year 10 and they realise that they actually have to teach us something. I'm in the top set for everything and want to go into medicine, and the teachers know that, yet have decided to hold back 'more abled pupils', and definitely not only myself, just to play on the safe side? I made my disagreement clear along with my friends but now theyre only offering it on the basis of if we can acc learn the coursework ONE A WEEK FOR AN HOUR AFTER SCHOOL EVERY FRIDAY, and that's if the teacher can be bothered.

Anyway, it is what it is, I guess, but I'm not leaving without putting up a fight It's likely to be futile but whatever. I wanted to know if I still have a shot at medical school with just double science even though my school is a lying hell and led me on like I'm some kind of mug lmao. I know I'll be at a massive disadvantage at a-Level but obviously my school doesn't care !

Thanks x

Yep, it doesn't have any real benefit in terms of an application apart from gaining an extra GCSE. There isn't much in any of the science GCSEs which overlaps in A Level (with the specifications I did at A Level anyway)

Thanks for your reply! I've read that taking triple does prepare you better for a-Levels, but with the new harder 9-1 specification maybe the gap isn't quite so intimidating. Do you think having the extra GCSE would help in terms of an application process, particularly Oxbridge? Medicine is really competitive and a lot of applicants from the private sector may have likely taken the extra GCSEs. My school is now only offering the compulsory exams, maths, english and science, plus history, religious studies and french. I'm just worried that I will be at a disadvantage compared to what my competitors may be applying with :/

I am starting my journey through Medical school in 3 days, so what I can tell you is that there is no favoritism between either triple or dual science award, and I did the dual science award. No one in my classes could even remember any of the content from Biology or Chemistry GCSE.

Depending on how many GCSEs you're doing, it would be better to focus your efforts on gaining as many A*s in one less GCSE. If you're particularly fond of science and can excel, it would make sense to take triple science. That's an extra A* in the bag. If you're doing all the above, including English Lit that would be 8 GCSEs, and with triple science would be 9 GCSEs. There really isn't that much difference.

Hi everyone,

So I'm currently in Year 10, and my school has decided to switch up on everything they've been telling us for the last couple of years..specifically in terms of our choices at GCSE. My school is v strict but to be honest it seems as if they care about their own reputation as a school more than our individual desires for OUR OWN FUTURES. We were led on for an entire year and a half that if we worked hard we would be entered for the Triple Science GCSE course, but whoop-dee-doo, "it's so much better to focus on achieving 9s in double than reducing your average by taking triple" the literal second push comes to shove in Year 10 and they realise that they actually have to teach us something. I'm in the top set for everything and want to go into medicine, and the teachers know that, yet have decided to hold back 'more abled pupils', and definitely not only myself, just to play on the safe side? I made my disagreement clear along with my friends but now they're only offering it on the basis of if we want to study the course ONCE A WEEK FOR AN HOUR AFTER SCHOOL EVERY FRIDAY, and that's if the teacher can be bothered. Plus, the head of year actually told us that we have to learn 95% of the coursework independently.

Anyway, it is what it is, I guess, but I'm not leaving without putting up a fight It's likely to be futile but whatever. I wanted to know if I still have a shot at medical school with just double science even though my school is a lying hell and led me on like I'm some kind of mug lmao. I know I'll be at a massive disadvantage at a-Level but obviously my school doesn't care !

Thanks x

Hi everyone,

So I'm currently in Year 10, and my school has decided to switch up on everything they've been telling us for the last couple of years..specifically in terms of our choices at GCSE. My school is v strict but to be honest it seems as if they care about their own reputation as a school more than our individual desires for OUR OWN FUTURES. We were led on for an entire year and a half that if we worked hard we would be entered for the Triple Science GCSE course, but whoop-dee-doo, "it's so much better to focus on achieving 9s in double than reducing your average by taking triple" the literal second push comes to shove in Year 10 and they realise that they actually have to teach us something. I'm in the top set for everything and want to go into medicine, and the teachers know that, yet have decided to hold back 'more abled pupils', and definitely not only myself, just to play on the safe side? I made my disagreement clear along with my friends but now they're only offering it on the basis of if we want to study the course ONCE A WEEK FOR AN HOUR AFTER SCHOOL EVERY FRIDAY, and that's if the teacher can be bothered. Plus, the head of year actually told us that we have to learn 95% of the coursework independently.

