GCSE Choices 2013 (exams 2015) support thread

[DizzyHoneyBee]

Here we go....options choices this month, exams in summer 2015. We're choosing options at the moment but I've not come across a support thread.

Does your DC know what they want to do already or are they needing a lot of help deciding?
Where have you gone for information?

We get a booklet this week apparently and then have a meeting at school to discuss listen to a sales pitch by the teachers discuss the options that are best and then we have about 2 weeks to make a decision.

[crazymum53]

Am lurking on this thread as we will be having to choose next year. Seems to be much more choice available these days.
My dh has always resented the fact that his father chose his options for him and then wondered why he didn't get top results! Yes you can guide your children and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of possible options with them but they may lose motivation is not given some choice themselves. There are many subjects that you can study at A level or degree level without a GCSE in that subject so dcs may have another chance to study some options.

[SanityClause]

There is a really useful booklet from the Russell Group, which give details of probable A levels required for various degree courses. You can download it from this page. It does also mention which GCSEs are useful.

DD1's school has a sixth form handbook, which gives details of GCSE requirements to study an A level, there. So, we worked through it, to make sure she has lots of bases covered with her GCSEs.

She doesn't know what she wants to do for a living, so it's more a matter of keeping as many options open as possible, for her.

[Horsemad]

We've told our DC to choose subjects they enjoy - they have to do all the important ones anyway such as Maths English and the 3 Sciences, plus a language so it doesn't leave a lot else to choose from.

[DizzyHoneyBee]

So, how is it all going? All decisions made?

My DD said that her school have started speaking to some people about their options and trying to rejig things so they can get as many people in the options they want and so on. She's not been spoken to so is assuming that she has her options.

[BlotOnTheLandscape]

Yes, I know it's a zombie thread - I couldn't find a new one.
We've just had the exam timetable - frighteningly real now!