A Level Workload/Doing 4 a levels for medicine

4

I have taken Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Classics in Yr 12 and everyone is warning me/scaring me about it being too much to handle in Yr 13, and I have to finalise my subjects for the next 2 years by the end of the week. So far, I am doing great in all of my subjects, but I don't know if I will be able to handle all of that next year. Classics is really enjoyable for me, probably my favourite so far, and maths is my most boring subject. I like Bio and Chem equally, which is why I wanted to take medicine in the first place. However, I covered most of the Yr 12 content for maths in Yr 11 anyway, and it would seem such a waste of that learning to not do it. I really want to get into oxbridge, but I don't want 4 a levels potentially ruining my chances.

Reply 1

Faisal101

18

Id highly suggest dropping one, as it won't help keeping 4, and theres a chance it might be detrimental. If youre applying to cambridge, they want 3 science a levels so you'd have to keep maths. For all other unis classics should be fine. There are definitely people who can cope with 4 a levels and get into med school, so its up to you whether you believe you will be abe to deal with the pressure

Reply 2

CatInTheCorner

19

cambridge will want maths, other than that you're fine. Oxbridge is not the best for medicine, medicine has no ranking, all unis are equal and employers are not allowed to look at which you went to.

Reply 3

McGinger

20

No UK Med School wants more than 3 A levels - you wont get an extra credit for doing 4, and AAA will always look better than ABBB.

List of entry requirements for each UK Med School - if you dont need Maths and you are more confident of an A grade from Classics, then its obvious which one to drop - https://www.medschools.ac.uk/media/2951/entry-requirements-document-2023-entry.pdf

Reply 4

theyoungsiward

OP

4

Thank you everyone!

Reply 5

StudyMind

8

Original post by theyoungsiward

I have taken Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Classics in Yr 12 and everyone is warning me/scaring me about it being too much to handle in Yr 13, and I have to finalise my subjects for the next 2 years by the end of the week. So far, I am doing great in all of my subjects, but I don't know if I will be able to handle all of that next year. Classics is really enjoyable for me, probably my favourite so far, and maths is my most boring subject. I like Bio and Chem equally, which is why I wanted to take medicine in the first place. However, I covered most of the Yr 12 content for maths in Yr 11 anyway, and it would seem such a waste of that learning to not do it. I really want to get into oxbridge, but I don't want 4 a levels potentially ruining my chances.

Heya!
Do you want to focus on medicine in the future? Cambridge medicine does prefer if you have maths as a 3rd a-level but there are plenty of other med schools that do not care what 3rd a-level you have (so don't only focus on Oxbridge for medicine as there are plenty of other good options!). Med schools only require you to have 3 a-levels + 4 a-levels can get very overwhelming as it gets closer to the exam time. So, you could drop maths and stick with chem, bio and classics (3 a-levels) and focus on applying to unis other than Cambridge. However, if you believe that you can handle it then go for it, some people do good even with 4 a-levels :h:

I hope this helps!
Milena G.
UCL PFE
Study Mind

A Level Workload/Doing 4 a levels for medicine

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