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Med Students: Which A-levels did you do?

Helloooo!! I’m in yr11 (done my GCSE’s and waiting for results- hopefully they’re amazing so wish me luck 🙏🤞). I am stuck on which A-levels to choose, but I know as per med school requirements, you need to do Biology and chemistry, so I have those two, but I’m so stuck on what else to pick. So, I’m asking those of you who are in med school, which a levels you did.

Also, one more question- is an EPQ worth it? I want to do it, but I’m not sure if it’ll be too much workload and pressure.

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Outside of Cambridge (which functionally requires a 3rd STEM subject) and UCLan and Liverpool (which just state it needs to be "academic" which covers most A-level subjects that aren't vocational/applied or some creative subjects), medical schools don't care what your 3rd subject is. Just pick whatever you'll do best in - getting an A or A* is all you need to be aiming for from your third subject.

Note also that you don't need biology and chemistry for most medical schools, it's just strongly recommended to do both to give yourself the best range of medical schools to choose from when you ultimately apply so you can find 4 which you have a strong profile for (depending on how your GCSEs go, how UCAT goes, etc).

You can read more about medicine subjects here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5611422

There's no point doing the EPQ unless you specifically have a project in mind for it that you'd want to do anyway and is a good fit for the EPQ marking rubric. If you're only considering it to add to a list of random qualifications you've done, it's of no value.

Reply 2

Jonjon7

Original post by Nemyakoo

Helloooo!! I’m in yr11 (done my GCSE’s and waiting for results- hopefully they’re amazing so wish me luck 🙏🤞). I am stuck on which A-levels to choose, but I know as per med school requirements, you need to do Biology and chemistry, so I have those two, but I’m so stuck on what else to pick. So, I’m asking those of you who are in med school, which a levels you did.
Also, one more question- is an EPQ worth it? I want to do it, but I’m not sure if it’ll be too much workload and pressure.

I'm doing Chemistry, Bio, Physics and Maths + research project (EPQ - medical topic). Going to yr 13 in Sept and applying for medicine

Reply 3

imxa6

Study Forum Helper

Original post by Jonjon7

I'm doing Chemistry, Bio, Physics and Maths + research project (EPQ - medical topic). Going to yr 13 in Sept and applying for medicine

Just to add on to this, medical schools absolutely do not require more than 3 A-Levels no matter what. So don’t pressure yourself into doing more than you’re capable of- focus on 3 and try to get the best grades possible in them. Seconding the EPQ advice; unless you have specific topic in mind that goes well with the rubric, it probably wouldn’t be the best idea to do it. For options, Bio, Chem and Maths are typically your best medicine based subject picks. Of course, none of these are really necessary but pretty helpful to have.
Good luck!

Reply 4

Idk5677

Original post by Nemyakoo

Helloooo!! I’m in yr11 (done my GCSE’s and waiting for results- hopefully they’re amazing so wish me luck 🙏🤞). I am stuck on which A-levels to choose, but I know as per med school requirements, you need to do Biology and chemistry, so I have those two, but I’m so stuck on what else to pick. So, I’m asking those of you who are in med school, which a levels you did.
Also, one more question- is an EPQ worth it? I want to do it, but I’m not sure if it’ll be too much workload and pressure.

Hey! Y13 here who got two interviews for med.

Initially I did Chemistry, Biology , History and English Language, however I dropped English language at the start of y12 cause I couldn’t handle the workload. I kept history bc I love history however I lowkey regretted it bc it’s genuinely the hardest subject i’ve ever done and there is SO much content and each exam question has a diff essay structure but even then I don’t think i’d go back and not pick it bc it’s so interesting and fun😭

I also did an EPQ and regretted that as I couldn’t decide the topic so ended up choosing the most basic question ever the DAY BEFORE it was due so I had to write 5,000 words with references in one day 😭My epq teacher gave me a rough grade which is a B so I think do an EPQ if you know what you’re going to do it on

Reply 5

thetempesta

Original post by Nemyakoo

Helloooo!! I’m in yr11 (done my GCSE’s and waiting for results- hopefully they’re amazing so wish me luck 🙏🤞). I am stuck on which A-levels to choose, but I know as per med school requirements, you need to do Biology and chemistry, so I have those two, but I’m so stuck on what else to pick. So, I’m asking those of you who are in med school, which a levels you did.
Also, one more question- is an EPQ worth it? I want to do it, but I’m not sure if it’ll be too much workload and pressure.

hi! biology, chemistry and politics! i think epq isn’t worth it because universities don’t seem to care much about it when applying for medicine. For an epq, your required to write a 5000 word dissertation over you year 12 summer when you should be using that time to focus on UCAT and work for year 13! (make sure you enjoy having a break in year 12 summer too of course)

Reply 6

Jonjon7

Original post by thetempesta

Yea agree, if you write an EPQ about unicorns and its money trees, then its pointless for medical school.

But if you write an EPQ that is medical related, I am sure there will be loads of interesting discussion from the uni admission tutors during interview.

I did my research project and completed it in yr 12, ie this summer - no regret about doing research project

Reply 7

Henrytron

My son just secured his place doing medicine yesterday. His A levels were in Chemistry, biology, history and Welsh Bacc (like England’s general studies).

Reply 8

Jonjon7

Original post by Henrytron

My son just secured his place doing medicine yesterday. His A levels were in Chemistry, biology, history and Welsh Bacc (like England’s general studies).

Well done! What results predicted and actual did he achieved?

Also which med schools did he applied to and which is he going now?

Am planning for my med application once I finished my UCAT later this month

Reply 9

Studies123AL

Hey, I studied biology, chemistry, and psychology, and I don't regret it at all because there is a lot of crossover between the subjects, which makes it easier and more fun to study. I'm also doing the EPQ on a medical topic because I like research and had a topic in mind, but I wouldn't recommend it since it's a lot of work at a time when you have a million other more important things to do.