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Retaking a levels for med

Nadi09

Is there anyone who retook their A levels and got into med ? I really need some motivation !! Thank you :smile:

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Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

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The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
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Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
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Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread
Medicine 2024 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
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Medicine Interview Discussion 2024 Entry
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Medical Schools Index 2024 Entry

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Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2025 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
GAMSAT 2025 / 2026 entry discussions megathread
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GCSE Requirements for Medicine
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Reply 2

Tara753

Original post by Nadi09

Is there anyone who retook their A levels and got into med ? I really need some motivation !! Thank you :smile:

yes I did

, more than happy to share my story

Reply 3

George&Mary

Original post by Nadi09

Is there anyone who retook their A levels and got into med ? I really need some motivation !! Thank you :smile:

Sorry to hear you are in this position. And yes. It happens tonlots of people. I remember a stat on here sometime ago that said 40% of people wouldn't make the necessary grade. Seems a high percentage to me, but on thr other hand there are lots of stories of good news in resit years.

This is the gap year thread. It may be resits it may be no offers, it may just be choice. But there are some interesting and inspiring stories there. (Open the spoilers).

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7209108

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 4

George&Mary

Original post by Tara753

yes I did

, more than happy to share my story

Please add your story on the gap year thread linked above if you would?

It's so nice to see the good news following adversity stories.

Reply 5

George&Mary

Here is the 2024 gap year thread

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7330165

There will be a 2025 thread shortly.

Reply 6

George&Mary

And the retake list. Upto date on the first post for 2024. You will need to check against the new policies for 2025 entry in due course. But this shows a bit of the detail.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6649138

Reply 7

Nadi09

Original post by George&Mary

Here is the 2024 gap year thread
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7330165
There will be a 2025 thread shortly.

Thanks so so much! Been feeling so down but this defo makes me feel motivated to do better

Reply 8

Nadi09

Original post by Tara753

yes I did

, more than happy to share my story

Hey Tara,
Please If you could I'd really appreciate it

Reply 9

George&Mary

Original post by Nadi09

Thanks so so much! Been feeling so down but this defo makes me feel motivated to do better

Here is a fab thread by ErasistratusV. You are not alone I promise you.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7435899

It is natural to feel a bit down. Check and rebook your UCAT now (dates go quick and you can always cancel).

Then, do nothing for a couple of days. Relax. Treat yourself. Get some fresh air.

Then pick yourself up and dive into UCAT prep and give yourself the best possible chance. The higher a score you can get the more resit unis are available to you. Pick carefully because some want A* in every resit. Some want A!

Good luck.

Reply 10

Nadi09

Original post by George&Mary

Here is a fab thread by ErasistratusV. You are not alone I promise you.
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7435899
It is natural to feel a bit down. Check and rebook your UCAT now (dates go quick and you can always cancel).
Then, do nothing for a couple of days. Relax. Treat yourself. Get some fresh air.
Then pick yourself up and dive into UCAT prep and give yourself the best possible chance. The higher a score you can get the more resit unis are available to you. Pick carefully because some want A* in every resit. Some want A!
Good luck.

Oh wow! Good to know thanks so much. Already booked ! Trying to see the brighter side. Thanks so much.

Reply 11

Nadi09

Original post by George&Mary

Here is a fab thread by ErasistratusV. You are not alone I promise you.
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7435899
It is natural to feel a bit down. Check and rebook your UCAT now (dates go quick and you can always cancel).
Then, do nothing for a couple of days. Relax. Treat yourself. Get some fresh air.
Then pick yourself up and dive into UCAT prep and give yourself the best possible chance. The higher a score you can get the more resit unis are available to you. Pick carefully because some want A* in every resit. Some want A!
Good luck.

Hey! I wanted to also ask if you knew of any threads of resit stories in particular ?

Reply 12

JFKT

Original post by Nadi09

Is there anyone who retook their A levels and got into med ? I really need some motivation !! Thank you :smile:

hey considering resitting since I missed out on the grades, are you in a similar situation?

Reply 13

gleeclubmediator

Original post by Nadi09

Is there anyone who retook their A levels and got into med ? I really need some motivation !! Thank you :smile:

i got ABB in 2023 BB in chem / history and resat getting AA in both today now im going to bristol for med!

let me know if you need help

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 14

Nadi09

Original post by JFKT

hey considering resitting since I missed out on the grades, are you in a similar situation?

Hiya! Yes I am. How are you doing?

Reply 15

Nadi09

Original post by gleeclubmediator

i got ABB in 2023 BB in chem / history and resat getting AA in both today now im going to bristol for med!
let me know if you need help

Hey! Congrats !!!! This is so reassuring. So did you only take one gap year? And did unis look at you differently compared to current year 13s considering your grade?

Reply 16

gleeclubmediator

Original post by Nadi09

Hey! Congrats !!!! This is so reassuring. So did you only take one gap year? And did unis look at you differently compared to current year 13s considering your grade?

nope they dont (well the ones i applied to) only newcastle would but i was eligible for PARTNERS which cancelled out the required raised grades which worked in my favour. I was extremely strategic this cycle unlike in 2023 but yh only 1 gap year

2023: i got 0 interview offers / got 2700 B1 / got ABB / gap year

2024: I got 4/4 interview offers / got 2980 B1 / 1 proper offer (not to do with my grades but my interview performance) / got AA / im going to bristol for med now and it was a standard offer since im not eligible for their contextual stuff

be very strategic and work hard and it'll pay off

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 17

Nadi09

Original post by gleeclubmediator

nope they dont (well the ones i applied to) only newcastle would but i was eligible for PARTNERS which cancelled out the required raised grades which worked in my favour. I was extremely strategic this cycle unlike in 2023 but yh only 1 gap year
2023: i got 0 interview offers / got 2700 B1 / got ABB / gap year
2024: I got 4/4 interview offers / got 2980 B1 / 1 proper offer (not to do with my grades but my interview performance) / got AA / im going to bristol for med now and it was a standard offer since im not eligible for their contextual stuff
be very strategic and work hard and it'll pay off

That's incredible ! You've done so well. How did you mentally get over the fact you had to retake? Was it a big deal to you? Idk rn it feels like a big blow. Also, Could you please direct me to good UCAT resources?
Thank you !!

Reply 18

Nadi09

Original post by gleeclubmediator

nope they dont (well the ones i applied to) only newcastle would but i was eligible for PARTNERS which cancelled out the required raised grades which worked in my favour. I was extremely strategic this cycle unlike in 2023 but yh only 1 gap year
2023: i got 0 interview offers / got 2700 B1 / got ABB / gap year
2024: I got 4/4 interview offers / got 2980 B1 / 1 proper offer (not to do with my grades but my interview performance) / got AA / im going to bristol for med now and it was a standard offer since im not eligible for their contextual stuff
be very strategic and work hard and it'll pay off

Also, with the ABB grades you attained why didn't you apply for gateway med?

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 19

UniofNottsEnq

Official Rep

Original post by Nadi09

Is there anyone who retook their A levels and got into med ? I really need some motivation !! Thank you :smile:

Hi there @Nadi09 - In order for us to be able to understand your situation a bit better, please feel free to send us an email to [email protected] and we can look into this for you.

Sam 😄