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What do I do now ?

I take A-level Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I recently got my report which contains my year 12 mock results.
I got a U for chemistry, B for biology and an E for maths.
My dream uni is Imperial but ik they're not accepting me.
However will I even get into uni to do medicine even if I beg to bunk my grades up ?

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Original post by leeptsn
I take A-level Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I recently got my report which contains my year 12 mock results.
I got a U for chemistry, B for biology and an E for maths.
My dream uni is Imperial but ik they're not accepting me.
However will I even get into uni to do medicine even if I beg to bunk my grades up ?

do you know what went wrong with these exams e.g. lack of revision, lack of understanding etc? medicine will depend on what grades you will be predicted - different schools use different methods of determining them, e.g. some will simply ask what grades you want, but many will give you grades based on your mocks and end of topic tests. even if you do get your predicted grades bumped up to AAA, which you will generally need for an application for medicine unless contextual or apply to unis that don't look at predicted grades, which will limit your choices anyway, you will need to put in a lot of effort between now and end of y13 to ensure you actually achieve those high grades.

Reply 2

Original post by reubenn05
do you know what went wrong with these exams e.g. lack of revision, lack of understanding etc? medicine will depend on what grades you will be predicted - different schools use different methods of determining them, e.g. some will simply ask what grades you want, but many will give you grades based on your mocks and end of topic tests. even if you do get your predicted grades bumped up to AAA, which you will generally need for an application for medicine unless contextual or apply to unis that don't look at predicted grades, which will limit your choices anyway, you will need to put in a lot of effort between now and end of y13 to ensure you actually achieve those high grades.

Thank you so much for your reply! I'm really poor at chemistry and I don't think I put my 100% effort.
I have asked for a retake however it takes place early October which isn't really helpful since I need to apply earlier. But my chemistry teacher has set us an end of year test which she said we can use to bunk my grade up, however I don't know if I will get an AAA. I have also been seeing online you should aim for at least 1 A* which limits my options. I know I need to step up for year 13 and I have to focus on UCAT too.

Reply 3

Original post by leeptsn
I take A-level Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I recently got my report which contains my year 12 mock results.
I got a U for chemistry, B for biology and an E for maths.
My dream uni is Imperial but ik they're not accepting me.
However will I even get into uni to do medicine even if I beg to bunk my grades up ?

Hiya! I left school '23 and this is my experience seeing these sort of things. Firstly, when I was at your current point I think I was working at CCD, I got AAB in my A Levels and got accepted into all Russell group unis for September study (on a gap year). What I'm trying to say is that you still have time to improve, but you will have to work super hard for it, especially Chem and Maths. Speak to your Chemistry teacher and explain what's going on and ask about possibly moving your exam forward, or ask them to let just you do a test. If it doesn't work out this year, that's ok, you can go somewhere else and it'll work itself out and be the right uni for you. You could also end up taking a gap year and retaking one or two of your A Levels depending on how you do and then reapplying. You'll be ok no matter what happens, you clearly have drive or you wouldn't be asking for help. Hold onto that. Sending a lot of hugs, A Levels SUCK.

Reply 4

Original post by siennar
Hiya! I left school '23 and this is my experience seeing these sort of things. Firstly, when I was at your current point I think I was working at CCD, I got AAB in my A Levels and got accepted into all Russell group unis for September study (on a gap year). What I'm trying to say is that you still have time to improve, but you will have to work super hard for it, especially Chem and Maths. Speak to your Chemistry teacher and explain what's going on and ask about possibly moving your exam forward, or ask them to let just you do a test. If it doesn't work out this year, that's ok, you can go somewhere else and it'll work itself out and be the right uni for you. You could also end up taking a gap year and retaking one or two of your A Levels depending on how you do and then reapplying. You'll be ok no matter what happens, you clearly have drive or you wouldn't be asking for help. Hold onto that. Sending a lot of hugs, A Levels SUCK.
Thank you so so much I really appreciate it !!! I'll try and speak to my chemistry teachers hopefully they will understand. But I am trying my best but I can't get my head around chemistry at all. If you ahve any tips please let me know :smile:))

Reply 5

What do you do now?
You go and talk to the relevant teachers and ask for their help - that is what they are there for.

You then work your socks off to catch up.
You have a year to pull this out of the fire, and if you want it badly enough, you can do it.
Original post by leeptsn
I take A-level Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I recently got my report which contains my year 12 mock results.
I got a U for chemistry, B for biology and an E for maths.
My dream uni is Imperial but ik they're not accepting me.
However will I even get into uni to do medicine even if I beg to bunk my grades up ?
Frankly from your position a medicine application or an Imperial application isn’t realistic.

If you are serious about pursuing medicine I would restart A-levels and have significant changes to your studies.
Original post by leeptsn
Thank you so much for your reply! I'm really poor at chemistry and I don't think I put my 100% effort.
I have asked for a retake however it takes place early October which isn't really helpful since I need to apply earlier. But my chemistry teacher has set us an end of year test which she said we can use to bunk my grade up, however I don't know if I will get an AAA. I have also been seeing online you should aim for at least 1 A* which limits my options. I know I need to step up for year 13 and I have to focus on UCAT too.
I think some pragmatism should be taken. You received BEU, a strong candidate for the opportunities you want would be A*A*A… even if you pull the grades up through cramming now for 2-weeks, you will still have a fragile foundation for the rest of your continued studies, and medicine applications are due in October.
Original post by leeptsn
Thank you so much for your reply! I'm really poor at chemistry and I don't think I put my 100% effort.
I have asked for a retake however it takes place early October which isn't really helpful since I need to apply earlier. But my chemistry teacher has set us an end of year test which she said we can use to bunk my grade up, however I don't know if I will get an AAA. I have also been seeing online you should aim for at least 1 A* which limits my options. I know I need to step up for year 13 and I have to focus on UCAT too.

you only need an A* if you are applying to unis that require A*AA, but most unis do only require AAA, these are just minimum requirements so if you surpass them it doesn't give you any advantage. working hard over summer may help, possibly with a tutor as well for extra guidance, but this is not necessary. in my experience ucat prep didn't actually take up too much of my time, perhaps an hour a day for 2 months.

