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😀

Biology
Chemistry
Computer studies
English language
English literature
French
Geography
Maths
Physics (CSE rather than O level tho)
Spanish

Eight subjects as standard:

Maths
English Language
English Literature
French
Humanities (we called it World Studies on the timetable)
Integrated Science

All either O-level or CSE. Some people did Media Studies (CSE only) instead of French - I think all the bottom French set, and also a German boy who hadn't learnt any French when he arrived in the 4th year.

Then two option blocks - I chose to do Double Integrated Science and German.

Design was a CSE for everyone, though there was limited availability to choose Food and Nutrition O-level in a year instead of finishing the CSE course.

Our school deliberately chose not to do Further Maths, which a lot of schools offered.

I did know one boy who took twelve but I assume he put in extra time! (He got 4 As, 4 Bs and 4 Cs. Went to Cambridge. Is now a Music lecturer.)

During the Lower Sixth I did Computer Studies O-level too (apparently all of us who turned up to the classes got an A).

Mine were O-Grades (Scotland):

English
French
Physics
Geography
History
Food & Nutrition
Maths
Arithmetic

English language.
English literature.
Maths.
Chemistry.
Physics.
History.
French.
German.
Music.

O Level English Language, English Li and History

CSE Geography, Physics, Biology, chemistry and art

Failed everything except English Lang and History!

College - Diploma in Health and Social Care, O level Eng Lit, Sociology, Welfare and Society and A/O Psychology

I passed those!

Eng Lang (compulsory)
Eng Lit
Maths (compulsory)
Physics (compulsory at least one science)
Integrated Humanities (social studies)
Art
Music
History

Eng Lang compulsory
English Lit compulsory
Maths compulsory
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Computer studies
Art

Geology, Accounting and specifically Human Biology (as opposed to just Biology) certainly weren't a thing at my school.
I was the first year of GCSE, but I did one O Level because I did French a year early. I did English Lang, English Lit, French, German, Latin, History, Biology, Maths (and then Classical Civilisation GCSE alongside my A Levels).

I'm a teacher and have teenage dc. The main difference between my options and the kids now is that they can't choose just 1 science. Also few schools offer German (mine does) and very few offer Latin except private schools.

English Language and Literature, Maths and RE were all compulsory for us.
I had 5 options, so I chose Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French and Art. I was allowed to bin off humanities on account of being exceptionally good at the sciences 😎

1980

I did English language (C£

English Lit (A)

Commercial maths (c)

Scripture (A)

Latin (u) 😂😂😂

General studies (B)

I know sad I remember the results

I did Maths and Eng Lang in fourth form (year 10 in modern terms!)
Then in 5th form (1986) I did
Eng Lit
Additional Maths
Physics
Chemistry
Geography
French
Art
Music.

I did music as an extra with a bunch of us who were instrumental players instead of general studies.

1982 (completed courses in one year)
English Language
Maths

1983
(Completed course in one year)
English Literature
A/O level Maths

1983
(Completed in 2 years)
Geography
Biology
Chemistry
Spanish
French
Food and Nutrition

1985
(Completed in 2 years alongside 3 A levels )
General Studies
Computer Studies

1990 but

English language
English lit
Maths
French
German
Integrated Humanities
Biology
Chemistry
Business Studies
Information Technology

Very similar to what DC did/are doing.

1980: French (actually 1979), Eng Lang and Eng Lit and Maths (all compulsory), Chemistry, History, Latin, Greek, Music; Italian in the 6th form.

I did Scottish qualifications, so not O-levels.

I did English, Mathematics and Arithmetic (compulsory).
Then Geography from the humanities block
French from the MFL block
Physics and Chemistry from the Science block
Latin from the free block.

1987 - O levels

English Language (compulsory)
English Literature (compulsory)
Maths (compulsory)
Physics (one of either Physics, Biology or Chemistry was compulsory)
French
German
History
Geography
Art

Then an O/A level in French for Business in my first year of sixth form.

I would have taken Latin but it wasn’t offered even though this was a former grammar school. It was quite a small school so we didn’t have extended options - we chose from a fairly limited suite, dependent on what the teachers could offer.

1982
Compulsory
English Language
English Lit (only as top set for English, others just did language or CSE)
Maths (top set for maths also had to do Statistics o level, thank god I didn't)
History
Geography.

Then at least 1 science - I did biology.

3 free choices. I did Economics, Art and Business Studies which turned out to be nothing but learning to touch type for two years.

No compulsory foreign language.

Certain subjects were pretty much reserved for boys. My friend was talked out of woodwork.

Maths
English Lang
English Lit
Physics
Chemistry
Geology
French
Government and Politics

Geology was offered because we had a geography teacher with a particular interest. I went on to do Geology Alevel with him, he was brilliant.

Subjects were in blocks but I think offered more variety than my DCs got. I ended up with Government and Politics because it was in a block with the more creative subjects, Art, Cooking, metalwork etc and my Dad wouldn't allow those! I'd have liked to do metal work, but dad insisted on a "proper" Olevel.

We we the first year of GCSE's in 1988. I did
Maths
English
English Lit
RE
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Geography
Art
French

1987 final year of O levels and CSEs

English language
English literature
Maths CSE grade 1 I’ve always put it as O level grade C on my CV/job applications
French
Physics
Chemistry
Food and Nutrition

I think that was everything

1988 which was first year of GCSEs and I think the year the National Curriculum was introduced? So very similar to what is offered today...

English lit
English language
Maths
German
History
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Drama
Art

• Music as 'twilight'

Compulsory for me were:
English Lit
Eng Lang
French
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Maths
History
Geography

Option was Latin, but if you were in the top set, you were expected to do it really as "universities liked it.".
My friend fought to be allowed to do Art instead.

English Lang
English lit
Maths
French
German
Biology
Geography
Art
Music

We only had to do one science which in retrospect was fairly useless!

English Language and Literature, Maths and RE were all compulsory for us.

Same. And couldn't do both history and geography.

Last year of O’Levels
English lit
English lang
Maths
French
RE
Geography
History
Computer Studies
Physics
Art