GCSE's can you help me with this process?

[SoTiredNeedHoliday]

Hi,
I don't know much about GCSE's however we are nearing selection time. I have advised that we need to select:

• subjects that they really like
• Subjects that they might need for any A levels that they want to do or any career that they are (at 14! ) thinking of.
• Some are more difficult that others DEPENDING on the particular students strengths and weaknesses

What I was very surprised to hear is that Universities will look at GCSE results when reviewing student applications as the A levels are not yet finished. I am from a system where university places are offered after the results are in for the final year of school so you find where you are offered a place in the summer, & not before.

So can anyone particularly tell me about: I'd be forever grateful for your honest experienced comments as parents.

HISTORY GCSE - how was it ?

ART GCSE?

DESIGN GCSE?

GEOGRAPHY GCSE?

Most importantly, are there any pitfalls that I need to know before we have finalised our selection?

thanks!

I honestly don’t think it’s that big a deal. As long as they have English Maths and Science the rest should be what they enjoy and are good at as far as possible.

I don't know about actual drawing art but one of my DC did photography. It didn't seem to suck up time in the same way that drawing art does but a lot of marks are allocated, not just for the finished piece but for accompanying portfolio of explanation about influences and the work up to the final piece. So make sure that your DC is aware of what's really involved.

As someone said upthread, it was all out of the way before the main exams which was a bit of a relief as the exam timetable is endless and tiring.

thanks all. Cauliflowersqueeze our school has recommended that A levels are much harder and in some cases not possible if you haven't done the GCSE in the subject.

spinabifidamon don't you think that all of the selective options will help them to be rounded so therefore helping them being rounded people in later life?

I think that most children's idea of their career at 13/14 is not actually what they end up doing? I know I didn't and it seems to be why the 'Gap" year is so popular, to get real world experience and see what they really want to be.
So my advice to mine is to choose things they have a real genuine interest in now and then consider if those options provide a broad subject base when combined with the compulsory coursework.

My own DD took history, geography &, Spanish as her options. She did well because she is very good at remembering things and could also write essays. She appreciated not having any course work, but did end up sitting 24 exams in May & June last year.

Friends who have taken arts based A levels have found that it didn't matter which GCSE you had from (say) design, graphics, art or photography, as they all gave you access to the different art courses.