What O'Level's did you do in the 1980's?

[AnnMcGuinness]

I'm just wondering what o'level's you guys did in the 1980's. My eldest son is currently doing his GCSE's and my only daughter is currently picking her's.

The reason I'm asking is because there seems to be completely different GCSE options than there were in the 1980's when I did o'level's.

In the 1980's in my school we all had to do English language, English Literature, Maths.

Turning to the options block you had to choose a language I chose French and you had to choose a Science I chose Human Biology. Then you had three remaining option blocks. I choose Home Economics, Admin and Typing as well as History o'level.

My friend said to me who went to my school said she done o'level's in the options she picked was Physics, Home Economics, French, Geology and Accounts.

When i seen the option blocks for my children's GCSE's i seen Geology and Accounts is no longer and option. I am wondering what were you O'level options in the 1980's and is there any you done that isn't on offer for children taking there GCSE's today.

Kind Regards

Ann😀

A little later, as I started my GCSEs in 1990, but my were very traditional:
English (lit and language)
maths
3 sciences
french
history
business technology (typing and databases)
music.
In 6th form I did Russian Studies, which was a bit more unusual.

DS did a fairly traditional set of GCSEs, computer science was the most modern. Now about to take 3 very traditional a levels.

English language - compulsory
English lit- compulsory
Maths - compulsory
General Science- one science compulsory
French -
German
History
Geography
Out of that block one was compulsory, I chose 4
Integrated Humanities- one compulsory from 3 (RE, psychology, IH)
Domestic Science (one compulsory subject from all art/tech/practical stuff.

Mine were 1982.

I did mine in 1983-
English Language
English Literature
Maths
History
French
Spanish
Biology
Food and Nutrition
Scripture

I did (1985):
Maths
English Lang
English Lit
French
Biology
History
Latin
Music
and maybe RE too, I really can't remember!

I took mine in 1980 - we had to do Eng out and lang, maths, biology and French. I chose also Latin, German, history, chemistry.

Other options were RE, cookery, needlework (!), physics, art. Girls school so no tech, obvs.

Much better now with all sciences mandatory (I still feel I missed out from no physics) and wider range of creatives like PE, drama, graphics, DT as well as food and textiles.

1984 - English Lang & Lit, French, History, RE, Biology, Maths, Chemistry.

1980

Eng Lang
Eng Lit
Maths/OA Maths
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
French
German

1981 - English Language, English Literature, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French, German, Geography.

1986 (I think!)
English - Lit, Lang, spoken
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
CSE
Childcare
French
RSA
Typing

Cant remember if there were option blocks but:

English language
English literature
Maths
Additional maths
Biology
Physical science
French
Latin
History
Geography
RE

I sat mine in the 1970s

English language
Maths
French
German
Home economics
Physics
Chemistry
General studies
Geography

I dropped English lit because I was terrible at it. I love reading, but hate analysing books, and loathe poetry.

Engineering Workshop Theory & Practice.

we were also the first cohort to do the new GCSE available in Technology.

Maths, English Language and English Lit were compulsory.

Early 80's
Eng llit
Eng Lang
RE compulsory, church schoo
Geography
History
Physics
Chemistry

Was not allowed to pick anything my parents considered frivolous.

Oh yes, and French

DD did Geology (2011), the main problem is there are not many Geology teachers.

I did mine in 1983 ( with a couple a year before)
English lang
English lit
Maths
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Human Biology
French
German
History
Drama

We had to do maths, both Englishes, a humanity, a language, a science and a creative art

1987
English language
English lit
Maths (had sat this a year earlier)
SMP Maths (done in place of the standard Maths O level - this had lots of things like sets, matrices, vectors)
French
German
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
All O levels at my school were fairly traditional (large old-fashioned comprehensive school) I think the SMP Maths was the only thing that wasn't standard. I really enjoyed Needlework (I suppose it would now be called Textiles) but the lessons clashed with one of my other subjects so I couldn't do it.

1987
Maths
statistics
english language
english literature
chemistry
biology
physics
french
history
geography

only other options were

computing (was only for boys)
home economics (was only for girls)
art
religious education (timetabled at the same time as French for those who couldn’t do a language)
commerce

English language (done a year early for some reason)
English lit
Maths
French
Chemistry
Biology
History
Geography
Art
I can't remember how it all worked but I do remember with the subjects I'd chosen I couldn't do both history & physics. To my eternal regret I chose history!

Top set did maths a year early & then more maths in the last year I think.

1987- last year of O levels

Compulsory
Eng lang
Ent lit
Maths

Options
3 sciences
Spanish
Music

I also took French as I already spoke it fluently, but no lessons at school.

DS, y9 has just chosen the same subjects for GCSE, and also History.

Geology and accounting were not offered to either of us. Me, because I'm female, him, because his school doesn't do it.

Despite lack of geology at school I did it as a degree and am a Chartered Geologist.

English Language
English Lit
Maths
had to do a language, did French
had to do a science ,did Biology
encouraged to do a "non-academic" subject (music, art, drama, Home Economics, technology), did drama
Then I did history, geography and Latin

DS1's options are pretty similar except he doesn't have drama as an option and has to do all three sciences, and he has to do French, and can add any additional language as well.
DS2's options broadly similar, they do do drama but don't do Latin, can do Spanish or German or French I think, and I believe there are some things like photography and sociology that we didn't do.

Maths, English Lang and Lit, Physics, Chemistry, (didn't take Biology as very queasy) French, Music (determined not to do Home Economics or Needlework which were in the same options block), Economics.