What you wish you knew about GSCEs

It's possible to get some degrees with one of these gcses missing or replaced with functional skills which is not the same.

I’ve never had to show gcse certificates and they don’t go on job applications either. They would be largely irrelevant!
as for ucas applications, if you apply before you’ve taken a levels they’re probably the only qualifications you have in hand so yes they’ll likely be looked at as an indicator along with predicted grades. If you want a more popular course they will also likely pay more attention to whittle down the applicants.

To answer your questions in one go: yes GCSE grades go on your UCAS form (still a thing) but tbf once you have Eng and maths at 5 or 6, most unis do not mind. The top-tier unis may require GCSEs graded 7+, as will some specific course (med, vet med for example); and for some courses there are specific GCSE requirements, but IME those are mainly if you don't have an A level (random example; a 7 in maths for economics if no A level maths).

For me as a former classroom teacher and still a tutor and examiner in my subject, the big BIG thing I wish students, teachers and tutors would do (students should do it in case the teacher has not) is to check the spec for the exam and make sure they have done what they need to do and know what they need to do in the exam.

What I mean is (for example): do they need to ask a question in the MFL speaking exam? Do the know how important it is to extend answers for the photocard but not the roleplay? [MFL is my subject] How many points do they need to make for a 4-mark question in Eng lang? Should they show working in maths GCSE? when and how? (and so on)

Past papers, mark schemes and examiners repors available online. Also be familiar with grade boundaries so you know what DC is aiming for.

@Dutch1e

My children sat 7 each. They sat them over two years. Some subjects fully studied and sat in one year, others studied over 2 years.

Each sat at least one science, some more science others more humanities.

The most we sat in one summer sitting for one child was 5. This has not hindered them. One has completed an MA.

That all 9s is extremely rare - a completely different order to straight As in our day. Oxford looks at 8s and 9s, not just 9s. You can do double maths A levels most places with an 8. Only a tiny fraction of one percent get all 9s. I can't remember the figures but we estimated that the vast majority of comps won't have a single student who does.

Also they can hold multiple offers for sixth form and don't have to decide until their results come through. It is extremely helpful to be around on results day. I'd avoid booking holidays then but also make sure they book leave if they take a job over the summer. They might need to register at college in person, talk to admissions people etc.

My son took GCSEs this year, it was really stressful and he didn’t do as well as he should have. However, he got into the college he wanted to do the A Levels he wanted and is flourishing because they are subjects he enjoys and is good at. His results will reflect this, hopefully!

GCSEs really were just a stepping stone for him, and I wish there hadn’t been so much pressure and stress over them.

With my oldest, I wish I'd understood apprenticeships and how GCSEs work for post-Level 3 qualifications better. His GCSEs mattered significantly in his getting a sponsored cadetship, they have very fixed requirements.

With my second, I wish I'd had more information on the pros and cons of triple science compared to having another GCSE option.

My third is going through them now, and I feel I'm just about getting it.

As an immigrant who doesn't have any GCSEs, yes they matter post-GCSEs, even with higher qualifications. I'm finding they're oddly starting to matter more, like it's a box that needs to be ticked - I have a 2:1, but I still had to get a transcript of my high school records this year to show I'd done English, math, and a few other things.

Yes, but these days you have to have a minimum of level 4 in maths and English to study at A level and to get a place at uni, so the actual GCSE grade matters less once you've achieved a higher level. That's the point I was trying to make.

They are looked at every time those who pass apply for a job too. Just an example of how they matter beyond a level.

Yes, they are the absolute minimum grades required if you want to become a teacher, but do not gurantee a place on a course, especially at a competitive uni. Not sure the OP is particularly interested in teaching though?

That if you've got to 34 without a C in maths, it still might catch up with you 😉

Just waiting for the results to see if I have now actually got a qualification in maths. Keep your fingers crossed

So true. And you can't even reuse them for younger siblings as they change the bastard exam board.

Need gcse grade 4 or above in maths and English to do a secondary pgce and also need science if you want to be a primary teacher.

