Early GCSE - Russell Group Universities

[Chapter]

Hi

Our Secondary School have pupils take a Combined Science GCSE a year early so determine who can then take separate Biology, Physics and Chemistry the following year! I'm not really keen on taking GCSE's early as once you have the result it is with you for good! I'm concerned as Russell Group Universities look at all GCSE results, whatever age you take the GCSE! Do other schools have students take a Combined Science GCSE to determine who can take the separate science subjects?

Thanks

Not exactly with you for good, there are ways to resit.

I'm sure a slightly crappy result in year 10 will have no effect whatsoever on getting into a decent university. I presume that's what you mean by Russell Group.

If that's core science, and they then go in to take 3 separate sciences, the core won't be counted as a separate GCSE. For those just taking double science it will, unless they retake core in year 11.

As far as university entrance is concerned, you are worrying over nothing.

For a start there is no single Russell Group position on anything, each university (and often each dept within each university) has its own policy and procedure on applications. Some focus on GCSE (but even then usually only the top 8) and some are more interested in AS.

In addition, a significant proportion of pupils taking the dual award science take core in Year 10 and Additional in Year 11. This is not even considered to be early entry in my institution.

As an admission tutor, I am perfectly capable of understanding that pupils undertaking a Year 10 exam are younger and less experienced.