Are there any GCSEs with no exams?

29 replies

OrangeApples · 19/02/2020 09:09

Similar to art?

DS is choosing GCSEs. He’s not the most academic and is considered a “low attainer” although I disagree and hate the term (I prefer to call him practically minded) most understand it’s meaning. He’s been given predicated grades, based on SATS, of 3s and 4s.

Obviously he will have to do English, maths and combined science. He gets a free choice of the option blocks (4 options) but only has to choose 3, he will do learning support sessions in the block he doesn’t choose a subject.

He wants to do art because it’s practical and has no exam. He doesn’t want to do anything else because they have exams and the BTECs have “too much writing coursework” apparently (his words). Although I have told him he might just have to pick something he will enjoy and wants to learn more about and forget about exams/what grade he gets and just learn because he wants to.

So what I’m really asking, are any of these choices similar to Art in terms of practical work/no or very little exam emphasis.

Block A
GCSE History
GCSE Geography

Block B
GCSE Food
GCSE Textiles
GCSE Business
GCSE PE
GCSE French
GCSE RE
BTEC Health and social care
BTEC Sport

Block C
GCSE Triple Science
GCSE PE
GCSE Music
GCSE French
GCSE Drama
GCSE Geography
NCFE Food and Cookery

Block D
GCSE Triple Science
GCSE Art
GCSE Citizenship
GCSE History
Level 2 Performing Arts
BTEC Music
OCR Nationals ICT

OP posts:

strawberrylipgloss · 19/02/2020 09:42

History, Geography is very exam based
Languages are also very exam based
Art is very time consuming and I believe there's an exam and coursework?
I heard that Drama includes written work too.

Personally I think you're right and he should pick the subjects that interest him regardless of final grade achieved

Predicted grades based on SATS is a very random measure which you shouldn't focus on too much imo. For example I believe that his languages and science grades are based on his SATS literacy grade which is obviously very random. I've had 2 kids do GCSEs and both "beat" their predictions.

With many of the choices, he probably knows which subjects he likes/dislikes least.

One of my kids did a BTEC and I think it worked better for him than the GCSE option. He's the type who only studies right at the end where as the BTEC format forced him to from the start to improve coursework etc

AStarSoBright · 19/02/2020 09:39

PE, history, geography, RE and Business all have both huge amounts of coursework or writing and exams. I think you will struggle to find anything that doesn't. The ones I've mentioned above are what my son is doing, I know his friends doing other subjects have similar amounts of work.

stardust40 · 19/02/2020 09:33

Dd1 is in year 11 and at her parents evening the performing arts teacher was ranting (quite rightly) that their btec has changed and only 15%is practical and 85% is now based on the written part. She was telling us of some gifted children in the lower sets who she can't believe now won't get a good grade because of their writing skills. I'm sorry I don't really have an answer or advice just wanted to say I hear where you are coming from and it's completely wrong that every subject is now based on their English.

dontletmedowngently · 19/02/2020 09:28

Art has an exam - DD has it over two days just before Easter. It also has a huge amount of coursework which involves analytical writing about artistic influences as part of the coursework and exam prep.

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