Number of GCSE’s

Almost all jobs need at least 5. I wouldn't go less than 6 because one might be a dud.

At my DC school 10 is the default and 11 allowed for the brightest but my Y11 with SEN is doing 8 (plus a level 2 certificate officially worth half a GCSE in a language as the language GCSE was proving too much).

It's very sensible to drop one or two and focus on the ones that your DC has the best chances in. 8 GCSEs at grades 6+ are much better than 11 at grades 4&5.

Edited: oops sorry didn't realise this was a dilemma from January!

DS is doing 11 in theory (with separate science and further maths) and I think it's ridiculous. Likely to tell school not to enter him for FM as I can't see the benefit of the extra (hard!) exam. He's in year 10 though so biding my time as I actually do want him to do the FM coursework (as a bridge to A-level), just not sit the exam.

Even 10 is madness in my mind. I don't understand why there's the need to make it so hard for them. I went to Cambridge with 9 and there was never any debate I didn't do enough.

My DD has 12 GCSE’s but 1 taken in year 10. She got all 9’s so is one of a small number of students no doubt to take 11 and achieve all 9’s. She never stopped working but I feel it was way too much. 25 exams. A lot of pressure and she has an ongoing illness too so not sure how she managed to stay at the top of her game all that time. She’s happy to have a lot less subjects for A level now

So happy to hear this, one of my children is home educated and we are aiming for six GCSE’s , so it’s encouraging to hear your son was not held back in any way

11 is impressive - especially if the pupil doesn’t come from a home where multiple languages are spoken.

My dd did 9 (combined science but further maths ) and quickly received offers from all unis that she applied for.

Pretty sure there is not an issue even at Oxford and Cambridge with a student having 8 or 9 GCSEs. Yes 11 top grades would be impressive but I am not sure what evidence you have that "old school" unis like this - as in, are more likely to make an offer to you if you have 11 GCSEs.

@mightyducks 11 is a lot - most schools local to me offer 8-9-10 - but the 10 is usually only those taking triple science in the time when the others take double. Certainly 8 GCSEs is not unusual now. The thought is better 8 good grades than stretched out over 10/11. It's a shame tho as bc of the Ebacc and the cut in numbers taken, a lot of creative subjects – DT, art, drama, food, textiles, music, graphics, PE – are getting squeezed as DC can maybe only pick one from that list.

My DS1 has LD and took eight with an LS option; my other DC took triple so they did 10. All three of them took at least one creative, one humanity and one MFL so they got a decent spread. DS2 was the only one to take GCSEs fully under the new spec tho which was a lot of exams, as anyone with a DC who has done GSCEs lately will know. Best of luck to your DC @mightyducks

personally I think it's too many and places too much stress on young people.

My.son did 5 plus 2 btecs. He is starting his 2nd year at uni

11 at a superselective

I think it's sad as I think 10-13 GCSEs used to be quite normal and it's nice that kids got to enjoy so much breadth. But realistically GCSEs are so much more difficult now. The content is just so so much that more than 9 is just an unnecessary amount of stress and doesn't bring much enjoyment even for the brightest.

My daughter is in Year 11 now & doing 11 GCSE’s, it’s hard work but if they get top marks, its impressive & old school universities still like this! I think 9 GCSE’s is not enough. I think minimum should be 10.

DS1 is at state school and he did a total of 13 GCSEs

Compulsory
English Language
Maths
Maths numeracy (we are in wales and the now do 2 maths GCSE's as standard)
Physics
Biology
Chemistry (tripes science but some do double)
Welsh
Skills Challenge (welsh bacc)

Optional/high set
Additional Maths
English Literature

Options (everyone chooses 3 from lists)
Geography
Computer Science
Spanish

So the lowest amount that someone would probably have done would be 10 if they did double science and neither of the optional

10 here. DS doing 11 as he's doing further maths. RE is compulsory in our school (non-religious).

