Which GCSE option choice has your child enjoyed the most?

DD1 loved Art. DD2 loved Music.

That's strange @Lisiantha , maybe it depends on the board too? Admittedly dd did go to a highly selective grammar for sixth form, but I'm pretty sure her whole RS group of around 10-12 got A/A star and she wasn't the only one with an A star.

The percentages of high grades for each subject aren't the same. Those which tend attract able students will have more top grades - the most obvious is FM because it's nearly always kids who are very good at maths who do it.
Conversely, subjects which attract a broader range of abilities will have fewer top grades awarded - but that doesn't mean it's harder to get one if you're good at that subject.

@crazycrofter I've seen it described as fun before, but never easy! At DD's college they only get one or two As from the cohort of 30 or so usually, and no A stars, and she didn't fancy those odds.

I guess it all comes down to the individual. It's fab that your daughter has found a subject she's flown in, but I thought that statistically Philosophy gives out fewer A stars than practically all other A Level subjects.

@Lisiantha my dd did at at A Level and found it very easy to get an A star! I think maybe the results are skewed by fewer high ability people taking it, but dd barely did any work for it, compared to her other A Levels (History and Psychology), where she got As. So for someone who's capable of a 9 at GCSE, I'd suggest it's a really good A Level to do if you need to get high grades.

RS was the stand-out favourite. She nearly took Philosophy at A Level but decided against it because it seems very hard to get an A in.

Teachers are such a huge part of it though. I think DT would have stayed great if they had continued to have a DT teacher.

My dd s fav is Business, although hasn’t had a teacher for 6months of year 11!! (Which has caused us stress!!) She regrets choosing Art, as there’s so much coursework and the teacher keeps on at them to present work in a certain way!!

Probably PE first, then followed by Art and History (his art and history teachers have been very enthusiastic and helpful which I think massively increased his enjoyment of two heavy-workload subjects)
Has absolutely hated French

DS1: DT.
DS2: Drama, and also Dance GCSE, as a total novice, 'because no one expects me to be any good'.
DD: Ancient History. Took History A level on the strength of it. Hated it at A level.

Drama
textiles
graphics
business

were some favourites of mine.

Drama, textiles and further maths are my DDs favourites..

I think mine enjoyed all of her options tbh.

She did sciences and maths at A-level so obviously enjoyed those subjects.

However, she absolutely loved her history GCSE and English as well.

She really enjoyed drama, though it was a lot of work.

And she thoroughly enjoyed French, but think that was as much about the teacher and the composition of the class as it was the actual subject!

Maths and History are favourites here. RE close second- enjoys the discussions. Absolutely hates Spanish - but dislikes the teacher (1st one he has not liked), which is a shame as he enjoyed it in previous years.

We stirred away from any project assessment based ones such as DT / ART- as he prefers exams at end of course. Hoping to do a computer science degree - which would suit him as quite Maths / Science focused. He's doing 12, incl further maths and triple science (state school).

Each of my 3 sons enjoyed RE and did well in it. I work with children in care and they often seem to like it best too.

Ha - DD completely froze in her first attempt at the oral exam for German, she was allowed another go which went better because her teacher said "I've seen you act, so act the part of someone who can speak German".

Teachers can make a lot of difference one way or the other- biology went from being a favourite to disliked.

Drama was an unexpected choice, but a good one as it has ensured he is comfortable speaking in public (he is extremely shy in social settings with new people, but you would never know when you see him in a work environment standing up making presentations).

Mine has loved Drama, music was her love but a crap teacher for one component had killed that and led her to change her A-level choices.

Obviously it depends on the individual. I think my dd enjoyed all hers except German and English lit and Lang. Particularly enjoyed FM and electronics (pre reform, not sure that's available now), also drama for a change of pace.

I think it depends on the student so much. DD loved Psychology and is doing it for A level. She had to do a humanity for EBacc so chose History but hated it, so much content and they struggled to finish the syllabus, every lesson towards the end was just making revision notes from textbooks. She was amazed when she got a 7 but so glad to never have to go near it again. Plus it depends if you like the topics to be studied (they seem very random to me).

She wishes she could have done Textiles instead, loads of her friends did it and really enjoyed it, they said it was a break from all the academic stuff.

Music definitely the favourite here.

The surprises were the Creative Media Production BTEC which she didn't expect to like as much as she does, and Citizenship.

languages are definitely harder - native speakers scoop up lots of the higher grades making it harder for everyone else

This may be an issue at A level it it’s just not true at GCSE. The volume taking MFL for GCSE means native speakers have little impact - plus a 100% grade or even 95% is not needed for a 9.

Examples from 2019 of percentage needed for grade 9 (roughly)
French 85
Eng lit 88
Drama 86
PE 76
RS 88

If native speakers made such a difference there would be a much greater disparity with a 9 in French needing a much higher percentage.

My 2 both love/loved RE.
Its a lot more ethics and philosophy based than it was in my day and they debate different religions/death penalty/abortion etc.
The teacher is really good though which helps.
DD loved History but again the teacher was great and really engaged her and DS loves Computing but all his mates take it too and the teacher is "a laugh"
I think a lot of it depends on the teacher and who else is doing it rather than just the subject matter unfortunately.
A lot of the DC at their school hated Geography and a few switched away from it and I understand that the languages were quite difficult.

Environmental management sounds interesting. Shame they don’t have a standard gcse in this.

Astronomy, Environmental Management and Psychology for DD.
Home Educated so could pick and choose from a slightly different range. Also, Human Biology was another one she really enjoyed.

I asked my DC this question. They said their favourite options were ones where the content really interested them, the teachers were inspiring and well organised and the specific assessment structure for that subject played to their strengths.