If you have/had children doing GCSE's what do you wish you had known?

30 replies

FiveHoursSleep · 02/03/2016 09:45

DD has her options evening tomorrow and she's having trouble deciding what subjects to choose. She does have a shortlist based on what she dislikes least! I know this sounds negative but the reality is that she's quite academic and a good all rounder.
What questions should we ask?
Especially since our kids will be sitting the new GCSE

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raspberryrippleicecream · 02/03/2016 10:31

DD has enjoyed drama, and being away from the classroom in a different environment. I think it would impact on others if she isn't committed though, there is a lot of team work.

She would have done drama and music if timetabling allowed, I'd have had no problem with that, plenty of other subjects.

DS did music. He enjoyed it. He found the performance part easy, (full marks), the composition was a bit harder. Teamwork not so much of an issue, the group piece can be a duet with a teacher. He would say it was one of the hardest GCSEs he did.

Geography he said was a bit of a slog, lots of case studies to learn. But he enjoyed it, and enjoyed the field trips.

RS he did short course, and said it was his easiest GCSE. And interesting. He got the same grade for all of these three GCSEs.

Obviously these experiences are all old style GCSEs.

Original poster

FiveHoursSleep · 02/03/2016 10:17

Jomidmum She's not really interested in anything atm so it seems to be a matter of working with what she'll tolerate. I'm hoping she will get more interested once she starts the curriculum. She really doesn't know what she wants to do afterwards and I think this is causing her to be unenthusiastic. She's a girl who likes a plan!
TeenandTween
Good point re the revision load. DD won't do two languages though. I did ask about Drama and Music before and the consensus was it was okay. She's doing triple science and will probably do all the maths papers, so will still have a well rounded education I think.

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TeenAndTween · 02/03/2016 10:05

My DD did GCSEs last year, so under the old system.

Drama - this GCSE depends on your ability to work well with others, AND on other's ability to be bothered to organise and turn up to rehearsals etc. DD's performance exam was the week after Easter holidays. They only had 1 day in the whole holidays where everyone could get together to rehearse due to people having arranged away holidays over Easter. Made for added stress. On the other hand, doing drama made a nice break in the week from other 'desk based' lessons.

Check the syllabus is interesting. e.g. if doing History there is quite a difference between American West and 20th Century!

I would say check balance between CA and exams, but I guess that has gone now.

Consider revision load for final exams. DD did 2 MFLs which lightened the load for Summer y11 as they are more 'skill based' than 'revision based'

Personally, for an 'academic' 'good all rounder' I wouldn't do both Drama and Music.

jomidmum · 02/03/2016 10:00

Firstly, are they interested in the subject.
Secondly, are their choices likely to open the next educational level they are aiming for.
We home educate so have far choice in which subjects to study, but I think those questions still apply.

Original poster

FiveHoursSleep · 02/03/2016 09:49

I meant to add that they have to choose a humanity and a language, then have two 'free' options'.
She's deciding between RS and Classics for humanities and will do Spanish for her language.
Her shortlist for her options are Music, Drama, Geography and Classics/RS.
They have to put down 4 but in some order.
If your children have done GCSE what questions would you/ they have liked to ask before settling on that subject?

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