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Subject choice in S5

Hello, Need a little help/advise please.
I have just passed NAT5 and I am planning to do anatomy/medicine in future.
Subjects I am taking is Biology, Maths, English, RMPS. I am confused about the 5th subject as I need a scoring subject between modern studies and health and good technology.
Can someone please tell me which can be helpful further in uni and if not which is a scoring subject.

Many Thanks
Original post
by Ally15
Hello, Need a little help/advise please.
I have just passed NAT5 and I am planning to do anatomy/medicine in future.
Subjects I am taking is Biology, Maths, English, RMPS. I am confused about the 5th subject as I need a scoring subject between modern studies and health and good technology.
Can someone please tell me which can be helpful further in uni and if not which is a scoring subject.

Many Thanks


You're missing a required subject for medicine. To be able to study medicine at university you are going to need to take Higher Chemistry in S5 or S6. Are you in a position to be able to study Higher Chemistry this year or next? If not, you should take National 5 Chemistry this year.
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 2

Original post
by 1582
You're missing a required subject for medicine. To be able to study medicine at university you are going to need to take Higher Chemistry in S5 or S6. Are you in a position to be able to study Higher Chemistry this year or next? If not, you should take National 5 Chemistry this year.


Thanks for your reply. I know I am missing out on chemistry. I checked with couple of universities in Scotland one of them don’t need chemistry for anatomy and others would accept if I do Highers chemistry in S6 as crash.
Original post
by Ally15
Thanks for your reply. I know I am missing out on chemistry. I checked with couple of universities in Scotland one of them don’t need chemistry for anatomy and others would accept if I do Highers chemistry in S6 as crash.


Have you also checked if your school would allow you to do this in S6? If not, it would be good to get confirmation first. Chemistry is a very popular Higher at the school I work in, and it was over-subscribed this year so we weren't even able to offer all the Nat 5 Chemistry pupils wishing to do Higher a place.

Reply 4

Original post
by 1582
Have you also checked if your school would allow you to do this in S6? If not, it would be good to get confirmation first. Chemistry is a very popular Higher at the school I work in, and it was over-subscribed this year so we weren't even able to offer all the Nat 5 Chemistry pupils wishing to do Higher a place.


Yes, I have checked with the school. Basically I am trying to break subjects so I can focus more. I have spoken to them if I can either take bio or chemistry this year I.e. in S5 and other one in S6. They think it’s a sensibly decision.

Reply 5

Original post
by Ally15
Yes, I have checked with the school. Basically I am trying to break subjects so I can focus more. I have spoken to them if I can either take bio or chemistry this year I.e. in S5 and other one in S6. They think it’s a sensibly decision.


For medicine you would probably have to take advanced higher chem and bio in s6 tho?

Reply 6

Original post
by Saffronnn•
For medicine you would probably have to take advanced higher chem and bio in s6 tho?


That’s actually not right.
In some Scottish Uni’s you need Chemistry + Bio, Physics & maths recommended.
So, let’s say if I take chemistry and bio in highers and score an A I could apply for undergraduate prog. They need AABB in S5. If I get a B I would go for advanced highers in Chem and bio and take maths as a crash

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