Is taking a GCSE early still disliked by some unis?

[Zazedonia]

My DD has to choose GCSE options. She is a good musician and may well want to do music for A'level and just possibly at uni. She has the choice of taking an accelerated music GCSE in one year with a group of talented musicians. If she does that, she can take an extra GCSE, which would be nice. Or she can take the music GCSE with the not so talented group, in 2 years, and then won't be allowed to do the extra GCSE.
I've read that Russell Group unis discount a GCSE that is taken early. Does anyone know whether that's still the case?

I work in an admissions related area and have an overview of many subjects and policies requirements and how they're changing and have done for far too many years

You don't actually NEED A level Music for a Music degree! A keyboard test is common though so G5 piano would be useful, and G8 in her main instrument - both of which she appears to be well on target for.

Doesn't the restructuring of GCSE grades and syllabi make it difficult for kids in the transitional period (Y9s/y10s?) to take exams early? (Unless the course is contained within a single academic year?).

Never was an issue at Oxford when I was doing maths admissions. We regarded it as a sign of intelligence. You often get kids with talents in maths and music for which it makes a lot of sense. I did O levels in maths and musician in the 4th form, but that was a long time ago!

This sort of stuff is looming larger than it should because too many schools are latching on to it and using it as an excuse to avoid early entry.

I'm with titchy on this one. Just think about it - would you actually want to send your kid to a university that wanted to suppress accelerated achievement (even if there are any).

Here is what it actually says on a Russell Group guidance note:

Some schools are now entering pupils early for GCSE, AS-level and A-level. You should be aware that some universities or their individual subject departments may want to see that you have taken a number of advanced level qualifications all at the same time; for example, they may want to see three A-levels taken in Year 13. This can be because they want to know that you can comfortably manage a workload of this size in your advanced level studies. Admissions policies may therefore differ in relation to A-levels taken early, and whether these are included in offers made or not.

So it's clear that they are worried about whether you cannot cope with a high workload and might have got around it by splitting your exams. It's not about suppressing able kids doing one or two things they are good at early. Note that it is also focused on A levels.

I am in this situation with another subject and have researched it a lot. What I have learnt is that if you do a GCSE early for genuine reasons then its ok (ie not doing it to game the system).

1. What RG unis want is to see DC is able to handle the stress of doing 8+ GCSE at the same time rather than doing some early so you only have to do 6/7 in Y11.
2. They dont want to see you doing an exam early and then repeating it the next year. So ONLY do it early if you are going to achieve as high a grade as if you did it in Y11. eg 8A grades are better than 7A grades and 2*B grades
3. There should be a reason for wanting to do the extra GCSE rather than just "would be nice to have one".
4. Admissions staff are human beings and do use common sense when looking at these things.

Examples of doing GCSE early are MFL: Spanish/French bilingual students, who can only timetable one MFL a year. A* Maths students who want to spend Y11 doing Additional Maths. Never asked about Music.

Op-ignore everything on this thread. Ask the universities.

RogueDad's text is all I can find in Informed choices and those words are not actually about GCSE.

Would be OUTRAGEOUS for Universities to penalise students for what is an institutional decision (taking GCSEs over > 1 sitting).

I would be surprised if any university was bothered as they will be looking at A levels, musical ability and the theory exams are useful. It was ABRSM exams I was referring to. However, I do agree with the advice that ringing up a few university Music Departments will do absolutely no harm. It is a general question but also look on the faculty websites. Music also has conservatoires as well as universities so there is quite a lot of choice. However do make sure she will achieve the instrumental grades in the instruments required. I believe normally two but check that out too because if piano is the third musical instrument, she may not need that. Concentrating on the other two may be an advantage. Doing more theory is good as is playing in an orchestra, quartet, singing in a choir, composition etc. 9-10 GCSEs is just fine but at least 8 taken in Y11, as others have advised.

Actually, everyone is slightly wrong about GCSEs! The University of Bristol (music) weight them 20% when considering applicants! They also consider all exams from age 16, even not completed ones and retakes! They also seem to do quite a lot of composition. They do give a very good list of what a successful candidate should do to get an offer - what they like to see on the personal statement. (The one some Mumsnetters say is never read!). I am sure other universities will have similar info. They do not say you cannot take the Music GCSE early, but I would ring for confirmation. However, if everything else they want is in place, then it would probably be ok.

Schools are being strongly discouraged to get children to sit exams early so they can have two chances at getting a 'pass' because only their first grade will count for league tables so many schools may be less keen to exams early in future

Ringing an admissions department may add to the information at this stage but I would be wary that any advice given now might not be the same in 5 years.
Practically in this case I would be on side of her taking the GCSE early as this will allow her to be in a group of stronger musicians which will increase her enjoyment. I would then encourage her to study for grade 8 theory in year 11. Even if she does n't take it until after year 11 the knowledge from that will help at A level etc and keep her progressing.
BTW the listening section in GCSE music can involve a lot of work depending on the GCSE syllabus even for post grade 8 playing standard musicians.

DD did 2 GCSEs last year and got 2 As. She is sitting her second maths IGCSE next week. This leaves 7 subjects to take this summer. I hope this isn't going to backfire on her.

I think it does depend on the circumstances. Ds is taking GCSEs and one AS this summer. He took one AS in November last year, not to spread the workload but because it's only offered at a November sitting.

Can I add that you say your daughter isn't that strong on the academic side of her music. Sounds like she's more able practically?
DD1 did music A level (now at Russell group doing English Lit) and originally planned to study music. She found music A level really tough, it does have a reputation for being a gruelling A level and is often taken by the children doing maths/higher maths and sciences as a complimentary subject.

Your daughter may prefer a less (RG) academic course or like mine change direction. DDs main reason for changing to English was for future employment prospects.

I wouldn't get too hung up on RG group though. Brilliant courses that could be perfect at other places.

Thank you all for your advice. As taking a year early would allow her to be in the talented musicians' group, and to take another gcse (could maybe pick one fun one in that case), will probably risk it. Her school does grade 8 theory with those students who are on the A'level music course.
I've also heard that A'level music is very problematic, in terms of how people are marked. An alternative to studying music would be to study something else, but go somewhere where there is a lot of student music. She is very performance oriented, but also an academic all rounder. May possibly consider conservatoire.

Good decision . We did the early GCSE on the basis that she would demonstrate ability and capability.

DD doing English Lit now but tonnes of music performance opportunities at her uni and less pressure, pure enjoyment.

Early days for your DD and her abilities will be evident on her uni application so don't worry, DCs change masses between year 9 and year 13