Is Y9 too soon for GCSE exams

[busymummy3]

My DC is in Y9 and next week will be doing GCSE Module papers in Biology Chemistry and Physics (3x30 minute papers)
Normally not done until Y10 is this happening in other schools?
DC did mocks week before half term and did pretty well in them but cant help but feel as only 14 is it too soon ?

In my nephew's school top set do this - core science in Y9, additional science in Y10 and the final exams for triple science in Y11. It seems to work.

See this is where I dont fully understand the Marking scheme (in fact I know very little about it) what do you mean by "modules which don't make up 100% of the final grade"
Thanks. Also I understand that in the past there was KS3 SATS so would they also have done GCSE's at the same time? One of the explanations I was given last year at a parents evening was because there were no longer KS3 SATS time was used to start them on Science GCSE early to relieve pressure in Y11.

My DDs school does some in year 8. A levels year 10! Tends to be only one though and only top set can do the A level.I am not that sure about it to be honest. Alot of the kids do multiple resits etc.

My DD did a GCSE in year 7 and will be doing an A level in year 10. This was for a MFL so for different reasons but it did her confidence enormous good. She is now doing the normal GCSEs and is totally relaxed about it.

dd just doing german in yr 9 - she loves it.think she is doing science as well.

so how do they come up with the overall grade? add all the scores together?

If its AQA triple science then each of the 30 min exams counts as 12.5% of the total score for each individual GCSE.

So not too scary to start it in year 9.

As a chemistry teacher I would say yes Y9 is too early for GCSE exams. Ideally I wouldn't have any kids sit them until Y11 (unless exceptionally gifted) but the early entry, multiple resit game is the current trend so that's the way it goes!

MFL are often taken VERY early by bilingual kids - for obvious reasons.
Straight maths is often taken early by those who have that aptitude
sciences - kritur is right IMHO

Another sci teacher here and I also think early entry isn't always a good thing. The chances are that by doing the core modules in yr 9 it allows the school to 'fit in' the triple sciences without using up an option. In my experience pupils generally don't as well in yr9 as they would in yr10 or 11.

when the subject is content-led (or in the case of MFL for native speakers) then it can be OK, maybe. A student with enough ability can learn facts/formulae and apply them to a certain extent at any age.

But when it's a skills-based subject, like English then I don't think it's appropriate until Y10 or 11 - mostly Y11, when students have gained the maturity to develop real insight into a subject and are able to analyse.

What I did see in DD1 was that the more exams she took, the more confident she got. We were in the Dutch system for her primary years where they all take CITO, an equivalent of the 11+. We moved back to the UK at the height of the year 6 SATs stress but she was totally cool. The following year she took GCSE Dutch. Something she has got out of all of this was exam technique and especially time management.