I'm a secondary school teacher and the main advice I give to my students it about how to actually revise. Most students just spend time reading through their books, but nothing really goes in and they just feel depressed. I always say to begin by figuring out what you do/don't know- the school might use PLCs or Seneca, but they can just get the specification and RAG themselves. This stops them from just revising what they already know.

After that, it's important to do active revision and to have a clear, achievable target for the revision period. e.g., don't say "I'm going to revise Spanish" instead "I'm going to make 10 flashcards for Spanish" or "I'm going to do half a Spanish past paper". That way they know when they've achieved it, and it boost self-esteem to feel that something purposeful has been done.

Once they're ready, do some past papers. I'm an examiner for AQA and Cambridge, and there are so many recycled questions over the years (the spec is what it is after all!) I also advise asking teachers to mark past papers for you, most of us will do this (we're always happy to see keen students!) and this is beneficial for long-answer questions where it's not just about what you've said, but the way you've written it.

Top uni’s like Oxbridge look at GCSE’s but generally no. My daughter sat her’s last year and it was unbelievable how much work she put in. She had 25 exams and it was a slog, especially as she had to start B12 injections in the middle. She did amazing though and got all 9’s. But she thoroughly deserved it as she worked so hard for those grades. Biggest advice is read wider around subjects (and watch online etc) and practice papers. When DD was sorting through everything to clear out she said she had done 50 timed practice papers for English!

she sat 11 GCSE’s in year 11, and had sat one in year 10 (whole school does RE in year 10) so has 12. I wasn't aware that most kids do less than 10, makes sense though.

Do not buy 10x CGP revision books and/or flashcards for you DC in the hope it will inspire him to revise. He will use online revision tools/seneca or barely bother revising at all so you will end up weeping at the wasted money as you donate the unused resources to the school the term after results come out....

Number 1 thing you need to know is guard the certificates with you life when they arrive buy him a nice portfolio folder to keep them in because you can't get replacements. They used to be £30 each for a copy certificate, now you just get a rubbishy statement of results from the .gov website instead

I would disagree that GCSEs are only necessary for the next step. I've had to scan them in for various work courses I've been asked to undertake and to show proof I have them on taking up new roles despite having a Dip HE and BSc. Never had to show my A level certs apart from Uni though

drum into them to make sure their phone doesn’t go into the exam room with them - you’d be surprised how many forget despite reminders.

Or their smart watch (and in many cases any watch at all).

Or a calculator with a bunch of formulae printed inside the lid. Near squeak for DS with that one.

Or their pocketful of mini flashcards (very conscientious and very appalled girl of our acquaintance. Yes, she was disqualified).

@Dutch1e

They take them all at once.

The exam period is about two months and it's roughly three exams a week or so.

Actually only 12.2% of pupils took 10 GCSEs in England in 2024.
9 is the commonest at 28.4% and just over a quarter took 8. A tiny number take 13 - only 390 pupils took 12 or more subjects in the whole of England.. The average was 7.81 this year and that number has remained fairly constant since 2019.
That's exams taken in one sitting of course, and there will be schools who do some early leading to a higher number of GCSEs in total but the days of lots of pupils doing 10+ subjects seem to have gone.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographic-gcse-results-2024/infographics-for-gcse-results-2024-accessible

Was that to me? If so, that's helpful, thank you.

Do they sit something like 5 each year for two years or take all 10 at once?

Most students in the U.K. take between 8 and 13 GCSEs. 10 is probably the most common number.

Bright students often do additional maths or statistics gcse as well as an additional language.

Don't pressure them, they'll get what they get.

My eldest did enough to get to the next phase which I struggled with as I am ultra competitive andcouldn't understand why he didn't want to do the best he possibly could. He knew he didn't want to take German any further for example so thought 4 was enough, I couldn't understand why he wouldn't just go for a 9. He got a 6 in the end and whilst I could have forced him to study more I think our relationship would have suffered if I had.

So my advice, which I will try and follow with my younger ones, is guide but don't force them and it will probably all work out in the end.