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Original poster

GCSE Choices 2013 (exams 2015) support thread

206 replies

DizzyHoneyBee · 11/02/2013 15:27

Here we go....options choices this month, exams in summer 2015. We're choosing options at the moment but I've not come across a support thread.

Does your DC know what they want to do already or are they needing a lot of help deciding?
Where have you gone for information?

We get a booklet this week apparently and then have a meeting at school to discuss listen to a sales pitch by the teachers discuss the options that are best and then we have about 2 weeks to make a decision.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 20/02/2013 18:57

She may get another letter tomorrow about another subject Dizzy. Grin

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 20/02/2013 18:55

DD and I have come to the conclusion that it's not worth it, she would be choosing another subject for the sake of it. Thanks for the comments here, it's helped confirm that we've made the right decision.
I can remember my options, completely useless for what I decided to do later on but such is life.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 20/02/2013 18:11

Blimey Dizzy, just when you thought it was all sorted. Sad This options malarkey is confusing. I don't even remember doing my options. Other than dropping Cookery because the teacher was a witch.

Incogneetow · 20/02/2013 17:29

I would be reluctant for students to do an extra-curricular subject, unless they can't do it otherwise. 1.5 hrs after school lesson will also require several hours of independent work - ie homework - for the subject too.

ds1 is a very able student, but is actually only doing 9.5 GCSEs (standard at his school). He's in yr11 and is doing exceptionally well in all subjects, and has had some time over the past two years to pursue some of his own interests too. Those 9 top/very high grades will be sufficient to enable him to do pretty much anything in future, there's no need for more. (He did Maths, 2 Eng, Triple Science, German, History, IT GCSE).

Given a free choice he would have liked to have done a few more: another language, maybe Classical Civilisation, Statistics... But it would have a been a huge amount more work required.

webwiz · 20/02/2013 16:22

12 GCSEs is more than enough - DS is in year 11 and doing 11 + an ict thing and its loads of work. I wish he was doing less actually but he'll have to grit his teeth and get on with it as not long left now.

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 20/02/2013 14:57

OK, here we go again - I thought we had got it sorted but a letter has just arrived which has sent us back to the drawing board.
DD has just had a letter saying that she has been identified as having a particular talent for art and that the teacher is keen for her to have the opportunity to do art so is offering her a place on an hour and a half long lesson after school to do art gcse. The reason for this is a lot of academic students who are talented at art have been dropping it in order to do a more academic subject.

Now DD had already planned her options to include art. As well as the core subjects she is doing triple science, applied engineering, geography, fine art and AS level critical thinking. She'll be doing 12 GCSEs in all.

If she switched art to the after school class then she could do either business studies, french or german in it's place. She wants to do science at A level and university so I (and she) don't think any of those are particularly worth having to extra lessons after school so she can do art. I also think that 13 GCSEs is too much work and not a good idea and she agrees so I think we'll politely say thanks but no thanks.

Any thoughts please?

OP posts:
Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 19/02/2013 16:27

doglover, now it makes sense. They have a pathway like that at DD's school but she still gets a choice about triple or core science; although they have recommended the advanced one it doesn't mean she has to do it and would be able to choose the vocational one if she wanted. That would be over my dead body entirely with my support!

frogprincess, welcome. I think I'd go for music if I was your DD.

OP posts:
FrogPrincess · 19/02/2013 16:06

OOh just the thread I need!
Dd is doing
Maths
English Language
English Literature
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
and is choosing the following options
French
History
Drama
and either Classical Civilisation or Music

Now, any advice on which she should pick out of these two? She is very good at English (level 8) and History (level 7), and also at music (although a bit lazy, she is talented, plays cello, bass guitar, sings and has just begun acoustic guitar). Her dream is to study English at Oxford or go to RADA!!!

Help!

MelodyBaker · 19/02/2013 16:02

My dds school do them over 1 year! I think its ridiculous

LadyMaryQuiteContrary · 19/02/2013 16:00

I don't get why some schools teach GCSE's over three years. Surely it's a 2 year course? Confused

doglover · 19/02/2013 15:42

Because she's in the 'accelerated' set - they started their science GCSE courses last Sept - they have no choice for these subjects. She's ok-ish about it - all her friends are following the same pathway.

Gosh, the whole after A level bit is a complete mystery! Our dd is starting to really stressed about the whole uni / career thing. She doesn't want to teach (I'm a teacher so can completely understand that!!), doesn't want to work in an office, doesn't want to do anything ................................ Can you see a pattern here?! We make suggestions and nothing is currently 'right'. She is seeing a Careers person after half term so hope that might give her some pointers.

There does seem to be a lot of pressure on them to get their future mapped out at a very early age.

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 19/02/2013 11:59

Out of interest, what made you encourage her to do triple science rather than other stuff that fits with the ones she will do at A Level, geography and stuff like that?
Just curious, not being critical.
What does she want to do after A levels?

