Invading the medstudents' space, I know...but....

**innersweet** · 03-10-2008 03:43 AM

Hi all, and sorry for invading this part of the forum. It's just I have a really basic question that I cant seem to find the answer to anywhere! Basically, what score do you need to progress unto your next year as a medstudent? 40%? 60% -I just want to be aware of my own capabilities .....

Also, once a medstudent graduates, si it simply a matter of pass or fail? -or are there firsts, secionds etc, as with other degrees?

Sorry if these questions sound ridiculous ; but am just a lil naive school leaver hopin 2 get into medskl this year!

**Arch_Angel** · 03-10-2008 03:54 AM

It might differ between places, here it's 50%. No failed modules, allowed one resit period, capped at 50% unless you've got some pretty strong ECs.

Also, you might pass with merit or distinction (or just pass a single year with merit or distinction) but it's not a honours degree - no 2:1, 1:1 etc.

**Kinkerz** · 05-10-2008 03:20 AM

I'm sure if you contacted the universities they'd be happy to tell you. Although that was my more optimistic side typing.

**innersweet** · 05-10-2008 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by Arch_Angel

It might differ between places, here it's 50%. No failed modules, allowed one resit period, capped at 50% unless you've got some pretty strong ECs.

Also, you might pass with merit or distinction (or just pass a single year with merit or distinction) but it's not a honours degree - no 2:1, 1:1 etc.

Thanks for the info.

Really really helpful, but what did u mean by 'no failed modules'? Cna you literally not fail in them? -and what is an EC? -sorry; these questions must sound soo juvenile, but any more info you could give would be great.

Thanks

**innersweet** · 05-10-2008 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

I'm sure if you contacted the universities they'd be happy to tell you. Although that was my more optimistic side typing.

Lool kninkerz; thought of that, but thought they might get annoyed wiv me...have been in touch with them incessantly since I started my application.....

**Arch_Angel** · 05-10-2008 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by innersweet

Thanks for the info.

Really really helpful, but what did u mean by 'no failed modules'? Cna you literally not fail in them? -and what is an EC? -sorry; these questions must sound soo juvenile, but any more info you could give would be great.

Thanks

By "no failed modules" I mean you must have 50% in every module to pass the year. In some undergrad degrees you can get away with 80/120 credits (failing 4 out of 12) as over 20% in the first year and 30% or over in years 2 and three but under 40% might be seen as a tolerated fail which you won't get credit for, but unless you have too many shouldn't hold you back from completing the year. Not so in medicine (and rightly so). On my course I need 180/180.

Sorry, by EC I mean "extenuating circumstances" but didn't want to go to google to check my spelling

They are something like if your parents (but not usually grandparents) die, or if you get cancer or if one of your housemates dies etc. something that would give you adequate reason not to be able to study very hard.

On my course now they will still make you do the exam again, but they won't cap it at 50%. Capping is usually enforced to stop people failing exams on purpose so they can have 6 months extra to revise.

Don't worry about asking questions, these systems can take years to get used to

Also, every uni has different ways of doing things, but this is probably a good guideline.

**Kinkerz** · 05-10-2008 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by innersweet

Lool kninkerz; thought of that, but thought they might get annoyed wiv me...have been in touch with them incessantly since I started my application.....

Well they might not get annoyed as it isn't another applicant saying:
I've got 10A* at GCSE/5As at AS, 4As prediction for A2/UKCAT of 700 - do I have a chance?
You're asking a question that they probably don't get asked very often.

**innersweet** · 07-10-2008 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Arch_Angel

By "no failed modules" I mean you must have 50% in every module to pass the year. In some undergrad degrees you can get away with 80/120 credits (failing 4 out of 12) as over 20% in the first year and 30% or over in years 2 and three but under 40% might be seen as a tolerated fail which you won't get credit for, but unless you have too many shouldn't hold you back from completing the year. Not so in medicine (and rightly so). On my course I need 180/180.

Sorry, by EC I mean "extenuating circumstances" but didn't want to go to google to check my spelling

They are something like if your parents (but not usually grandparents) die, or if you get cancer or if one of your housemates dies etc. something that would give you adequate reason not to be able to study very hard.

On my course now they will still make you do the exam again, but they won't cap it at 50%. Capping is usually enforced to stop people failing exams on purpose so they can have 6 months extra to revise.

Don't worry about asking questions, these systems can take years to get used to

Also, every uni has different ways of doing things, but this is probably a good guideline.

Thanks soo much for the info Arch_Angel...yeah...I think it's good that they seem more stringent on medstudents...just watched da scrubs episode where Turk admits he didnt do very well academically...needless to say, the patient wasn't amused...lool...but in all seriousness, I'd want a very, very able doc who knew what they were doing, as opposed to one who got 30% each year, and still got the degree!

**innersweet** · 07-10-2008 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

Well they might not get annoyed as it isn't another applicant saying:
I've got 10A* at GCSE/5As at AS, 4As prediction for A2/UKCAT of 700 - do I have a chance?
You're asking a question that they probably don't get asked very often.

Hehe! Thanks Kinkerz, didnt think of it like that!

**nickfrancis** · 19-05-2009 03:25 PM

Newcastle uses a grade-point average system, and all exams have a different pass mark depending on how many difficult questions there are, so you don't know if you've passed until they announce the results/pass mark.

In first year at Newcastle, very generally, as long as you pass the summer exam and the family study you can pass the year.