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IM taking my ALEVELs Should i DROP BIOLOGY to enter MEDICINE

hi there guys,

I have had some health problems and such in the past. causing me to do pretty bad on my alevels. I got a B in biology but lower grades for Psychology and Chemistry. I had previously wanted to apply to medicine and REALLY still want to apply for it.

To apply whilst being a resit student, i must have gotten at least AAB. so i got that B already in BIOLOGY.

As you know we are about 2 months away from the main exams and 1 and a half months away from psychology.

I am retaking the alevels this year, and i have finished modules 2345 for chemistry, only module 6 to go. I have done questions too and im pretty decent. but considering i did really badly last year i want to get better grades this year. Get those 2 As at least. I want to apply to medicine and due to my health issues i didnt take the UCAT this year.

for chemistry i still have module 6 to do, and then spam past papers.

For psychology i was really good at it despite the grade C, the knowledge comes easy to me. and i still got my decent notes from last year. my plan for the next month and half is to crack down on doing questions for all the topics.

And for biology it was my strongest but to get that A i need to do hella questions and just re memorise the text book.

I havent really started much of biology nor psychology. spending my time trying to learn Chemistry properly.

SInce i would have to apply for medicine next year. my previous plans were to get the grades for medicine this year, take the ucat and do it a day before alevels results. then call all the unis to see if there are clearing spots for medicine.

But now im thinking to myself. If i cancel my resit for biology, and purely focus on chemistry and Psychology. I will surely do very well in both, This would mean i would have to cancel any plans on applying for clearing spots, and have to apply next year as a resit student.

I am not trying to get into any heavily competitve uni for medicine either. I just want to get in.


What is your advice people. I really need some help. Do i drop it, or keep it and put strain on my other 2 subjects ?
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 1

I would suggest you re-consider whether applying for medicine is the best option for you….it’s a really hard,long course with yet more exams after qualification and there may be other health care careers that are far more suited to you. I am so glad now that I didn’t get the grades I needed and even though I retook and achieved top grades, I am so glad I went down a different path.

Reply 2

Original post
by zynnjah123
hi there guys,
I have had some health problems and such in the past. causing me to do pretty bad on my alevels. I got a B in biology but lower grades for Psychology and Chemistry. I had previously wanted to apply to medicine and REALLY still want to apply for it.
To apply whilst being a resit student, i must have gotten at least AAB. so i got that B already in BIOLOGY.
As you know we are about 2 months away from the main exams and 1 and a half months away from psychology.
I am retaking the alevels this year, and i have finished modules 2345 for chemistry, only module 6 to go. I have done questions too and im pretty decent. but considering i did really badly last year i want to get better grades this year. Get those 2 As at least. I want to apply to medicine and due to my health issues i didnt take the UCAT this year.
for chemistry i still have module 6 to do, and then spam past papers.
For psychology i was really good at it despite the grade C, the knowledge comes easy to me. and i still got my decent notes from last year. my plan for the next month and half is to crack down on doing questions for all the topics.
And for biology it was my strongest but to get that A i need to do hella questions and just re memorise the text book.
I havent really started much of biology nor psychology. spending my time trying to learn Chemistry properly.
SInce i would have to apply for medicine next year. my previous plans were to get the grades for medicine this year, take the ucat and do it a day before alevels results. then call all the unis to see if there are clearing spots for medicine.
But now im thinking to myself. If i cancel my resit for biology, and purely focus on chemistry and Psychology. I will surely do very well in both, This would mean i would have to cancel any plans on applying for clearing spots, and have to apply next year as a resit student.
I am not trying to get into any heavily competitve uni for medicine either. I just want to get in.
What is your advice people. I really need some help. Do i drop it, or keep it and put strain on my other 2 subjects ?

Not a med student but dont med schools want you to have acheived all grades in one go? Correct me if im wrong

Reply 3

You could do a foundation year and your health problems will count as an extenuating circumstances. If you think it’s putting a strain on your subjects and you could do better in the other subjects you should drop it but a B in bio is quite good so you could resit it because you’ll likely get higher

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