GCSE Options.....feel sorry for DD

When I did my GCSEs (we were the first GCSE yr) you could chose 1,2 or 3. That was so much more flexible.

She has to do Physics and Chemistry regardless of whether she does triple or double science. And yes Biology A Level on its own not much use, she'd need Chemistry too. Maybe she can learn to love Chem?!

Even if they wanted to, the school couldn't let her drop chemistry and physics. The programme of study specifies that all three elements of science must be studied, and rightly so. No decent university will admit a student to a science degree who hasn't studied chemistry or physics since Year 9. It's not just a question of content, but of the skills of scientific enquiry which they need to develop.

She'll need science A Levels for a science degree but bear in mind that you can do this with just dual award science.

Can she do double science and so give herself another choice while keeping her options fully open?

It is a worry at the time but try not to over think it, there is very little she could do now that would close any doors for her.

My ds is at sixth form and is studying physics alongside students who took double and triple science gcse last year - he himself took triple but did physics in y10 so had been away from it a year. It isn't a problem as they had a huge holiday between gcse and a level to study/revise to make sure they had the right foundation.

Sciences will keep her options open.

Agree with other posters about having a good mix of subjects.

My ds(17) chose triple science,history,French & art (visual communication instead of fine art).
His dad talked him into doing art instead of electronic because he thought it was too heavy a work load & art would give him more freedom for expression & less to study & memorise for gcse's.

The best advice we were given was if your child had an idea what they wanted to do was to look up the career then work backwards to find out qualifications that were needed.

My ds is now doing the three sciences at a level in the hopes of getting into university & getting a degree to get into the field of forensic science.

I think she needs to have a close look at Animal Science the better degree courses require chemistry as well as biology at A-level and physics at GCSE is really helpful for studying physiology.

Is she good enough to do triple science? It is more work and schools only expect their better scientists to do it - top set or top two sets for example. Is she good at science? My DD1 did it and still had a broad spectrum of GCSEs, including triple science and she did languages at University. Breadth and keeping options open is what you want to aim for. Doing triple science in lots of schools is an extra GCSE and does not take away from the range of other subjects to be studied. Surely they are not saying she cannot do History and triple Science, or Geography and triple Science? This clearly makes no sense at all and, if this is the case, I would fight it because she would end up without a Humanity (or the English Bacc for that matter). What subjects are in Option B? Ofsted would not approve of children being denied the English Bacc subjects by the way. If she is interested in Zoos (animals) and the environment, then Geography should go with the Triple Science.

However, young people absolutely do not need to choose a career at GCSE stage! Stop worrying about that. The golden rule is academic breadth - and the best possible grades. Therefore, Maths, English x 2, Sciences x 2/3, History or Geography, MFL, an Art, plus another one or two (another Art, PE, Humanity, MFL, something fun) to make 10 subjects. No more are needed.

My DD's school told them to choose subjects they enjoy or are good out, but with variety. We found options evening a great help and were there the full two hours. We talked to teachers about courses, looked at students work, looked at old GCSE papers in some subjects and GCSE text books. It really did help DD. Teachers made it clear DCs could go and talk to them privately in the week as well. There are some subjects DD flatly refused to go and check out, so we let that go.

Whatever she chooses, I'd say try to have some variety, ie science, something like history or geography, maybe a language and a practical or art subject.

I don't think many of them know what they really want to do. My niece has just started doing her A levels and is having a total re-think about what she though she'd like to do.

I don't know if they all do it, but after option choices were confirmed, students were still able to go back to the school and change subjects befor Year 10. DD is in Year 10 and two of her friends have been allowed to change subjects this half term, even at this late date.