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Studying medicine: do you have to be good at maths? The question often arises as to whether you come into frequent contact with maths when studying medicine. Behind this is of course the fear that maths will be a hurdle that cannot be overcome just by learning it by heart. In this article, we clarify whether this is actually the case and whether you need maths to study medicine.
Is there any maths at all in medical studies?
The answer is "unfortunately" yes. You won't be able to avoid maths completely on this degree course. However, this is normally the case in every other science degree programme.
However, maths is a rarity in medical studies rather than part of everyday life! Above all, you have maths in medical studies, within the Preclinic.
Maths in the preclinical phase
The medical degree programme is divided into: Pre-clinical (the first 2 years), clinical (3rd/4th year) and the last two years (PJ).
You will mainly encounter maths in the preclinical phase. It is less of a topic in later medical science. So if you're not particularly good at maths, you'll only have to get through the first two years. Once you have passed the Physikum, on average 97% of students pass the remaining exams.
Maths in medical studies: Maths is covered intensively in these subjects
But even in the pre-clinical phase, maths is not always an issue. The following subjects come in the first two years:
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Histology
- Chemistry --> Maths necessary
- Biology
- Physics --> Maths required
- Terminology
- Psychology
Especially in Physics and chemistry (usually in the first semester), maths is more intensive. This is because it is important to know the mathematical basics for certain reactions or laws of nature.
But how good do you have to be at maths to Study medicine to be able to?
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Studying medicine: Do you have to be good at maths?
Is maths your problem area and you're worried that you won't make it through medical school because of it? Then we can allay your fears here!
There are many reasons why students fail their medical studies (even if the drop-out rate is very low, around 8% actively drop out). However, maths is not usually the reason! So don't worry so much about maths.
Maths as you know it from school is definitely no longer taught in the same way. You should be able to work with graphs, but it's no longer about solving systems of equations or determining points on a hyperbola.
Whenever maths is covered, it is always in relation to the topic! For example, in the chemistry practical course, certain quantities of substances have to be calculated, or the reaction rates. There are always formulae for this that have to be memorised.
You don't have to be good at maths to master it. It's enough if you know the basics and have a minimum level of understanding. If you lack even that, you can always do a bit of maths before you study medicine.
Conclusion
Maths is covered, but only to a lesser extent! You will encounter maths in physics and chemistry in particular. Here it's simply a case of "close your eyes and get on with it". However, you definitely don't have to be particularly good to pass the exams.
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