GCSEs friends son wants to do more than nine school won't allow it.

[megcleary]

Is there anything they can do? My children are much younger so not in that position. Advice appreciated to pass on.

I'm assuming it'll be due to a timetable clash?

Why does he want to?

Hmm not sure, will ask. The boy is very bright and wants to do more so am surprised they cannot accomadate.

It's better to do 9 well than 12 averagely

There is absolutely no point doing more than 9 other than bragging rights

My son wanted to do an extra one which school didn't offer (astronomy), just because he was especially interested in it. He did it in his own time and school submitted the coursework for him and arranged the exams. But he had to teach himself, and we bought him all the books/resources he needed. Depends what the subject is, but could this work? Your friend may need to pay the exam fees.

DD is doing lots (12) - her exam schedule is killer in June
I suspect that schools have realised that with no more modules and retakes, they have to get the balance much more rigorous

its likely that DS will be restricted to 10

Schools design timetables for Y10 and Y11 pupils to accommodate the subjects they teach to GCSE level. There are no "free periods" at that age, so no possibility of fitting in an extra subject.

Heed the points from 17lf and purple potato. What is the additional subject he wants to do, and why is it so vital?

DS did 12 and it made for a miserable 2 years - he hated the fact that there was always a controlled assessment due. 9 is a much more sensible number, Ds would just have done his music and drama as extracurricular stuff rather than as exam subjects.

Will pass on the comments re course work and exam fees and try and find out why? Many thanks for the responses.

Universitys only consider your best nine. Dd's school will allow 10 but say they would not be doing you any favours by allowing more but do encourage extra curricular music, drama etc

I have known some children to do an additional one eg. unusual language at night class. Dd would like to do this with Japanese but it is all extra work and pressure. " Be careful what you wish for, you might get it!"

My DD's school do 10.

I know they offer Further Maths at lunchtime for able mathematicians, as an extra. My friends' DDs, different school, do 11 and both girls do one extra after school in what are called twilight classes. Might be worth your friend asking if there are any such classes at her son's school, although they might not be in the subject he wants to do!

Universitys only consider your best nine
Evidence for that?

DD is wanting to do Natural Sciences at Uni : they want 5 As at A level let alone GCSE

'Universitys only consider your best nine.'

That's not true.

Tell him to focus on getting 9 A*s. Much more useful than 12 As

Talkin piece. Where's your evidence for 5 As at A-level for natural sciences?

Lostmykeys
www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/natsci/
if the typical entry is A*AA there statistically have to be significant numbers above that

I have seen unis asking for 5 GCSE's including Maths/English and 2 A levels.
It's not quantity but quality.

If he is very bright I would imagine he would be doing maths, english lit and lang, three sciences and a language as compulsory subjects. That only leaves two other subjects so I can see why he may be struggling to narrow it down to 9. If there is a particular subject he wants to carry on with is there a possibility of getting a tutor and combine that with self teaching it?

Typical entry requirement, not inferring that you need 5 As. In my experience Oxbridge are less likely to want a straight 5A student

A typical offer does not mean an average offer. It means that is their usual offer but sometimes they make lower offers if they particularly want someone. I don't think
anywhere asks for 5 As.

TalkinPeace the fact that there are students with 7 A levels does n't negate the fact that only 3/4 are required and that many extremely bright people who perform very well at interview will only have 3 and have as much chance of getting in. You seem to make an unfounded assumption, probably based on what you have heard. Your DD will not be found wanting on not having 5 A levels if she has the other required attributes.

So much duff info in such a short thread......

Your friends son needs to look at the Uni's that he thinks he might be interested in and at their entry requirements for the courses he thinks he would be interested in. He needs to bare in mind that the requirements may well change by the time he applies.

That is the only way to get accurate information.

Morethan- I've seen you say that before. Could you say
more about it please? I I worry that it might be some special
Circumstance and people might get the wrong end if the stick.....

curlew

I can't link I'm afraid as can't remember which they were. I saw them whilst looking for ds2 19 last year.
It was 5 GCSE's even though all the schools do at least 9 round here.
They also do 3 AS level and then maybe 3 A2 if they are bright enough but more often they drop the general one they took at AS and do 2 A levels instead.
Forgotten the title of the AS they are all expected to take, its a general one.
Don't get me wrong I'm sure if competition is high, over subscribed etc the more GCSE's the better, but 5 good GCSE's and 2 good A levels will get you into uni. It may not be Oxbridge, but everybody isn't Oxbridge potential.

DD1 did drama outside school, when she was in year 9, although she is actually doing 12, now that she's in year 10.

DD2 is worried that she won't get much choice at her school, as they offer fewer options, but she can do music outside of school, at the place she has instrumental lessons, which will add another choice.

Can your friend's DS do similar?