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GCSE Requirements for Medicine

I'm currently studying A-levels in Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry, and I am hoping to achieve three A* grades. Could anyone provide feedback on whether my academic profile is competitive enough for medical school entry, based on my GCSE results and A-level subjects? I'd really appreciate some honest opinions.
Please, please, please be completely realistic and brutally honest.

I'm currently thinking of applying to these unis: UCL, St. Andrews, Manchester, [St George's, Brunel Uni, East Anglia UAE] - two of.

In terms of my GCSEs, I achieved the following grades - they are pretty weak and I was really dissapointed but I cant change them now and I went to a very low performing public school for GCSEs then moved to a very very high performing private school for A-levels:

Mathematics: 9
English Language: 5
English Literature: 6
Statistics: 8
Geography: 7
Computer Science: 8
Biology: 7
Chemistry: 8
Physics: 8

I will also be resitting English Language in June of this year, hoping for an 8.
Also I will get a high UCAT and I have a lot of official and unofficial of work experience in england and in a third world country. I also have a few extracurriculars.

Reply 1

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.

Megathreads
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The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

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
A100 Medicine for International Students 2024 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2024 Entry
2024 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2024 Entry

2025 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2025 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
GAMSAT 2025 / 2026 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2025 Entry Discussions Megathread
Medicine 2025 entry for resit/ retake/ gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2025 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2025 Entry
2025 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2025 Entry

Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree

For Community Feedback:
Medicine Community Feedback and Suggestions

If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, 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.

Reply 2

Original post
by athherann16xxx
I'm currently studying A-levels in Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry, and I am hoping to achieve three A* grades. Could anyone provide feedback on whether my academic profile is competitive enough for medical school entry, based on my GCSE results and A-level subjects? I'd really appreciate some honest opinions.
Please, please, please be completely realistic and brutally honest.
I'm currently thinking of applying to these unis: UCL, St. Andrews, Manchester, [St George's, Brunel Uni, East Anglia UAE] - two of.
In terms of my GCSEs, I achieved the following grades - they are pretty weak and I was really dissapointed but I cant change them now and I went to a very low performing public school for GCSEs then moved to a very very high performing private school for A-levels:
Mathematics: 9
English Language: 5
English Literature: 6
Statistics: 8
Geography: 7
Computer Science: 8
Biology: 7
Chemistry: 8
Physics: 8
I will also be resitting English Language in June of this year, hoping for an 8.
Also I will get a high UCAT and I have a lot of official and unofficial of work experience in england and in a third world country. I also have a few extracurriculars.

Hi, in terms of GCSEs they seem to be good enough(sciences are mostly 8s and 9s so you should be fine) but resitting the English Language would be a must. Since I mentioned the resit, UCL has a NO for resits so maybe choose a different option. Please check on each university's website for resit policy or contact them via email/telephone if not sure so that you don't waste an option in your application. Manchester is fine with resits(you can resit as many times as you want with Manchester). University of central Lancashire are fine with grade 5 for English Language btw. Your choice of A-levels is good. Hope this helps, don't hesitate to reply to this if you need more help!

Reply 3

Original post
by bilal04
Hi, in terms of GCSEs they seem to be good enough(sciences are mostly 8s and 9s so you should be fine) but resitting the English Language would be a must. Since I mentioned the resit, UCL has a NO for resits so maybe choose a different option. Please check on each university's website for resit policy or contact them via email/telephone if not sure so that you don't waste an option in your application. Manchester is fine with resits(you can resit as many times as you want with Manchester). University of central Lancashire are fine with grade 5 for English Language btw. Your choice of A-levels is good. Hope this helps, don't hesitate to reply to this if you need more help!
don’t give false information they accept gcse resits

Reply 4

Original post
by bilal04
Hi, in terms of GCSEs they seem to be good enough(sciences are mostly 8s and 9s so you should be fine) but resitting the English Language would be a must. Since I mentioned the resit, UCL has a NO for resits so maybe choose a different option. Please check on each university's website for resit policy or contact them via email/telephone if not sure so that you don't waste an option in your application. Manchester is fine with resits(you can resit as many times as you want with Manchester). University of central Lancashire are fine with grade 5 for English Language btw. Your choice of A-levels is good. Hope this helps, don't hesitate to reply to this if you need more help!

thank you so much!! i will definitely resit just to make sure i have a good chance

Reply 5

Original post
by Logic1
don’t give false information they accept gcse resits

I didn't mean to give false information, I read that they don't accept resits from their website.

Reply 6

Original post
by athherann16xxx
thank you so much!! i will definitely resit just to make sure i have a good chance

You are very welcome. Best of luck!!

Reply 7

Original post
by bilal04
I didn't mean to give false information, I read that they don't accept resits from their website.

UCL accepts gcse resits for medicine not for a levels my friend literally goes there!!

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