AIBU to want my son to take 11 GCSEs?

[mamaliv]

He's currently in year 9 and is having to finalise his GCSE choices. At his school it is normal/expected to have 10 or 11 GCSEs- the normal 7 plus either 3 or 4 electives. DS1 is very very bright and would definitely be able to cope with 11, but has always preferred to coast as much as possible and is insisting he only wants to take 3 electives (so a total of 10). I'm not worried about how this will look to universities etc (he's a bit young for that) but I do think it's not good for him always to take the easy way out! DH is "not going to interfere" which doesn't help...
AIBU?!

Top universities very definitely do care about GCSEs. They're in the bag, whereas A2 grades are only predictions. Some universities regard them as very reliable indicator od academic success yet to come, others are less focussed on GCSEs but that's not to say they 'don't care'.

Extrapolating from another thread mamaliv I would say that since his school is the school it is, he'd do well to take eleven rather than ten since so many other applicants from other less prestigious schools will have eleven at very good grades(apologies if I have that wrong). A lot of what goes on in the applications process is contextualised. There's something to be said for being wary of the current grade deflation though and I'm not absolutely convinced (having had three sons go through GCSEs) that doing more subjects will 'teach him the value of hard work'. But good luck with that :) If he is one of the brightest at that school, the school should encourage him to enter for eleven, thus sending him a positive signal. At some point in their school life, even with lazier ones, teachers' encouragement/ belief eventually seems to kick in.

He's not interested in Art, Music or Drama. The subjects have all been his own choice, but he wasn't sure between Geography and RS, and for some time had decided to both. However, from talking to his friends, who are all taking 10, he seemed to suddenly change his mind- I'm worried he's only doing it in order to not be the odd one out. I know he doesn't need 11 GCSEs, I'm just worried he's decided to take 10 for the wrong reasons

yellowtip, that's exactly what I'm thinking- I know that 8 or 9 are perfectly adequate for A levels and University, but at the same time, admissions tutors will look at the context of his application and see that he comes from an academically prestigious school

Well there's no getting away from that mamaliv :) I think personally I'd be keener to encourage eleven if there was something creative in the package, just for a change from a conventional classroom setting - but if he doesn't warm to anything creative then that's that.

It is true that the grades achieved are more important than the number, within reason. But given the school, he'd probably do best attempting both. Short of provoking a mutiny though, it's not worth that, given the solidity of the first ten subjects.

and a little bit at all the posters going on about how 5 or 6 GCSEs is enough to satisfy university admissions or how they don't really care about GCSEs.

The World is not how you remember it to be 20 years ago.

Selective schools are churning out loads of 16 year olds with 10+ GCSEs with A and A. Do you seriously think that a major uni is going to be impressed with an applicant with 5 or 6 even if they are all A?

Given the number of students applying to competitive courses with predicted A Level grades of AAA at least, unis will next look at GCSEs. If you have 5-6 but the other student has 10 at A or A*, who do you think wil get the offer?

That aside, I don't think 11 GCSEs instead of 10 will gain the DC any brownie points.

Not read the whole thread. I'm getting pretty experienced in this lark as I have 1 at uni, 1 just doing AS and 1 in year 9 just chosen GCSes

All at super selective grammars.

Schools are very sure and practised in the management of very bright kids and how they can succeed best as rounded people, not only academically. Watching DD1 and mates through the system it seems to have worked well.

THey do 10 GCSEs (and the girls have a half GCSE in IT taken in year 9. the boys school rate IT so little as a GCSE that they don't bother, AS computing is taken by both schools in years 10-11 if you want a computer type qualification).

University applications (esp for medicine etc) do not look fot 15 GCSEs they look for the right subjects at A/A*, and actually often would prefer them all taken in 1 sitting in year 11 too.

DS has mates that are new to the school for 6th form that have 15A* or equivalent. When you look into that it's not a university impressing portfolio as the subjects are non mainstream or BTEC type equivalent grades.

The other thing limiting the number of GCSEs does is allow time to have " a life" yep a social life is vital but other educational breadth is there too- musical activities at high standard, D of E, volunteering etc . depending on where he's headed these are all material for personal statements on uni applications and what makes you different to the other candidates with brilliant grades.

Agree you never need 11 GCSEs. The worst situation would be that the 11th drags your overall profile down, either because you are spread too thinly, or you just don't much care for it. 10A/A looks fab. 10 A/A and a C less so.

I would suggest he does something like Duke of Edinburgh which will give him some other experience. 10 GCSEs is more than sufficient. Sounds like he would,benefit from doing something different.