OP posts:
doglover · 18/02/2013 19:35

Thanks, dhb. Our dd is not really 'sciencey' - top set and will do well - but loves her English, History and Music. I'd feel a bit mean encouraging her to do another subject that isn't really her thing, if you know what I mean. Her A levels will probably be the 3 subjects listed above - she can't wait to drop maths and chemistry!!

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 18/02/2013 19:23

I wouldn't have thought so; she is doing triple science which is a good academic base and she's got a language and a humanity. I'd encourage astronomy because I did it and loved it it is a great combination with physics but I'm sure one "studies" is OK too.
My DD is doing much the same as yours - she's doing the same but has swapped history for geography, engineering for music and art and design for media studies.

OP posts:
doglover · 18/02/2013 19:15

Our dd is planning to study:

Maths
Eng Lit
Eng Lang
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
RE
History
French
Music
Media Studies

I'm a bit 'meh' about the Media Studies selection but she really doesn't want to do Spanish or Astronomy which are the other options. If the rest of the subjects are conventional, does it matter if she's got a 'studies' in there?!!

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 18/02/2013 17:27

Course you can Melody, the more the merrier :)

OP posts:
MelodyBaker · 18/02/2013 16:14

Can I join?
dds school do some Gsces in year 10 and some in year 11.
She's doing (if she gets them!)
Maths (compulsory),
English lit and lang (compulsory)
Rs and citizenship (compulsory)
Core and additional science (compulsory)
Business studies (her choice)
Spanish (her choice)
Geography (her choice)
And history (her choice)
all very academic!

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 17/02/2013 14:17

Sorry treas, didn't mean to suggest that you were suggesting that, more I didn't want you thinking it was lighter in terms of work and then finding that your DS had a terrible shock!

Why do teachers have to say that....my DD has been told that she will have no problem getting A/A and I was not impressed, it's stupid IMO because she may not get A/A and it just puts the pressure on, though it does allow for semi stealth boasting on MN Grin...just wish they wouldn't do it, it's futile.

I much prefer this school gate too :)

OP posts:
treas · 17/02/2013 12:57

DizzyHoneyBee - wasn't suggesting Music to be a light option just the lighter option out of the ones ds has chosen for GCSE.

Unfortunately, ds's music teacher has mentioned in ds's hearing that he would have no trouble in doing well in Music GCSE, so now I have to be the voice of
doom reason and nag remind him that he has to work hard and pull out all the stops as he'll have to do group performances.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 17/02/2013 12:09

Can I join please ? We're a bit behind with options evening not happening until next month. The rest of my friends had it to contend with last week but DD has gone to a different school.

We've obviously discussed it but not seen the leaflet yet. Current plan is :

English Lit
English Lang
Maths
Science
Science
Spanish
Geography
Drama
Photography

We had a letter saying DD talented at Art and asking us to encourage her to either Art, photography or textiles. Have heard dreadful things about Art course load. I don't know anything about photography but DH pointed out it might be a useful skill to have in every day life so going with that.

She's not keen on Spanish or Geography but prefers them to History and French so going with those from the point of view of trying to get a good balance. Guess we'll decide further when we finally get the booklet.

LadyMaryQuiteContrary · 17/02/2013 10:41

They've already dissected an animal heart, creamteas. He didn't want to do that so sat on the opposite side of the room.

creamteas · 17/02/2013 09:16

Languages are useful, but not essential, and can always be picked up later on. Many unis offer language classes outside of the main degree.

Lady Schools obviously differ, but none of mine have ever dissected anything at GCSE level.....

Theas18 · 17/02/2013 09:14

Someone asked for advice about what not to do:

If say fine art unless you are seriously gifted/wasn't to continue.

It was terrible for dd1 -so much work-more that you can ever envisage, and shewas disappointed with an A, having been led to believe she was working at A* level.....

My 2 who have done it so far have found music very easy but they have been very experienced and able.the performance stuff was straight forward. I'd they are going to struggle with that side, think about it.

LadyMaryQuiteContrary · 16/02/2013 22:49

I told ds to think about what he enjoyed and stick with that. Latin is fun if you can grasp it but would serve no purpose if she wants to be an architect. Philosophy and Ethics teach a different way of thinking and she'd always be able to use the skills that she picks up from studying this. Ds wants to be a barrister so Latin is useful. He's ditched biology because he doesn't like the idea of dissecting things. I did explain that it's not all like this, he couldn't study all he wanted to though so something had to go.

YippeeTeenager · 16/02/2013 22:43

Hi LadyMaryQuiteContrary, she doesn't really know - she quite fancies being an architect. She's very strong at maths, sciences and art. The school have said that they don't absolutely have to do a language and that they could do Latin instead of a modern one. If she could do 11 then she'd do Latin but with only 10 she can't fit it in. I'm thinking she should maybe do Latin instead of Philosophy and Ethics but that would be a shame as the P&E course sounds really interesting and she's very keen. What do you think? She's really good at Latin and they've said she could do Latin and Greek as one option, that would lead to 2 separate GSCES...Any advice very gratefully received. I want her to choose herself - but not get it wrong! Confused