Our school, the basic number is 9, but it's 10 if you do triple science

Those who do FM take maths in year 10, and FM in year 11, so even though they can end up with 11, no-one sits more than 10 in one exam season (anyone who wants to sit a "home" language GCSE does that in year 10 as well)

Some of course end up doing fewer, but they AFAIK try to get pupils to sit 8 whenever possible.

I’d expect someone with 11 to speak another language at home and be taking Additional Maths.

8 is the minimum at state schools due to Progress 8. Universities vary. Some will look at your best 6 grades, some our best 8 grades.

I personally think that for most pupils 9 is the ideal number although some would benefit from concentrating on only 8 and some would prefer the breadth of 10.

At my children's school they do 9 as standard/minimum. 10 if they are doing triple science and then 11 if they are doing additional maths too.

My DS is doing 11 plus Additional Maths. The reason it's 11 is because he is doing three separate sciences, which are his strong subjects so for him, the 11 gives him chance to get an extra high grade in the third science and means he can let the RE slide if need be because it won't be counted in his top 8 (RE compulsory at his school) . So I see it as the opportunity for him to increase his top 8 score by replacing RE with a science.

At the time, my DC did feel 11 at one sitting was a lot, though say with hindsight they would not have sat fewer if they had been allowed; there was no additional maths or equivalent in the mix. 11 GCSEs allowed them to do creative and language and humanity subjects and they would have railed at a reduced breadth.

RE proved to be the best GCSE for one DC and the worst for another. Both DC say they were glad they took it as it exposed them to new ideas, ways of thinking and increased awareness. Their results were a mix of very good, good and not so good. This is the outcome that, certainly on these threads, many parents fear. I understand why but, for my DC, their GCSE outcome helped confirm which subjects to take forward at A level and gave them the confidence to see that success does not have to be 'perfection across the board all of the time'. Certainly the world of work is not like that.

One DC has found the knowledge and enjoyment of one of their 'extra' GCSEs contributed to their being involved in an interesting and career-enhancing internal project at work; so you just never know. All the above is not to argue that 11 is the right number but also it is not folly to do that many.

In respect of OP's DS, use the impending mocks to refine a revision strategy that works for them, time planning that means school work does not consume their every waking minute and an overall mental approach that means they chunk down each challenge into manageable bits. If they can crack that, it will stand them in good stead.

Even Oxbridge only look at your best eight GCSEs taken at the same time, so there’s no need to take 11 for even the brightest students.

At our school you take nine with the option to take one or two more, but if you take 11 then one of them has to be PE or dance (due to timetabling).

They say it’s better to get nine 9s than ten 8s. I kind of agree with them!

Schools are measured on students' performance in 8 subjects, so it is usually only home-educated students who do fewer than that. You'll also see complaints from some people if the school only expects them to do 8 or 9, because that often means they don't have enough free choices to do the ones they really want to do, or to continue with 2/3 languages as well as triple science.

You don't really get to choose how many your child does - the school will timetable for the number they've decided on, and so they all have to be doing something in each option block. Sometimes there is some provision for a select few to have some time in a support base and do one fewer, but that's the exception rather than the rule. Some do extras (eg top set doing further maths, or as an after-school add-on) but hopefully that's limited to those who genuinely can cope.

Is one of the 11 further maths? If so, I don’t think 11 is too many. At my school if they are doing further maths then they sit 11 GCSEs, and cope fine.

My home educated son did 7 GCSEs and then went to our local state 6th form where he was a top student and they supported him in applying to Cambridge where he had an interview. He didn't get past the interview stage but is now having a great time at Durham instead.

Of those who sat GCSEs in 2023, only 14% took 10 or more; most take 8 or 9 (see link below). Very academic schools limiting GCSEs may help boost grade averages and facilitate entry to unis screening on 'the best eight GCSEs' but can also limit subject choice and subject exposure. My DC went to a state comp amd did 11 and say, with hindsight, they were glad as it helped them develop study skills which stood them in good stead for A level and professional exams. At their school, there were many students taking fewer A levels if that was right for their academic progression - but equally those able to cope with 11 had the opportunity to do so.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographic-gcse-results-2023/infographics-for-gcse-results-2023-accessible