Making the right choices at GCSE for University entry?

[VodkaGirl77]

Hello I really need some advice on my daughters GCSE choices please.

Firstly, she is very bright - predicted 9s in all subjects. She currently attends an inner-city comprehensive and I feel her choices at GCSE are quite limited.

So, as it stands she would have to study:
English Language
English Literature
Maths
Combined Science
ICT
BTEC PE

With her options then being two from History, Geography and French. She also has to study an 'Arts' GCSE.

My questions are - is this strong enough for a Russell Group/Red Brick University? Should she be doing triple science?

I'm quite concerned and want to make sure she isn't limited in future by this.

I'd appreciate any thoughts.

There is almost nothing (short of not taking maths, English and science) that she can do to stuff up her chances of getting into university at GCSE level. It's mostly about grades not subjects. If she's thinking of science a levels triple is better than double. Your daughter's list sounds absolutely fine.

Is there a reason for Btec pe?

I forgot to say, two options with the rest compulsory is pretty standard round here.

That all sounds fine, they are all traditional academic subjects. As Purple says, two options and the rest compulsory is quite normal.

She should choose the subjects she likes best. If she enjoys them, she is more likely to do well in them.

Thanks for your thoughts. BTEC PE is compulsory at the school she attends - I must admit it's one of my concerns. To be honest I thought she'd have more choices really.

That's fine. I was going to say if she really enjoys PE she might be better with the GCSE but there's nothing wrong with a BTEC in it.

Honestly, two options really isn't unusual. It's much better to have a broad range of subjects. Has she got thoughts about A level yet?

PE is part of the national curriculum, so they all have to do it. If she has to do it, she might as well get a qualification for it.

Thanks again. You're really starting to allay my fears. I just want her to have options and fulfil her potential (I didn't! ).

I don't think she'll want to study Science at A Level - more likely to be English/French/ History

Round here in selective grammars students would choose anyway between History and Geography. I think only one of my kids friends chosen both.

I think her options are fine. She is going to choose her preferred French and History and will be flying!

My dd had to sit 13 subjects at GCSE and trust me during exams it was a nightmare! I think she had 2-3 indiviaual exams per subject.
Some private schools enter most students only for 8 GCSE's to maximise time spent on preparation.

There's massive difference between studying for 8 and 13 subjects!

With subjects your dd is doing she can then choose pretty much any university course she wants to so I wouldn't worry about it.

A very few unis ask for a modern language GCSE - I think Imperial is one - and not having one could be looked down on by future employers, but if she does French plus geog/history, that would be a solid set of subjects.

Imperial does not ask for an MFL GCSE.

UCL is the only university which has an MFL requirement (for non MFL related degrees). They still accept students with no MFL GCSE but require such students to take an MFL short course as part of their degree.

I doubt that having one MFL GCSE or not having one would make much difference for any employer.

Her options are fine. Please be aware about being predicted straight 9s though. No one knows what a 9 will look like. It is likely however that a 9 will only be awarded to the top 5% IN THE COUNTRY. Her school cannot possibly judge the standard of every year 9 kid in the country so they can't really say she in the top 5%.

I agree with titchy It's bloody stupid for any school to predict 9s in all subjects

I totally agree with you regarding the 9s but I guess it's their way of showing that she is very academically talented. I, of course, wouldn't be disappointed if she doesn't achieve that level.

Thanks again for the comments - it's really putting things in perspective for me. I was getting myself in a state thinking I might have to look at changing schools!!! I know

Is predicting 9's any different to predicting A*'s in the old system?

My DD had to do btec sport compulsory at her school . At the time she said it was a tedious subject, to get the highest level a distinction, you had to hand in extra pieces of work, was kind of the more work you can do, tick off the list of requirements the higher the level you can achieve. It wasn't hard to achieve good level but extremely time consuming to do the extra pieces of work, whilst studying for other subjects. Most of it was using common sense knowledge. DD decided to just go up to merit level as she would rather do better at getting top grades at GCSE subjects, school was happy for her to stop when reaching the merit. As gcse were more important for her uni choices which were all A*AA-AAA requirement. Actually, she didn't even bother to put the Btec PE in her UCAS which I'm sure she's suppose to

9s are higher than Astars decor. 8 is an Astar.

Also I forgot to mention DD could only do double science as there weren't enough uptake for triple science. Crap comp basically but if she's determined internet, YouTube is great for self learning.. She can do it. However if it's a crap comp and has a 6th form, would consider moving her for A levels if she achieves her predicted gcse's it isn't worth the hassle. We've been through that aswell.