I agree with more biscuits. I don't think it matters too much whether he does 10 or 11. 11 was standard at my school with some doing 12. If you can get 10 a*s, then you can get 11 also. He is doing very solid subjects. I approve of the triple science and the Latin. they will make him stand out as being academic. Do encourage the extra curricula activities such as ten tors, DofE, volunteering etc. these will be so important to put on his UCAS form ( do they still use these).

Is he musical? Could he spend some time doing his instrument grades if so/ putting in extra practice.

We all did 13 GCSEs at our school. I think the more you do, the more juggling, effort you have to put in. So while it isnt necessary it is good training for the effort involved at Alevel and beyond.

All I was pointing out was that 5-6 is all you need for A levels, even at very good sixth forms.

So do 8-10. More than 10+ really is not required ime. Many schools don't even offer that many as an option anyway.

As for doing exams early - that really drives me mad. Even more so at A Level when so many of the top universities won't even consider the ones done early, only the ones done at one final sittings, take together.

Theas I'm on the seasoned side too, with eight at a superselective grammar whose results are broadly in the range of the school in question and with four at uni, six past GCSEs and one currently doing AS. The AS DS sounds similar to the OP's DS. I agree it's not a deal breaker but I genuinely don't think the workload of eleven will make or break the grades, I think that that's more about a mindset. So if the responsible teacher gets hold of the DS and says hey look you're seriously bright this is the sort of place you should be heading but you need to start pulling your weight now, that might give him a jolt. Entering him for an additional GCSE in a clever school context may be good for his morale. Perhaps your DS is clever and industrious Theas :) :( (Mine's getting there, tbf, with eormous patience and encouragement from school).

Triple sciences do not make you stand out as being academic.

Especially since I think the school in question is one of those, like ours, which only offers triple science.

I would let him do the 10 on the basis that he is the one that has to do them for the next two years.

I think with the subjects he's doing, 10 is fine. If a couple of them were "less academic", then I'd think you had a point.

(My DS is officially doing 11, but one is PE, which is compulsory, and one is Business Studies because he thinks he's going to be the next Alan Sugar if he had any sense he would be doing History - I have my "told you so" face ready for a few years time

He will definitely complete D of E- he's currently in the middle of Bronze and wants to do Gold as soon as he can

Yellowtip. Ds is both clever and, since GCSE and deciding what he wants to do- and in a very focussed way looking at entry requirements etc he is industrious too.

It's great but a terrible worry too. To it achieve hat he wants would be a huge problem for him as there won't be anything to " blame " other than " sorry you gave your all and they didn't want you".

Dd1 on the other hand was sort of focussed in a dreamy way - she did work hard but there were things she could have done better iyswim. She still got her Grades as predicted.

Mind you if ds does get what he wants he's setting himself up with great skills fr the course so maybe I need to worry less!

I'd love to be able not to worry about mine Theas but it's not going to happen. As I type one is in the middle of a Finals paper and one is on a Ryanair flight to Marrakech - not sure which is worse. Is it Medicine? I'm glad that no-one else in the family other than DS1 looks as if they'll be going for Medicine, it's just absurdly tough. Good luck to him though if it is, and of course if it isn't :).

My DS graduated last year from a RG uni and "only" did 8 IGCSEs, all academic but he decided not to do physics because he said that he wanted to concentrate on getting As in the 8 and he felt if he did 9, he might drop a grade or two. All his 5 RG unis offered him a place for his chosen degree (finance) with just 8.

Up until 2 weeks ago dd was all set to go to a selective independent school with a good academic reputation. They only offer 9 GCSE's (10 if you do an extra curricular one line drama) so I don't buy the argument it will put him at a disadvantage. They have an wxcelkent Oxbridge/RG track record.

YABU

Pictures I'm not entirely persuaded that having a DC who was on the cusp of attending a selective indie but hasn't yet started and now doesn't look set to adds a great deal to your experience of GCSE requirements/ uni admissions etc.

There's no doubt that a DC from a major public school with all the privilege that entails will have a tougher ride at the stage of university admissions, which is absolutely as it should be. I would say that the difference between ten and eleven GCSEs is marginal but that the grades achieved are more likely to be affected by the staff pulling this DS up now, sharply, than by cutting corners dropping a single GCSE. Very bright boys of an indolent disposition should be encouraged to work to achieve what they're capable of, not indulged. Teachers are probably better placed to do that than parents, who are often perceived to be naggers and so sidelined for that.