Can you become a doctor with Double GCSE Science?
Double science is a qualification that can be taken at GCSE level. It is worth two GCSE grades compared to the three received in Triple Science so it is considered “easier”. Some students choose to take it because they are forced to because of their schools while others do it due to internal exam grades. So, can you become a doctor if you're doing GCSE Double Science? The answer is yes! There are many different paths you can take to becoming a doctor, and double science is one of them. Read on to find out more about the other routes you can take and what skills you need to succeed in this field.
Before we start, we must clarify the clear differences between double and triple science;
Double Science
Worth two GCSE qualifications
Six exams in total
A combination of biology, chemistry and physics that can place more/less emphasis on each science
Triple Science
Worth three GCSE qualifications
Nine exams in total
Biology, Chemistry and Physics are all taught as separate subjects and doing well in one does not change the whole grade.
Now here comes the honest truth, when people apply for medicine courses at Universities, the first thing the admissions officer will look at is their GCSE science grades so depending on the university, they may automatically reject your application if you did not do triple science. Oxford, Cambridge and the Russell Group Universities will do this but this does not mean that you can not study medicine. You just need to look outside of Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities.
However, these universities will still have lots of students vying for the same place in the medicine course. Competition will be fierce so you have to stand out. If you are serious about studying medicine, start doing volunteer work in the relevant sectors from the age of 14. This will give you the references and experiences to talk about in interviews and your UCAS application.
Generally, many students think that only work experience in hospitals and doctors’ offices will be relevant but that is not the case. There is a lot of competition to do volunteer work in these places however, there is one sub-sector of the health industry which always has a lack of volunteers; care homes.
Care homes, whether it is for the elderly or disabled, are always short-staffed and welcome volunteers with open arms. Proving you’re willing to work in less popular places shows the strength of your character.
Finally, make sure you have extracurricular activities to talk about. Universities don’t want students who are all work and no play. They know that professionals in the medical field are stressed and overworked so they need to know that you can have a reasonable work-life balance. They don’t want to invest their time into a student who will let work take over their life and end up burning out much faster compared to their peers.
If you’re looking to study medicine, don’t worry if you didn’t take triple science in high school. It is possible to get into medical school with a double science degree – it just takes a lot of extra steps. First and foremost, undertake some additional preparation such as an MCAT course and volunteer work. Finally, apply for an appropriate university – your extracurricular activities will be essential here. We hope this article has been helpful and provided some clarity on the process of getting into medicine with a double science degree. Are there any questions we can help answer?
