Do I pick Maths A-Level back up to get into Cambridge Medicine?

Hello! I dropped Maths A-Level 2 weeks ago and i don't know whether to pick it back up. I study:
Chemistry
Biology
Religious Studies
And am currently at A*A*A* predicted. My teachers told me they would predict me A*A*AA if i kept maths, so i decided to drop as I didn't enjoy maths and thought an A* in chemistry would be more helpful for interviews. I have recently discovered that you don't actually need perfect predicted grades to get an interview at Cambridge, but have also realised that its extremely difficult to get an interview/ offer without maths. Should i pick it back up? I don't enjoy maths but I'm not bad at it, I also got 900 on my QR in my UCAT, wont this be enough to show them I have competent maths skills? Should i pick maths back up and get A*A*AA predicted, or leave it and have A*A*A* and hope I get an interview/offer?

Reply 1

andrewjs5813

5

You are probably not going to want to hear this but if it comes down to you and another student with similar results who has maths they'll pick the maths student. It is not technically required for medicine but it is strongly, and I mean very strongly, recommended. If you had Chem, Bio and Physics as your A Levels then it might be different but honestly I think you should pick the maths back up. I have more than 10 years experience helping students get to medicine/Oxbridge places at university and I can promise you will be in competition with many strong candidates who are doing maths and they will have an advantage in their application.

Reply 2

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

18

Original post

by Anonymous

Hello! I dropped Maths A-Level 2 weeks ago and i don't know whether to pick it back up. I study:
Chemistry
Biology
Religious Studies
And am currently at A*A*A* predicted. My teachers told me they would predict me A*A*AA if i kept maths, so i decided to drop as I didn't enjoy maths and thought an A* in chemistry would be more helpful for interviews. I have recently discovered that you don't actually need perfect predicted grades to get an interview at Cambridge, but have also realised that its extremely difficult to get an interview/ offer without maths. Should i pick it back up? I don't enjoy maths but I'm not bad at it, I also got 900 on my QR in my UCAT, wont this be enough to show them I have competent maths skills? Should i pick maths back up and get A*A*AA predicted, or leave it and have A*A*A* and hope I get an interview/offer?

You don't meet the entry requirements for Cambridge Medicine without it. You would need three Maths / Science subjects (including Chemistry) and you only have two. That being said, I would not recommend choosing your A-Levels based on one very competitive course. With Medicine, it doesn't really matter which university you study it at.

Reply 3

CherryBlossoms1

10

I recommend you do the Maths A-Level so your Cambridge medicine application will be stronger. Cambridge is among the best universities in the world. I hope they accept your application.

Reply 4

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

18

Original post

by CherryBlossoms1

I recommend you do the Maths A-Level so your Cambridge medicine application will be stronger. Cambridge is among the best universities in the world. I hope they accept your application.

For Medicine, it is about getting accepted to at least one as it is not uncommon for Medicine applicants to receive no offers at all. This is what OP should prioritise. Medicine jobs in the NHS are blind to the university.

Reply 5

User1088

5

If you can't get predicted 3 A*s with the four A levels, pick the maths back up and drop the Religious Studies. Ask what predicted grades your teachers will give you for the Maths/Chemistry/Biology A levels. What sort of mark did you get in the Y12 end of year maths exam ? Can you convince them that you can get an A* in maths.

Cambridge seem to be keener on A* grades than Oxford. You'll be competing to get an interview in the first instance and your competition will be highly likely to have been predicted at least 3 A*s (in many cases 4 A*s) so you'll not score as highly as them with A* A* A when it comes to where they draw the line with regards getting an invitation to interview although obviously if you've got a top decile score on UCAT, very good GCSE grades and great other stuff included in the new PS this will all help. Are you eligible for a contextual offer ?

Please remember that a qualified doctor is just that. It really doesn't matter if you went to Cambridge or another UK med school. This isn't necessarily true for some other degrees.

(edited 4 weeks ago)

Do I pick Maths A-Level back up to get into Cambridge Medicine?

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