By Joanna Tait and Stewart Rodney
Hurdles for Applying to Medicine
Grades at Higher
 UKCAT
 Personal Statement
 Which Universities
 Interview

1. Grades at Higher
Grades at Higher:
Scottish Uni’s

St. Andrew’s:

Credit 1 at Standard Grade in Maths and Sciences
a minimum of AAAAB at Higher
at least 2 A grade predictions for S6 study in either new
Highers or Advanced Highers.



Edinburgh:

2 at S.Grade at Bio, Chem, Maths and English
AAAAB at Higher (Chem + 2 from Bio/Physics/Maths)
Advanced Higher- advice 2 (chem + bio most relevant)


Grades at Higher:
Scottish Uni’s

Aberdeen:

AAAAB, Chemistry required + 2 from Biology, Maths &
Physics + 2 others

Glasgow:

Minimum of AAAAB at one sitting including Chemistry and
Biology and either Mathematics or Physics.
Pass in SG English at Grade 2 or an Intermediate 2 pass in
English or above is required.
Can do Chemistry or Biology as a crash Higher in S6 if
Grades AAAAB are obtained in S5. (Minimum Grade B
required in Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics or Physics
Higher in S6.)
Candidates are not considered for entry to Medicine from S5.



Grades at Higher:
Scottish Uni’s

Dundee:

AAABB grades at SQA Higher
The subjects must include Chemistry and another Science
subject, all to be obtained in 5th year.
We also require Biology at least to Standard Grade.
Applications supported by AAAAC grades from 5th year will
also be considered, provided the C grade is not in Higher
Chemistry. (Approx. 6% of candidates sitting 5 Highers attain
these grades).
Achievement at standard grade will also be taken into
account.
We have no requirements at Advanced Higher but studies
must be completed.





Grades at Higher:
English Uni’s

Oxford:
AA in Advanced Highers (taken in one academic year)
 AAAAA in Highers (taken in one academic year)
 Applicants are required to offer:
Chemistry (compulsory) at Advanced Higher AND
At least one from Biology, Physics and Mathematics at Higher.


UCL
Highers alone do not fulfil the entry requirements.
 3 Advanced Highers- Grades AAA
 must include Chemistry and Biology.

2. UKCAT
UKCAT TEST
UK Clinical Aptitude Test
 All UK medical applicants must sit
 Suggest you sit end of summer –
September
 (15th October deadline for UCAS)

UKCAT TEST
Quantitative Reasoning
 Verbal Reasoning
 Abstract Reasoning
 Decision Analysis

QUANTITATIVE EXAMPLE
Height
in
Metres
2-2.9
3-3.9
4-4.9
5-5.9
6-6.9
7-7.9
Number
of Shop
Building
s
3
6
12
15
7
2
How many shop buildings are less than 5 metres high?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
6
9
12
15
21
QUANTITATIVE EXAMPLE
Height
in
Metres
2-2.9
3-3.9
4-4.9
5-5.9
6-6.9
7-7.9
Number
of Shop
Building
s
3
6
12
15
7
2
How many shop buildings are less than 5 metres high?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
6
9
12
15
21
VERBAL EXAMPLE
The museum in Bradford, where
Shakespeare was born, holds
artefacts...
Shakespeare was born in a museum in
Bradford.
 True
 False
 Can’t Tell
ABSTRACT EXAMPLE
DECISION EXAMPLE
3. Personal Statement
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Show you:
 Want to study medicine
 You have taken measures to understand
what a career in medicine involves
- work experiences
- medic insight days/talking to doctors
 Committed, dedicated to pursuing a
career in medicine
PERSONAL STATEMENT
 Some pointers to include:
 Work experience (GP or Hospital Medicine)
 Volunteer Work (Old Folk’s Home, DDCA)
 Positions of Responsibility (Head Boy,
Leader at Scouts, JNCO)
 Academic strength in science
 Caring, empathy
 Co-Curricular activities
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work Experience
General Practice
-Contact a practice
(email/phone/write letter)
-Arrange some time to shadow
GP
Hospital Medicine
-Contact Ashludie
-Assigned a supervisor
-Observe Hospital Medicine
-Medic Insight programme
-Medic Week through school
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work Experience
General Practice
Asked a family friend (GP)
-Shadowed for 1 day
-Went on reception
-Observe consultations and
-Home visits
Hospital Medicine
Contacted someone
Day in A+E
WORK EXPERIENCE
Work Experience
General Practice
-Wrote to Muirhead Practice
-Spent three days in GP
-Minor surgery, consultations,
home visits
-Sense of community
Hospital Medicine
-Contact Ashludie
-Assigned a supervisor (Iain
Tait)
-Endoscopy, Liver Clinic,
Radiology, MDT meeting,
Pathology, Paediatric Clinic,
Paediatric Theatre, A+E
2 week research project into GISTs
WORK EXPERIENCE

Experience + What you learned

Don’t list various complicated
procedures lacking insight

Be prepared to be tested on everything
you include
4. Which Universities
Ranking procedure
 Influencial factors e.g. Your UKCAT
score or Highers
 Type of course – integrated, PBL

FUTURE MEETINGS
Personal Statement Help
 UKCAT Help
 Interview Workshop
