Additional Learning Obligations (ALO)
REGULATIONS OF THE DEGREE COURSE IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY
- Admission to the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery is subject to a national entrance exam.
- In order to be admitted to the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery, students are required to
possess a 5 year senior secondary school (5 year course) leaving certificate or other foreign
comparable qualifications which are recognized and certified by the current laws. - In order to attend the course, students are, moreover, required to possess an adequate initial
preparation for the courses according to the current laws. - The entrance exam to the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery, with threshold qualification requirements set out by a Ministerial Decree and published annually, also attests the minimum requirements for admission as regards the subjects set out by the Ministry.
Should students not meet the requirements in Physics and Mathematics (a score below 25% of the total
score) in the entrance exam or admitted students do not reach the minimum threshold, additional learning
obligations will have to be fulfilled.
Proficiency in English at a B2 level or higher will be verified and evaluated, as laid down by the Rules and
Conditions of the Course, by a designated committee.
Should students not reach a B2 level, additional learning obligations will have to be fulfilled. (ADDITIONAL LEARNING OBLIGATIONS - ALO).
WHICH STUDENTS WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL LEARNING OBLIGATIONS
- ALO Physics & Mathematics: students who obtained a score below 4 for the section on
Physics & Mathematics; - ALO English Language: students who do not possess an English language Certificate (B2 level and
higher) or senior secondary school leaving certificate (GCSE HIGHERS, GCSE A LEVELS, SQA
HIGHERS, HND, ABOVE ALL IN ENGLISH) AND/OR AN ACCREDITED AMERICAN HIGH
SCHOOL diploma and students who do not pass or take the ALO Test. Students who attended at
least one full school year using solely learning methods in the English language will be exempted
from the ALOs.
WHICH LEARNING ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED TO ALO STUDENTS
- ALO Physics & Mathematics: the Physics teacher has drawn up a detailed Syllabus which students
are to follow and know using the E-learning tools on the Moodle platform; - ALO English Language: the English Language teacher has drawn up a detailed Syllabus which
students are to follow and know using guided study.
HOW SHOULD STUDENTS WITH ALO PROCEED
- ALO Physics & Mathematics: Students are to follow the specific activities aimed at fulfilling the
requirements laid down in the syllabus.
Mathematics
Knowledge and application of the properties concerning:
- numerical structures (natural numbers, numeral fractions, rational numbers, elements of real
numbers, inequalities, absolute values, powers, roots);
- elementary algebra (literal equations, polynomials and polynomial equations, identity, first and
second degree equations, linear systems);
- functions (notions of function, graphs of functions, Cartesian coordinates and simple geometric
space equations, elements of trigonometry.
Physics
Knowledge and application of the properties concerning:
- dimensional analysis (the most common units of measurement);
- dynamics (concepts of speed, acceleration, force, work, energy, Newton’s law;
- thermodynamics (concepts of temperature, pressure, volume, heat, work.
- ALO English Language: Students are to follow the specific activities aimed at fulfilling the
requirements laid down in the syllabus:
Students are required to possess adequate knowledge of and be able to apply, at a B2 level of
English, the following:
Grammar Topics
- Verb Tenses (present/past/future);
- Active and Passive Voice;
- Reported Speech;
- Construction after verbs (gerund/infinitive);
- Comparative and Superlative forms (majority/minority/equality);
- Modal Verbs;
- Common phrasal verbs.
Reading and Comprehension_From B2 level text books (FCE/TOEFL/IELTS) and internet sources.
Vocabulary topics as regards:
- Everyday situations;
- Expressing opinion, summarising, drawing conclusions, offering advice, suggesting, adding
informations, comparing, contrasting, formulating hypotheses, clarifying, guessing, giving
examples, debating.
Vocabulary topics as regards:
- Everyday situations;
- Expressing opinion, summarising, drawing conclusions, offering advice, suggesting, adding
informations, comparing, contrasting, formulating hypotheses, clarifying, guessing, giving
examples, debating.
HOW CAN STUDENTS PROVE THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATIONS
- ALO Physics & Mathematics:the physics teacher will verify the preparation by a written test made
up of 5 exercises, 2 questions in each, to be solved in full. The score for each question will be 3
points for a total of 30. A minimum pass will be considered as 18/30; - ALO English Language: a committee made up of the English teacher and other 2 teachers of the
degree course will evaluate the preparation by means of a written paper followed by an oral test.
The written test will have a duration of 1 hour and will consist of:
- a reading and comprehension exercise with multiple choice questions- 6 questions
- a cloze test (gapfill) – 6 questions;
- an open cloze test – 8 questions;
Total 22 questions with a total score of 22 points.
The oral test will consist of a conversation in English and the description of two photographs
(comparing and contrasting).
Total score of 8 points for the oral test.
Written test and oral test will have a total score of 30 points.
A minimum pass will be considered as 18/30.
WHAT HAPPENS IF OBLIGATIONS ARE NOT FULFILLED
Students with ALOs will not be allowed to take any course exams until obligations have been fulfilled.
Information about courses may be found here.