Reply 9

Original post by leeptsn
Thank you so so much I really appreciate it !!! I'll try and speak to my chemistry teachers hopefully they will understand. But I am trying my best but I can't get my head around chemistry at all. If you ahve any tips please let me know :smile:))


I’ve never taken chemistry a level, in fact I did everything I could to avoid science at A Level, but from seeing a few of my friends take it - if you don’t already have it buy the CGP. it’s genuinely a life saver for GCSE and they have them for A Level.

Reply 10

Frankly from your position a medicine application or an Imperial application isn’t realistic.
If you are serious about pursuing medicine I would restart A-levels and have significant changes to your studies.


Do you think that applying to Imperial is a waste of an application.
Original post by leeptsn
Do you think that applying to Imperial is a waste of an application.


Too early to tell. You don’t have predicted grades yet.

Reply 12

Original post by Admit-One
Too early to tell. You don’t have predicted grades yet.


It doesn’t even have to be imperial, all unis require minimum AAA pushing AAB, icl I’m so cooked
Original post by leeptsn
It doesn’t even have to be imperial, all unis require minimum AAA pushing AAB, icl I’m so cooked


Too early to stress about where you can and can't apply. Concentrate on getting the grades, either this year or next year with retakes.

Reply 14

Original post by leeptsn
Do you think that applying to Imperial is a waste of an application.
As the other poster suggests it is probably best focusing on finishing the year as strongly as possible and seeing your predictions when your school releases them.

But when you get you get your predictions unless you are realistically getting A*s & As Imperial applications are not worth it. Imperial regularly gets the strongest candidates from across the world. A lot of other universities will require As/Bs but have far less candidates per place (and more academic flexibility).

It’s not unusual for some unis to consider a broader candidate pool especially on results day. However Imperial is saturated with candidates performing im the top <1-5% from a huge international pool. Imperial/Oxbridge/LSE are a dice roll application for candidates with straight A*s.

Reply 15

As the other poster suggests it is probably best focusing on finishing the year as strongly as possible and seeing your predictions when your school releases them.
But when you get you get your predictions unless you are realistically getting A*s & As Imperial applications are not worth it. Imperial regularly gets the strongest candidates from across the world. A lot of other universities will require As/Bs but have far less candidates per place (and more academic flexibility).
It’s not unusual for some unis to consider a broader candidate pool especially on results day. However Imperial is saturated with candidates performing im the top <1-5% from a huge international pool. Imperial/Oxbridge/LSE are a dice roll application for candidates with straight A*s.


I understand I know I always make unrealistic goals that I know deep down I can’t reach or achieve. I’ll wait for my predicted grades and decide from there 🙏🏾

Reply 16

Original post by leeptsn
I understand I know I always make unrealistic goals that I know deep down I can’t reach or achieve. I’ll wait for my predicted grades and decide from there 🙏🏾

It’s ok to dream big.

I always advise all students enrolling at universities that the name on the door of your university is NOT the goal. University is a tool that you can use to learn knowledge & develop skills which you can use make an impact in an industry or field.

Wether you go to Imperial or another university shouldn’t detract from your ambitions. Id encourage you to work hard and keep open as many university doors as possible but focus on what you want out of the degree not the name of your university.

Once you finish your degree and your meeting with recruiters/key holders to future opportunities, they will ask you about what experiences you have & how you can help them not where did you live for the past 4 years.

Reply 17

It’s ok to dream big.
I always advise all students enrolling at universities that the name on the door of your university is NOT the goal. University is a tool that you can use to learn knowledge & develop skills which you can use make an impact in an industry or field.
Wether you go to Imperial or another university shouldn’t detract from your ambitions. Id encourage you to work hard and keep open as many university doors as possible but focus on what you want out of the degree not the name of your university.
Once you finish your degree and your meeting with recruiters/key holders to future opportunities, they will ask you about what experiences you have & how you can help them not where did you live for the past 4 years.


I understand thank you so much!
I’ll try my hardest to do well

Reply 18

Original post by leeptsn
I take A-level Chemistry, Biology and Maths. I recently got my report which contains my year 12 mock results.
I got a U for chemistry, B for biology and an E for maths.
My dream uni is Imperial but ik they're not accepting me.
However will I even get into uni to do medicine even if I beg to bunk my grades up ?

Hey, I applied to medicine this year and tbh some unis dont even care about predicted grades. none of my unis looked at them so I guess it does depend on the uni. For now, id say to really concentrate on improving your grades, and practicing for the ucat as the ucat is such a strong element in the application process. Good luck and do ask questions if youre unsure!

Reply 19

Original post by Pringles2006
Hey, I applied to medicine this year and tbh some unis dont even care about predicted grades. none of my unis looked at them so I guess it does depend on the uni. For now, id say to really concentrate on improving your grades, and practicing for the ucat as the ucat is such a strong element in the application process. Good luck and do ask questions if youre unsure!

Thank you so much for your reply!
By any chance could you say what unis you applied for just to get the idea and your mock results.
And do you have any ucat tips, I am trying to start but idk where and how to start.

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