Anyway, it is what it is, I guess, but I'm not leaving without putting up a fight It's likely to be futile but whatever. I wanted to know if I still have a shot at medical school with just double science even though my school is a lying hell and led me on like I'm some kind of mug lmao. I know I'll be at a massive disadvantage at a-Level but obviously my school doesn't care !

Thanks x

Considering my school has essentially given up on it, I don't think I have a choice. I was looking forward to it though. The school is literally trying to convince people not to take it and that only leaves myself and like two other friends who would actually work hard for it. But reading on your experience of taking the dual science award and getting into medicine is certainly uplifting. Thanks so much for your advice!

And congratulations for getting into medical school! You must've worked so incredibly hard for it. Wishing you the best of luck!

Im in year 10 too and desire to study Medicine at Cambridge! Honestly, dont worry just do well at Gcse and A-Level. Double science studentd dont have a disadvantage or anything so i wouldn't panic. And yes there are students who are taking triple science (like me lol) but that doesnt mean that they have a higher chance of getting in, they base it on other stuff such as extracurricular etc. Just work hard and hopefully we'll see each other at Cambridge in a few years haha (if you choose Cambridge! Lol)

Thank you! Yeah it seems like you've been put into a difficult situation. However, if you have a really big interest in science and want to get something from your hard work, I suggest having a look at online courses, you can find some great 2-6 week courses on Future Learn. I have done 4 to support my personal statement in the last 2 years, they're a bit of extra reading to talk about.
Good luck

It's my dream to study medicine at Cambridge as well! I got 100% in all my science exams containing questions taken exactly from past GCSE papers, but I guess it is the new specification that is making the school hesitant on continuing it

How is triple science looking for you, by the way? I'd like to get some kind of idea of what it entails, e.g how difficult it is compared to double science?

Hopefully we do see one another soon! x

As im very passionate for science, so from my point of view Triple Science is really interesting! I wouldn't say its more difficult that double science as we do the same things but it contains a bit more content. Xxxxx

You wont be at a disadvantage at A levels and you will not be at a disadvantage in terms of medical schools!
Strangely enough, I can agree with where your schools is coming from. It definitely is easier to get higher on double rather than triple as you do 3 less exams which is honestly a a lot when you're drowned in exams at the end of yr 11. By all means go for the extra sessions but don't feel as though you need to in any way. I got A*A at double science and am predicted A's in both Biology and Chemistry A level. I'm applying to medicine this year
If you really feel as though you'll be at a disadvantage in terms of A levels you can look over the triple stuff you've missed in the summer after year 11. Tbh though you won't need to - you get taught everything afresh at the start!
Yes I won't lie to you doing double might make the transition from GCSE to A levels a little harder for the first month or two. A year later now I honestly don't even think about the fact I didn't do a whole module at GCSE.
I know someone who did the single sciences and got A* in chemistry then had to drop out because they didn't work at A levels. A levels is more about hard work than natural talent. If you work hard you will definitely exceed even those who did triple.
Good Luck!

As someone who just finished their GCSEs this year, lemme explain:

Our school made the entire year do triple science, and honestly, it isn't that hard, it isn't anything super substantial that you wouldn't normally be doing, it's just a couple more units in specialised subjects. You only do 6 exams anyway, which are quite easy, as in GCSE you can get away with just cramming and recalling information in exams.

Honestly, Unis (if they care at all), only care about if you did good in the Sciences you DID do. However perhaps you would be showing yourself as a more academic individual from a younger age by doing TripScience.

As someone doing 2 sciences for A Level (FM, Maths, Phys, Chem), I can tell you that taking triple science will give you no advantages for A Level at all, as most of what they teach you in GCSE is in essence false, and in A Level is where it is corrected (i.e the way they teach about electron configuration), so regardless, you will be learning entirely fresh content regardless, so pick what you enjoy, and feel passionate about.

Well a head of year just called and said I can do it if everyone pulls through by Monday, which I'm pretty sure they will! We can be triple science / medicine / cambridge buddies now ahah! xx

Also, I didn't see the last part of your post where you were interested in what I was taking for GCSEs. It's:
English Language
English Literature
Maths
Double Science (+ Triple Science now I hope!)
Religious Studies
History
French

How about you? x

Omg we're taking the EXCACT same Gcse's but i also took Drama to balance it a bit! So now we're triple science/medicine/Cambridge/English lit +lang/Maths/Rs/History/ French buddies!!!!