• Question: What a levels did you take?

    Asked by Tinkerbell to Adrian, Ali, Charnelle, Deborah, Kit, Phil, Rob on 6 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Robert Cullum

      Robert Cullum answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      When I picked my A levels I wasn’t 100% sure I wanted to apply to medical school so I tried to keep my options open and play to my strengths. In the end I studied Biology and Chemistry (Which I needed to have to apply to the medical schools I was considering) and then Maths (because it was my best subject) and Spanish (because it was my favourite).

    • Photo: Adrian Taylor

      Adrian Taylor answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      Biology, Maths and Chemistry

    • Photo: Philip Williams

      Philip Williams answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      I studied in Scotland, where we do Highers & Advanced Highers. It’s also a bit more flexible than the English system. So in 5th year (lower sixth, year 12) I did:

      Higher English, Maths, Biology, Chemisty & German

      Then in 6th year (upper sixth, year 13) I did:
      Higher Physics & Advanced Higher Biology & Chemistry, and a module of Advanced Higher statistics.

      Sorry it’s a bit complicated an answer! I liked it because it let me keep a couple of non-science subject going, although to be honest I’ve forgotten most of my German!

    • Photo: Deborah Draycott

      Deborah Draycott answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      Zoology, Maths, Chemistry

    • Photo: Charnelle Lusuku

      Charnelle Lusuku answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      Biology, maths, chemistry and History (which was a nice break from everything else!)

    • Photo: Ali Blatcher

      Ali Blatcher answered on 6 Nov 2017:

      I did biology, chemistry, French and Spanish as I didn’t know whether I wanted to study medicine or languages.

    • Photo: Kit T

      Kit T answered on 7 Nov 2017:

      I tried to keep my options open too so chose biology & chemistry for medicine, and history because I enjoyed it and it made a difference from sciences. I did maths to AS level in case I wanted to be an architect, but dropped it when I was sure about doing medicine.

Comments

  • Photo: WP/Admissions Officer

    WP/Admissions Officer commented on :

    If you are thinking about applying to medical school, then you it is well worth researching what requirements each medical school has. The vast majority will ask for A-level Biology and A-level Chemistry. Some then don’t mind what your 3rd A-level is, some might express a preference for a certain subject. For instance some medical schools like you to study something contrasting, so maybe a language or humanities subject.
    Some medical schools may accept other qualifications such as ‘Access to Medicine’ or a BTEC if combined with A-level Biology and Chemistry. A good place to start looking for advice is the Medical Schools Council’s website: https://www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/applications