Medical School Application

Case Study

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Education Pathway:

  • Studying at a prestigious boy school in Hong Kong until form 3

     

  • Then moved to the UK, studying at a reputable private school in York for GCSE and A Level

Services joined at Reageant Academy UK:

  • A Level Regular Lessons (Biology, Chemistry & Maths)

  • Medicine Preparation Courses (UCAT Coaching, Personal Statement Coaching, Interview Coaching)

  • UCAS Service

Results:

  • UCAT: 3080/3600 (Top 4%)

  • A Level:
    Maths (A*), Chemistry (A), Biology (A)

  • 3 Medical School Interview Offers

UCL

University of Sheffield

Newcastle University

From UCAT Bottom 10% to Top 4% in 29 Hours

Student Name:

E.C.

UCAT: From bottom 10% to Top 4%

A Level: From B/C/E to A*/A/A

3 out of 4 Medical School Interview Offers

Student Background: From Despair to Determination

A student from a prestigious boy school in Hong Kong held the bold ambition of studying Medicine in the UK. However, his dream was nearly extinguished when he received his Year 12 A-Level progress results in February: a B in Maths, C in Chemistry, and an E in Biology. The result in Biology was so disheartening that he considered dropping the subject entirely – a decision that would have ended his medical aspirations. Instead of giving up, he joined Reagent Academy for intensive, targeted support.

After months of dedicated work with our specialist tutors, his official AS results in August showed a phenomenal improvement. He achieved an A in Maths, an A in Chemistry, and a B in Biology. The leap from an E to a strong B in his most challenging subject in Year 12 was a remarkable achievement. This incredible turnaround has firmly put him back on the path to making a competitive application for Medicine, proving that even when faced with despair, the right support can make all the difference.

Conquering the UCAT Challenge

The student’s journey to medical school required clearing the next significant hurdle: the UCAT. His preparation began on 11th June, but an initial mock test revealed the scale of the challenge ahead. He scored 2100, placing him in the bottom 10% of candidates. Realising that his initial one-hour weekly lesson was insufficient, he steadily increased his tuition to twice a week. Our UCAT tutor developed a highly personalised programme focused on exam technique, targeted practice to strengthen his weaker areas, and effective strategies for each section. By August, it was clear he wasn’t ready to achieve a top score, so following his tutor’s advice, he wisely postponed his exam from 15th August to 26th September. This decision required immense discipline, especially as he had a two-week European holiday booked for late August. Demonstrating incredible determination, he continued his practice even while travelling and returned for intensive preparation. His hard work paid off spectacularly: he achieved a UCAT score of 3080, placing him in the top 4% of candidates nationwide.

Securing a Place in Medical School

Armed with outstanding A-Level predictions and a formidable UCAT score, he was in a powerful position. His application resulted in interview offers from three out of the four medical schools he applied to, including prestigious institutions like University College London (UCL), University of Sheffield, and Newcastle University. He went on to secure his place by achieving final A-Level grades of A* in Maths, A in Chemistry, and A in Biology. This student’s incredible journey from the brink of abandoning his dream to securing a place at a medical school is a true inspiration. He has now begun his medical studies, a testament to his resilience and the transformative impact of expert guidance.

It has been a pleasure to teach him the UCAT, helping him secure a place in medical school. In the early stages, his performance, complicated by limited practice and inconsistent efforts, is indeed quite worrying. Realising this, I felt the need to honestly voice out my concerns and worries, allowing him to have a realistic outlook on the situation. Apart from helping with his mindset, I have also implemented a tailored approach into my teaching, refining his approaches on dealing with a wide range of UCAT questions. Evidently, these methods, combined with his unwavering determination and self-discipline, have eventually led to success. His success story has undoubtedly displayed the importance of both will and skill, and I am immensely proud of what he has achieved.
Tutor of E.C.
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