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Original poster

GCSE Choices. How many "soft subjects?"

31 replies

cornflowerblu · 13/12/2016 15:17

My eldest had their GCSE talk the other day. They have to take English Language, English Literature, Maths, Double or Triple Science and RE (church school). If they take double science they have 4 other options, if they take triple science they have 3 other options.

DD wants to take double science, we support this as science isn't her strength and her choices are History, Geography, Statistics, Food Tech and Business Studies.

She's a high achiever and should get good grades, mainly A & A* in old grades maybe with a B in the sciences if she has a bad day. Her plan is Maths, Economics & History for A Level followed by a Russell Group University. My concern is whether she's choosing too many soft subjects. She is adamant that she won't do a language which disappoints me as I've got a language degree but the school don't make them and I don't want to force her into something she'll really hate for 2 years.

I suppose my question is, are these choices acceptable and reasonably regarded by the Russell Group universities. I can't see her being Oxbridge material but she'll certainly have places like Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham on her radar.

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cricketballs · 14/12/2016 16:55

sashh whilst you are correct about GCSE ICT there are still plenty of courses that schools are offering - CIDA, BTEC, OCR Techs so the subject is still being offered at numerous schools

Original poster
cornflowerblu · 14/12/2016 10:27

That is true but I wanted to make sure that her choices weren't going to limit the universities she could apply to which thankfully it seems it won't although I guess that double science, taken under sufferance probably won't put her as a top candidate for medicine Smile

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ifonly4 · 14/12/2016 10:24

No subject should be considered soft if it takes them onto a course or a job related to it.

Original poster
cornflowerblu · 14/12/2016 10:20

Thank you, I'm definitely happy for her to choose. I'm sorry the school don't specify a MFL but at the same time even though I'm sure she would get a good grade it will come with a serious amount of moaning and groaning which just isn't worth it

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LooseAtTheSeams · 14/12/2016 09:41

As an aside, if she likes history, some knowledge of statistics is incredibly useful!

MuseumOfCurry · 14/12/2016 09:30

Is Statistics actually considered a soft choice? I took a few classes in grad school and it stretched my brain to the outer limits.

senua · 14/12/2016 08:37

Excellent mark in Bus. Studies is wildly better result than mediocre language, for instance.

This. I've seen Universities ask for , say, "6 GCSE at A grade" but they never specify the subjects. As long as there is a sensible ratio between serious subjects and basket-weaving then she should be OK

sashh · 14/12/2016 08:32

bow there are plenty of other choices but these are the ones she's interested in. Of course there's art, music, drama, ICT, Spanish, Latin and all sorts but this is her shortlist from the long list

I'd check the ICT - the GCSE ICT is being scrapped, Computing/Computer Science only for the 9-1 GCSEs and if she is good at maths then it might be a good option for her, it is counted as science for ebacc and is not 'soft', lots of maths and logical thinking.

EvenTheWind · 14/12/2016 07:39

History, Stats and Business best for her a levels, surely?

Then choose for interest between food tech and geography

Original poster
cornflowerblu · 14/12/2016 07:32

Thank you again. I will pass the info on about food tech. She's really good at maths, never struggles and enjoys it so maybe stats is the better one. Business, I think that she will also like. This is so helpful, thank you

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cricketballs · 14/12/2016 05:49

Apologies for being pedantic Grin but it is GCSE Business - the new spec has dropped the 'studies' in an effort to stop the perception of it being soft (even the DoE doesn't use the title Studies in its documents stating what has to be covered)

lljkk · 14/12/2016 03:21

If she thinks she'll enjoy Bus Studies then she probably. will get a good mark. Excellent mark in Bus. Studies is wildly better result than mediocre language, for instance.

Geography (DD did) is so much memorizing with a bit of process, lots of writing.
History (DD is doing) is even more memorizing & writing.
Stats DS breezed thru, good for kids who don't want to write essays & remember relationships.
Food Tech (DD's mate is doing) involves being very organised. It's very multi-faceted in the skillset, so many ways to go wrong! But good one for kids with the passion.
Bus Studies: kids who click with it know they click with it.

cricketballs · 13/12/2016 18:34

The school will no longer beat them into taking a language as the new measures with basket 2 are history or geography or MFL or Computer Science

PossumInAPearTree · 13/12/2016 17:39

Afaik it's only one of the London universities which says you need a MFL and even with them if you don't have one they will still accept you but just make you do a mfl course alongside your degree.

PossumInAPearTree · 13/12/2016 17:37

I reckon that food tech is the only possible soft subject on that list. Even if there were more it doesn't matter, GCSEs should show breadth. If she's going to pick 4 it that 5 she will be fine.

The school may moan that without a MFL she won't get a........god I can't remember the name of it. Some thing beginning with E that schools waffle on about needing to get into a Russel group uni?? And you need a humanity and a mfl to say you have it. But it's bollocks anyway and only benefits the school. Dd didn't do a mfl and there was uproar from teachers at options evening that she wouldn't get this thing.

Original poster
cornflowerblu · 13/12/2016 17:32

Thank you. We have a parents meeting next term to clarify the details but that's really helpful

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Allthebestnamesareused · 13/12/2016 17:28

If she wants to do History, Economics and Maths at A level then the obvious choices are e history, geography (which in some syllabuses contains a measure of socio-economics), statistics and business studies (which may have an element of economics in).

Has the school issued a booklet saying which board and syllabus they will follow for each subject? That made choosing a lot easier.

Original poster
cornflowerblu · 13/12/2016 17:26

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful

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catslife · 13/12/2016 17:18

With the new specs for GCSEs it looks as if the experiences of most parents here with these subjects could be rather out of date. dd only took GCSEs last year!

cricketballs · 13/12/2016 16:27

catslife with the new spec this is no longer allowed - it is GCSE Business with no choice of modules. Edexcel aren't developing a GCSE Economics as there isn't the demand

cricketballs · 13/12/2016 16:26

The new business spec has got a lot more calculations in so accounting ratios for example whilst apparently food has a lot of science in.
Given the new specs and which subjects were allowed to redevelop there are no longer 'soft subjects' GCSEs.
Even given my previous statement RG/Oxbridge have not been bothered by a couple of perceived 'soft subjects' within the GCSE qualifications gained

catslife · 13/12/2016 16:20

Those possibilities sound fine to me too. Am not sure if it's still possible, but at dds school high achievers did an optional Economics module as part of their Business studies GCSE. So it may be a good option for your dd if she is considering Economics A level.

yumscrumfatbum · 13/12/2016 16:01

I think those choices are fine. History and Geography are both quite essay heavy so Statistics or Food Tech should balance those out nicely. I had the same thoughts re a language and my DS. I talked him into doing one and he ended up swopping to it for Geography after the first term xx

Original poster
cornflowerblu · 13/12/2016 15:59

bow there are plenty of other choices but these are the ones she's interested in. Of course there's art, music, drama, ICT, Spanish, Latin and all sorts but this is her shortlist from the long list. She's not musical and can't draw so music and art came straight off the list. PE is hovering in the background as she's very sporty but she would rather keep her sport as leisure rather than do the theory. Psychology not an option at GCSE at her school.

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TeenAndTween · 13/12/2016 15:55

bow I'm assuming that's the DD's shortlist having already excluded the MFLs and all the other things she doesn't want to continue.