GCSE options

[Unusualusernames]

I was wondering if anyone can suggest how I can support my daughter through her GCSEs?

I did mine back in 1992. My dad died and my mum couldn't really cope with three kids on her own. I didn't do very well.

I really want to support my daughter as much as I can but I'm worried because I'm crap at maths and science and I don't really know where to start.

She's choosing her options this year and even that baffles me.

I'm really worried about letting her down because I have no real good reason for not supporting her.

Oh I forgot to say, can anyone give me any tips, books etc to help me support her.

Thanks

OP, I would start a new thread in Secondary Education (or ask for this one to be transferred), where you will most probably get lots of advice from parents in the same situation.

Check her school online resources out to see what they provide. Past papers. Seneca learning site. Cgp revision guides are great.

Just gone through this, and there are loads of online recourses. BBC Bitesize is helpful, Freesciencelessons on You Tube is an utter godsend. Tons of other useful channels on YouTube for other subjects and revision tips. Good luck!

I can recommend a great maths tutor, she does online tuition. She's really helped my niece (yr 10) come on leaps and bounds.

School will give you (and her) guidance when the time comes.

It is likely she will get very few free choices.

All students have to do English, Maths and Science. Some schools also make students do a Citizenship or RE course. All students have to have 2 hours per week PE but this isn't GCSE PE.

You will probably find she will get a choice from History or Geography.

She may be told to take a MFL as well (this depends on the school).

Then she will probably have to choose from 3-4 other options. These might be in "blocks" so she couldn't pick all arts subjects eg photography, dance and drama. Or she wouldn't be able to pick all technology subjects eg food, design and media. Some schools offer triple science as part of the options (because it's 3 GCSEs some schools get the majority of students to do double science which is worth 2 GCSEs).

Talk to her. Find out what she enjoys and what she is good at. Steer her towards things she enjoys and is good at! Speak to her teachers too and see what they recommend as they know the courses and how well your dd might cope.

I would say- look at mark schemes for past papers for the exam boards that your child will sit.

There will tend to be a style/type of question and they will appear every few years, once you know the format, it’s easier to see what you need to do.

Seeing the mark schemes really helps to see where marks are awarded and what the examiners are looking for. With the volume of papers that they have to mark, you need to ensure that anything which is capable of gaining a mark is really clear and easy to see. They aren’t going to spend an hour looking to justify awarding that mark.

Don't worry about letting her down. Half the battle is having interested parents. Even if you can't actively help her with the subjects, being interested and asking about her work is good.

Give her somewhere quiet and safe to study when she's at home. Provide a listening ear when she has a problem.

Having two just started this year......GCSE Art takes soo soo much time. Wish they hadn’t gone for that one.

If you look on your daughter's school's website there maywell be a section on 'curriculum' that will have information on the options available to students.
Supporting your daughter will not be about knowing a lot about the subjects she takes. It will be about encouraging her to do her homework, trying to get her to get enough sleep, making sure she eats properly.

Your school should have an options faire at one point, I would go to that above all. Is there a parent evening before she submits her options? These would be best places to start. Her school may be offering GCSE subjects which are not offered to years 7-9, such as specific Art courses like Photography, Btech courses, GCSE Sociology. Talk to your daughter and see what she is interested in and if she considered what to do after her GCSEs. Sixth form, uni, what subjects, any she would discart straight away? SHe will most likely have guidance meetings in school but if not, ask her tutor if someone in school can talk her through the options.