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Original poster

GCSE's can you help me with this process?

54 replies

SoTiredNeedHoliday · 08/02/2019 10:19

Hi,
I don't know much about GCSE's however we are nearing selection time. I have advised that we need to select:

  • subjects that they really like
  • Subjects that they might need for any A levels that they want to do or any career that they are (at 14! Hmm) thinking of.
  • Some are more difficult that others DEPENDING on the particular students strengths and weaknesses

What I was very surprised to hear is that Universities will look at GCSE results when reviewing student applications as the A levels are not yet finished. I am from a system where university places are offered after the results are in for the final year of school so you find where you are offered a place in the summer, & not before.

So can anyone particularly tell me about: I'd be forever grateful for your honest experienced comments as parents.Flowers

HISTORY GCSE - how was it ?

ART GCSE?

DESIGN GCSE?

GEOGRAPHY GCSE?

Most importantly, are there any pitfalls that I need to know before we have finalised our selection?

thanks!

OP posts:
steppemum · 08/02/2019 10:48

by design do you mean Design and Technology?
Ds says that is easy, and his easiest GCSE, but if you mean design on the art side, that may be different.

Geography has a lot of content, but not hard, easy to understand, just a lot to revise. ds chose geography over history as there was less essay tyoe writing, so if you are good at English, History may appeal more

steppemum · 08/02/2019 10:40

The most important thing is to get English and maths (compulsory) Then, if they like science, they need their science (2 sciences will be compulsory, if they are good at science, this is their best subject, then make it 3 sciences)

If there is a subject they like a lot, and may want to do it for A level, eg if they love geography/French

Then be aware that art GCSEs are a lot of work. great to to if you are artistc and enjoy art, but think about it due to the amount of work.

DT is less work intensive.
I disagree about group work, if they love drama, go for drama.
It is good to have one GCSE which is more practical, it gives them a variety in the week, instead of all book work.

Given all that, what is your dc good at, and what do they like?

Don't worry about universties looking at GCSE results. It helps to give them a sense of how clever they are and they basically look at the top 7 results and what the grades were, they are not intersted in the details.

my ds (year 11) did - 3 sciences, DT business studies, French, Geography
my dd (year 9) has just chosen 3 sciences, German, Drama and computer science

Both lean towards sciences/engineering

MirandaWest · 08/02/2019 10:35

DS is in year 10 and doing geography, Spanish, music and PE. He enjoys geography. He says friends who are doing Art say it is a lot of work.

DD is in year 8 (they choose options in year 8 in their school) and will hopefully be doing history, geography, Spanish and drama.

TwoBlueFish · 08/02/2019 10:27

My son is doing history at the moment. He’s really enjoying it, it is a lot of written work and analysing facts and evidence.

I can’t comment on the others as my son isn’t taking them all I can say is that a lot of his friends took geography as the easy option humanity and say it’s boring.

The would avoid anything that involves you working in groups (like drama)

My son chose history, Spanish, computer science and food tech, he’s in Year 10.