GCSE - Changing History for RS?

[lastminute1]

DS currently considering changing his option at the last minute, drop History and pick RS and Phil. He's strong at both. Can anyone think why this would be a bad idea looking ahead in terms of Uni? I've heard History is a "facilitating subject" but have no idea what it really means... Thanks... He was so fixed on History it's come as a bit of a surprise.

[titchy]

If only you could impress us with your facts...

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Ffs, I'm not trying to impress you, I'm just trying to find out whether you have actually found lists of dodgy GCSEs, or whether you're just making shit up. Given your inability to provide a straight answer, I'm assuming the latter.

[timelytess]

What rot. Search and you will find. I did. I was looking on behalf of pupils who had to make option choices.

[Stillunexpected]

Well Tess this is supposed to be a helpful forum so if you have a link to this information why not post it? What's with all the passive-agressivensss? I, for one, would really like to see that list as I have some concerns about my DS's GCSE choices.

[Abetes]

Most, if not all, universities want a range of GCSEs with good grades across the board. They have greater interest in what you are studying at A level and your predicted grades and, as someone has said, history is a well regarded facilitating subject.

At dd's school, the more academic kids take history/geography, the less academic ones take RS as it is regarded (not sure if this is at all true - just how it is seen) as being much easier.

[lastminute1]

I wish this thread had not become this. Many people on it were helpful. Thanks.
DS spent an hour reading through the RS IGCSE requirements, past papers, course content, A Levels options, etc. He concluded that the RS content was too similar to what he's been doing this year, saw that his school stick to Christianity for the two years, and decided that History would probably leave more options open. His school does the Pre-U RS and Phil course at 6th Form which he finds more attractive, so that's still a possibility. So History it is.

[stealthsquiggle]

Bunfight aside, this has been a very useful thread for me - I came to ask exactly the same question. Super-academic DS has 2English, 3sciences, Maths, Latin, Greek, Russian, Art chosen, and is trying to choose between RS and History for his last "slot". Both are iGCSEs, both look interesting, neither is regarded as a soft option by the school......this thread has clarified a few thoughts, but I am still of the opinion that DS would probably enjoy RS more, which is all that actually matters.

[sheepskinshrug]

I thought the universities didn't actually care too much about which GCSEs, after Maths and English they just want really good grades.....isn't that the point that was made in the informed choices booklet?

[AlexanderHamilton]

It really really doesn't matter at gcse level. RS is an academically rigorous subject & I defy anyone to find a university who will not accept a full RS Gcse.

Facilitating subjects at A level are simply a list of subjects that it's useful to take if you either don't know what degree you want to do or alongside a subject you know you need for a degree. They are simply a list of subjects that leave a wider range of options open.

Take music or art for example. It's not a facilitating subject but is listed as necessary subjects to take for many uni music or art degrees.

However if you don't know what you want to do at degree level taking music art & maths (only one facilitating subject) is going to dramatically reduce your choice of potential degree choices than taking music maths & physics or art, history & English lit.

[bojorojo]

Now that AS Levels are not the norm, you will find some universities place a lot of emphasis on GCSEs for over-subscribed courses. The breadth, quality and grade are now on the table and the universities list what weighting they give them. As indeed they now do with the personal statement in some instances. If you are aiming high, it is better to be on the safe side but that doesn't mean RS isn't ok. Both DDs did both! I think he will be fine with History by the way.

[Etaina]

Pleased to hear he has decided on which subject to take Lastminute.

I have never heard of any universities asking for specific GCSEs but was interested to read that History is included in the Ebacc subjects but RS is not.

[AlexanderHamilton]

The updated informed choices say that in terms of GCSE's that although there are certain courses that require specific subjects & grades it only really applies to maths English & science GCSE's (except UCL's language requirement.

There may be specific requirements to study a subject at A level.

[bojorojo]

The universities do not specify exact subjects and grades when they weight GCSE results (and some weightings can be higher than you tnink!) but the fact that they take GCSEs into account tells you that they can afford to be choosy. Therefore if you are aiming high, why put yourself at a disadvantage? The booklets are a generalisation and not specific. It is always best to check actual specific selection requirements.

[titchy]

but the fact that they take GCSEs into account tells you that they can afford to be choosy

Source?

The fact is that the vast majority of universities canNOT afford to be choosy, and even those the MN massive regard as the elite are terrified of losing EU students... GCSEs, other than having Maths, Eng and Science, really don't matter.

[AlexanderHamilton]

The only way they take GCSE's into account (apart from requiring certain grades in maths English & science to be able to study certain subjects such as teacher training or science/engineering courses requiring gcse maths) is that some universities ask that a certain number of subjects are passed with good grades all in one sitting if a candidate has English, maths & double science their other 3/4 subjects can be anything.

Please point me towards a source if I am wrong in this.