Most medical schools require GCSEs to be graded between 9-6 as a minimum. This must include English language, mathematics and two science grades. A small minority of medical schools accept grades as low as 4, and others insist that they are between 9-8. The practical reality is that the vast majority of students applying will have GCSEs significantly higher than grades 9-6, indeed many will present applications where every GCSE is graded 9. So, to increase the chances of a successful application, most grades should really be between 9-7. 

To allow students to choose between all 40 medical schools, it is vital that they have A-levels in both Chemistry and Biology. If students do not study A-level Biology, half of all medical schools will not accept applications. It would be a mistake to study Chemistry and Biology purely to pursue a medical career if students do not enjoy them. 

This can more or less be any A-level. It should be a subject that is enjoyed by a student and where they have a high chance of getting an A* or A grade, whether it is Art, French or Geography. A common error is for students to select additional science-based A-levels that they would not ordinarily choose because they think this will enhance their application. Only two medical schools insist upon more than two sciences (Aberdeen and Glasgow). Of course, if students do not really like Chemistry or Biology, they should not take them at A-level nor should they pursue a medical career. The third A-level cannot overlap significantly with another subject being studied, for example PE is not counted alongside Biology and Further Mathematics is not considered alongside Mathematics. Another misconception is that doing four A-levels adds value to an application - it does not. Admissions tutors advise that doing more than three A-levels should only be for the personal development of students and will not be considered as part of their application.  

Students suited to medicine are academically very strong and rarely struggle with assessments. They will know this by routinely getting A*s, As and Bs in their assessments. 

One thing students must appreciate is that their predicted grades will determine their university choices, and not the other way round! This may seem harsh, but it is the reality. Occasionally, students plead (unsuccessfully) for increases to their teacher’s judgement because they ‘need’ an A grade for one course or another. This is not how the process works. Students are provided with predictions, and it is those predictions which determine their university choices. If they are not predicted the grades for their initial course preference, then their university application must promptly be directed towards another subject. The school will not increase grades purely to suit an application. If medicine remains a passion, despite a student’s academic ability not yet being high enough, there are always postgraduate routes into medicine after they have already started university. There are always options! 

This might seem obvious, but showing exceptional performance in Year 12 is only part of a student’s successful journey. They must also achieve the grades too, since offers made by medical schools will be conditional upon this. Very occasionally, if students are impressive at interview, they might be lenient if they over-perform in one area to make up for underperformance elsewhere, i.e. allowing A*A*B instead of A*AA. This is a rare exception, rather than a rule. 

There are medical schools that will adjust your offers based on a top grade in your extended project, so don’t ignore it. 

Medical UCAS applications must be supported by an additional entrance exam, passed at a particular level. UCAT is a combination of timed mathematical, logical, judgement questions as well as non-verbal reasoning and problem-solving. Practice is key to securing a high score in the UCAT. You can practise from Year 10 through to when the test is taken during the summer of Year 12. The UCAT is scored out of 3600. The percentiles change each year and are not set until the closing date of the final test in October of each year. The table below shows the UCAT percentiles since 2019. To gain an interview you need to be placed at a minimum percentile of 6. 

Summary Table of UCAT percentiles by year (percentiles finalised after all tests are sat).

Students must have a good working knowledge of the NHS structure, as well as its core principles, values and pledges as defined in the NHS Constitution. They must be aware of the GMC and its role. Students must also be knowledgeable of the important skills and character traits that make for a successful medical professional. This knowledge must be evident in their 4000-character UCAS personal statement and will likely be assessed during interview. 

Medical schools acknowledge that medical work experience can be difficult to obtain, and will be flexible. At the very least, students should have an awareness of the working environment of doctors, such as GP surgeries, even if limited to a small number of visits. Volunteering, however, is easier to come by and will demonstrate that a student has some of the necessary personal attributes. Appropriate examples of volunteering should be regular and over a sustained period of time, such as a number of months or longer. The setting can be varied, such as charitable work, or in a care setting, like a nursing home or special school. 

The MMI is far more common, with 33 of the 40 medical schools using it to select potential students. In this set-up, students will rotate around a series of up to 10 ‘stations’, where they spend a few minutes interacting with an interviewer about a particular topic. The exercises range from a role play where students console distressed patients to a data analysis exercise, a science question, an interview about their interests, a hand-eye coordination assessment, a discussion about recent changes in the NHS etc. 

A much rarer interview style with only six medical schools using them to select. This is a traditional interview where students will speak with two to four individuals about their application, science knowledge, NHS knowledge, their interests in medicine etc.