GCSE options...how much do they really matter?

[wordfactory]

DS is currently considering his options for GCSE.
After he's done all the core stuff (Eng x2, maths, science x3, MFL) there are only three choices left.

He's thinking History, Latin and Geography. But then he's thinking History, Latin and Ancient Greek. Then Spanish, RS and Latin. This morning he said History, RS and Latin, then changed his mind back to Latin, Ancient Greek and History...

Does it really matter in the scheme of things? Do any universities really care what they do at this stage?

[webwiz]

Nicolajr20 - DD2 did Dance GCSE and I'm sure it didn't make the slightest bit of difference to her university application.

[DontEvenThinkAboutIt]

Dance, PE etc are great GCSE's if you are also doing the normal academic subjects even for top Uni's. I haven't seen any evidence or suggestion otherwise.

(happy to be corrected as always, ...... but really sure that's the correct info)

[exexpat]

Yellowtip - yes, I think all geography GCSEs involve both physical and human geography, even though both my DS and MissMarples' DS might wish otherwise. Unfortunately the A-level seems to be 50/50 too, which will probably put DS off taking it, even though the human side of it is pretty much his favourite subject, and might be highly relevant to some degree courses he might be interested in.

[webwiz]

Yes DontEvenThinkAboutIt DD2 had 10 other "traditional" academic GCSEs including two languages so a bit of dancing about as light relief was a good thing.

[Xenia]

The problem with doing a load of the softer GCSEs on top of 8 or 9 core ones is the extra work. I think PE is not just throwing a few balls around. it may be a load of extra learning and it may detract from your marks in the core GCSEs. If you ge AAA in PE, drama and cooking but that means you get CCC in English, maths and French that's a huge risk.

[Yellowtip]

Our school requires all students to take the same number of GCSEs (used to be 11, now 12), so with each DC I've suggested Art or Drama as a subject to take to get away from the ordinary classroom setting for a change. Only one of seven DC hasn't done that (wanted to do German instead).

[seeker]

Certainly dd's Art GCSE was her most time-demanding. But I think it's a good idea to have a hinterland.

[Abra1d]

Both mine are doing IGCSEs and have no controlled assessments at all. Everything is oriented towards the final exams at the end of Year 11.

They both do double, not triple, science, as they have been told that the double IGCSE award easily covers enough for them to go on to do science A levels if they wish. My daughter might do just this, as she is still considering medicine, but doesn't want to miss out on a humanities subject by doing the triple award.

[Abra1d]

I agree about doing one artistic/musical/whatever GCSE. If you have a stack of other 'hard' subjects it doesn't do you any harm at all and might actually benefit your other subjects by encouraging creativity and imagination, stimulating other parts of your brain.

[Pyrrah]

If it were my child:

History - definite
Latin - definite as he has included it on every list

Third one is the tricky one:

Spanish - very useful, MFL GCSEs are pretty easy and is handy alongside the Latin.

RE - if the syllabus is interesting to him then this could be a nicer softer option.

Ancient Greek - tricky one. The grammar is very different from that in Latin (bit like difference between Italian and German) so while the two go well together if you want to go on to do Classics, they aren't mutually helpful in the way Latin/Spanish are.

(I did AG and Latin myself - Latin and Ancient History to A' Level so basing some of my thoughts on this)

What is the other MFL he's studying? French?

None of them are bad choices (all good solid subjects) - if the RS is more about philosphy, ethics and world religions then I might pick that, if it's like the old O' level which was a case of memorising the NT then I wouldn't.

[gelo]

I know several students who have regretted PE because it has given them a lower result than their other subjects - all A*/A with a B or lower in PE seems to be a not uncommon result. Even really sporty dc sometimes get lower grades than they expect as they need to have 4 sports and they have often specialised in just one.

On the one hand I'd say that universities/employers would probably look at that and not really care because the low result was 'only' PE, but it does mean that for competitive courses that demand a set percentage of A* for example, a child might fail an initial sieve?

I also know one parent whose dd did PE and got a slightly lower result than most of the rest who is pleased they did it though as it kept the child active for two years longer than they would otherwise have been. Girls in particular often drop out of sport as soon as they can if they don't have a reason to keep it up.

[DontEvenThinkAboutIt]

It is true about extra workload being a consideration. All GCSE's require work . My DS did design tech which he found very easy but it definitely required plenty of work.
Art, photography, drama etc etc take time.

It is better to have fewer excellent grades than a huge string of OK ones. As a general rule, if you have 8-10 excellent grades then you will be in a very good position.

[MissMarplesThong]

So much depends on the student, their motivation and ability.

My oldest was academic so chose a string of academic GCSEs. For her German was her 'fun' sunject. She did well and has now moved onto A levels.

DS is quite different and is not currently planning to do A levels. His choices are different. He is taking the core academic GCSEs with dual science. For his options he has chosen two different practical BTECs. No way would I try to flog him down a purely academic route.

[Nicolajr20]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll take few more questions along to her options evening this week and see where we are after that.

[Yellowtip]

Percentage of A is very niche though gelo*.

[gelo]

Agree yellow. And it would be a shame if such considerations put children off taking a non standard subject that they would enjoy, but if it happens to be your niche then it might be advisable?

[Yellowtip]

Not sure gelo. It suggests possibly too narrow a forward plan. I think there's merit in taking each step at a time.

[gelo]

Yes probably yellow. But I do know one ambitious young lady who didn't take drama or music or art gcse in spite of strong parental encouragement to do at least one because she didn't want to risk a lower grade. Her parents still think it was a shame, but she is very happy with her 11 or 12 straight A*s - that's what mattered to her so I suppose it was the right choice for her to take subjects she felt more in control of. I still think it's a shame that some (and I know it's only a few) selection criteria weigh against taking a risk with creative subjects, even though it's probably perfectionist tendencies rather than consideration of admissions criteria that put people off them. At least they are all things you can do as hobbies even without a GCSE.

[wordfactory]

seeker DS didn't choose any art or tec subjects as he is hideously cack handed .

Over the weekend he has decided on Spanish!

So his options are History, Latin and Spanish. I think this is wise, but am trying not to show too much enthusiasm in case he changes his mind.

[seeker]

When I'm world dictator, history will be compulsory!

[hellsbells99]

My DD (now yr11) has taken both Art and Music and they have both been very very time intensive compared to her more academic subjects! She is not choosing to take either at AS level both because of the amount of effort involved and the fact she doesn't want to risk low marks (she is not going to follow either as a career).

[MordionAgenos]

Music GCSE is academic. The practical element dilutes the academic nature of the discipline no more and no less then the ISAs for physics, chemistry and biology or the speaking and listening tests for MFL.

[gelo]

The thing is with music GCSE is if you are not at a high enough standard on an instrument or voice it's very difficult to score highly on the performance part mordion, and unlike a science ISA it's difficult to improve your grade on that section of the exam in a short space of time.

[seeker]

I do think it's a shame that kids think like this, I really do. I'm glad that dd's school insisted on at least one non academic subject. As I said, I do like a hinterland.

[hellsbells99]

I would say that music is academic too but as gelo says the standard required is very high. DD is grade 6 in 2 instruments but has been advised by a friend (grade 7) who took A level that all their compositions were marked down and they ended up with lower marks - which is not good when high grades are needed for uni etc.