AS or full A level

[tidal]

Hi all

I am planning to do an A level in Chemistry to get me through the GAMSAT! Do I need to do the full A level (AS and A2) or is the AS suffice?

Thanks

Tidal

[chris5656]

Do the AS but then top up some of your organic chemistry knowledge to Alevel standard. Full A level chemistry in a year would be quite an effort, and chemistry probably makes up about 15-20% of the GAMSAT. I just spent 6 weeks going through A level chemistry and biology txt books.

[tidal]

Hi Chris

Thanks! Thats what I was hoping

Tidal

[Riffraf]

Tidal, If you want to do the AS/A level because it is an entry requirement for some GEM courses, then go for it. It is possible in a year if you can find a college that will do it (I did at at a college in Oxford that ran an evening course 2 nights a week, or 1 night a week for just the AS)

But if you are only doing it to pass GAMSAT, then I probably wouldn't bother at all - there will be a lot of stuff you won't need and it's a lot of work. I did GAMSAT before doing the A/AS level and found I had enough chemistry with an (ancient) GCSE and doing what Chris suggested: mainly understanding basic organic chem from an AS text book (organic chemistry looks difficult but is actually okay once you get the basics). Don't worry about trying to understand all the material you find in a GAMSAT paper - I don't think you're meant to as they are trying to test aptitude, not knowledge. Personally, I had no idea about what a lot of the detail in the questions was on about, but still passed by getting the rough idea and making an educated guess...

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[tidal]

Hi riffraf

Thanks for that! Yes, it is for GAMSAT. I have been going over GCSE chemistry (although I don't remember ever doing any of it...!!!) which is giving me a good basic grounding. I have the AS chemistry book plus Organis chemistry for dummies plus a couple of revision guides. I plan to do the GAMSAT in 2009 so I hope I have plenty of time, although I am just about to start my 3rd year in my current degree so I need to make sure that comes first.
I am a bit worried that IF I get a place, how I will manage with chemistry then? Will I be completely lost and drown in big, scary sounding words that are not in the dictionary?!

Thanks

Tidal

[Riffraf]

Tidal, I guess having done the A or AS level must help a bit at med school, but I think it also depends on where you want to go... I reckon if they don't require it (like Notts, Swansea, Georges etc) then they figure you don't need it, so that should be some reassurance. I know a few people who were doing the Chem A2 with me who then gave it up as soon as they got an offer from Georges/Swansea. Also, they will place more importance on getting a good degree, so - as you say yourself - don't let it get in the way if you do go for the AS/A2!

Had you considered just going for GAMSAT this Sep? It's just that - although it is hard - it is more of an aptitude/exam technique sort of test than knowledge, so you can only do so much preparation before you start going round in circles. If you haven't got the ACER mock exam/practice & sample questions from their website yet then maybe get hold of them and try doing a timed test and see how you do. Griffiths GAMSAT review is quite good too. If you pass with 65ish % or more (and there's no reason you shouldn't) then you don't have to worry about it next year and have a guaranteed interview at Notts...

[lindsayg]

Well I don't know anything about what it's like in the first year of med school, being only in the application stage myself. But I did do A Level Chemistry years ago, and there's a *lot* to take in!

At the very least, doing the full thing before you start med school means it's one lot of stuff you don't have to learn while you're there. Which has got to be a bonus.