GCSE Options - A Good Balance?

[sidneypie]

DD has finally chosen her preferred options for GCSE:
English Language
English Literature
Maths
French
Geography
Art ( plus photography as a seperate 'twilight' GCSE)
Physics,
Chemistry,
Biology - as the three seperate sciences
Graphic Products
possibility of adding GCSE Psychology as a further 'twilight' subject.

Is this a good balance? DD is our first (and only) child to go through this procedure and any advice/comments would be helpful.

They sound excellent. As long as she doesn't describe things as sepErate she will be fine.

That's quite a full load she has there (especially with Art, which is very time-consuming) so I'm not sure that it is worth also taking on the Psychology (not that well regarded at GCSE level) which might divert effort from other subjects. For GCSE and A Levels, quality wins over quantity.

I would be wary of the twilight photography. DC's school did it last year and they were very careful about chosing the students who were allowed to take it, ie setting a project before hand and making sure they were committed. However there was still a big drip out rate. I assume the course is a btec and it is not based around being a good photographer or even learning anything above the very basics. DS had a portfolio of distinction level photographs (according to his teacher) but could barely pass each module. He also gave up in the end as it was ruining his interest in the subject and he is considered a talented photographer. It also took up far more time than any other subjects.

It might work if there is a cross over with the Art ie she can use some of the photography work in her Art projects.

Also at DSs school they are only allowed to take one twilight subject.

My DD has at last chosen hers too..... sorry to jump in on your thread but I was wondering if my DD had chosen a good selection.

English Language
English Literature
Maths (higher)
Spanish
Geography
History
Art
Physics,
Chemistry,
Biology

What is a 'twilight' subject?

What is a 'twilight' subject?
one done outside normal school hours.

(The OP said 'psychology' not 'photography' bruffin)

Anyway, good choices. So long as you've got 2xEng, maths, sciences(at least double), any MFL and a humanity, then a couple of others pref including a 'practical' subject (tech, art, music) is about as balanced as possible.

Art ( plus photography as a seperate 'twilight' GCSE

from the OPs post, her dd wants to do philosphy and photography as a twilight.

Way too much in my opinion - Art, photography and graphics is a massive workload. Art on its own expands to fill the time available. No need for any twilight subjects unless it is something you are absolutely desperate to do and it doesn't fit into the timetable because of a clash rather than as an extra. Quality not quantity would be my aim.

Grimma and Bruffin go to the bottom of the class - its photography and psychology

beg your pardon, missed that!

Two twilight subjects prob too much, and prob too much on those time-consuming practical subjects.

domestic Again, a nice list but missing a 'tech'. My DC would have loved that as they hated hands-on subjects but sometimes even academic types find a tech useful eg to demonstrate dexterity in budding dentists or architects.

Webwiz
Grimma and Bruffin go to the bottom of the class - its photography and psychology
Miss, Miss,

I got it right, I said you can't do two twilights in my first post

bruff - but then you said philosophy not psychology. Not that it materially alters the arguments, but still ...

Graphic Products and Art together could be a mistake (DS did both and regretted it). There's a lot of coursework for both, and quite a bit of overlap.

geog

or

hist?

or both?

DDs school they have to do a tech (Electronics, DT or Food.), seems like a good idea.

I would like to echo there is a lot of course work for Graphics, DS is staying late two evenings a week just to catch up with the Graphics. I would say two twilights as well is far too much. She can do psychology later without a GCSE! Similarly for Graphics, if she has art it is superfluous.

I would leave the psychology and concentrate on the others. Sounds like quite a work load. It's not a valuable GCSE imo.