Should DS choose double or triple Science?

[HelgaHufflepuff76]

Ds is in year 8 and has to choose his GCSE options by May 21st, which is sooner than we imagined he'd have to.

We went to his options evening this week which seems to only have confused us more than we already were.

He's good at most subjects (except p.e!) so can choose any of the options available, but he is mostly an arty, literary sort. His choices would be art, drama, Spanish and computer science.

However, his science teacher came over to him twice encouraging him to choose triple science. We're not sure why as he says he's only about average at the subject.
He said he believes it's because he's one of the best behaved in class and the teacher would prefer people to do it who will work hard and not mess her around too much!

When I told dh later he started insisting that ds choose triple science, as if his teacher was so keen it must be in his best interests.

Ds is very upset as he doesn't enjoy science that much and taking it means dropping one of his other choices.

Also, when dd was choosing last year her science teacher told us that it was only worth choosing triple if you planned to pursue science as a career, which he definitely doesn't.

Does anyone have any advice?

[Baroquehavoc]

If he's not keen to do triple science, and it means that he would have to give up an option that he likes, it seems silly to make him take it.

There are loads of people on Mumsnet who have gone on to have careers in science after taken double science at GCSE.

[TeenTimesTwo]

I agree with Baroque

[TeenTimesTwo]

At our school triple science would mean something like 13hrs/fortnight instead of 8, which is a lot if you don't enjoy it that much.

[MaisyPops]

The advice I give to my students is if you love science and are talented at all 3 disciplines then do triple.

If you like it, but are only really good at 1-2 of the 3 disciplines then do double and pick the one you're good at for A Level.

[Wonderwine]

Let him do double!
Our school (academic independent) forced them all to do triple and DS2 who is an arty, creative type has hated it and really struggled.
The irritating thing is that at the last minute the students who look as if they are going to get less than a B are asked to just do double, but by then they have missed the chance to do another humanity or arts subject instead

[Leeds2]

In the circumstances you describe, I would choose double.

[BarbarianMum]

Ds1 is both very keen on and good at science and he has already been told that he may be better off taking double plus computer science rather than triple and this would be no bar to doing 3 sciencesat A level.

[LooseAtTheSeams]

Double plus the computer science is a good combination - it sounds like he knows he doesn't want to do science at A level!

[Rosieposy4]

Science teacher here, would definitely in your circumstances recommend combined ( ie double)
Actually I would quite happily have my whole school do combined, triple get no extra time on our timetable and the new spec is bulging.

[HelgaHufflepuff76]

Thank you all so much for your help.

You've all confirmed what I thought and I can show this to dh.

Thanks again

[BubblesBuddy]

Just wondering why he doesn’t have a humanity? No RE, Geography or History?

[HelgaHufflepuff76]

He is doing RE. It's compulsory at his school.

[thisagain]

The only thing to be said for choosing triple, if you are not planning to follow a career in science, is that the children in these classes are more keen to learn. DD got talked in to it, like your son, but to be fair was getting very good results. She didn't have to drop an option for it but was worried about having more to revise alongside her other subjects. She did the first year with us thinking about dropping her down to the double science class. Finally we made the decision to do it. She lasted 1 week and went back up because she said they weren't keen to learn, messed around, didn't ask any questions etc. In her case there were 2 triple science classes though so it was a bigger jump down than it could have been. In her school they sit a test to sit triple science. My elder DD did double science (and then A level Biology) quite happily some years earlier when there was only one small triple science class.

[PlushLush2018]

Wonderwine DS's experience was similar. He put so much effort into revising for his triple science exams that really it took time and focus away from his stronger subjects (in which he largely underachieved). Yes he got his EBacc and 11 subjects in one sitting but to what end?

I think it unlikely that he'll ever open a science-related tome again. If anything, doing triple totally switched him off science!

[Aragog]

They are his options and he is the one who has to take them for two years. He needs to do the subjects he enjoys - it will make his life much easier over the coming two years, especially come this time in year 11. And depending on the exam board, triple science may also mean an additional three exams for him come May/June 2020z

Let him do double science. Computer science is also technically a science subject anyway. So he has three there already.

Art will include a lot of additional work, without adding the extra from a triple science.

As an aside, to let your ds know, Dd has really enjoyed Spanish, Computer science and drama as her GCSE options. Which she has done alongside double science too :)

[Wonderwine]

Was helping test DS for his Biology exam tomorrow and thought about this again. I think he will likely get BCD for Biology, Physics, Chemistry as he really struggles with Chemistry.
I wonder why they can't let them choose to just aggregate their Paper 1 marks (i.e. the Double component) after results come out if that would equate to a better 'Double' pass than three separate subjects?

[Rosieposy4]

The paper 1 marks are not the double component.
Totally different questions and the combined kids ( if doing trilogy ) still have to sit six papers

[Wonderwine]

Rosie - For Edexcel iGCSE they ARE the same Paper 1 - it has both exam codes on (KBI0/4BI0).

Everyone does the three paper 1s and these make up the Double Award for those entered.

Those doing single sciences do Paper 2 in each of the three in addition.

I'm pretty sure you can't choose to just 'cash in' the paper 1s though, if you've been entered for the Triple.

[ScrubTheDecks]

Your DS is ‘very upset’ at the thought of being forced to do triple science and dropping another good GCSE, your DH seems to be basing this on his own interpretation of what was said. Teachers often try and persuade students to take their class, she as much admitted it was her own benefit. Why are you even entertaining this?

Your DH has set this running.

[Wonderwine]

Having read your original post again, I agree with the previous poster - it sounds as if your DH is stirring up the issue here.

I do think some DHs do this - they seems to associate Triple science with being more macho and other subjects as 'softer' and influence the decision. As others have said, Computer Science is a STEM subject, so it wouldn't be as if your DS was going down a heavily arts-based route.

[bonnyshide]

If he has plans to take the science route in A levels and beyond then triple science is necessary.

If not, then he shouldn't. Unless the sciences are his strongest subjects, triple science will just drag down his results. Not worth it if they aren't the subjects he's interested in for A levels.