What are 'good' and 'bad' GCSE options?

[Titsend]

Hi,
Dd is moving into Year 9 in September and is already set on three GCSE options. She is very academically able and works hard. I don't want he choices to disregard her capabilities because her option choices are deemed 'soft'. I am not going to disclose her options as I do not want that to sway any replies!

Could anybody give me a list of GCSE options you would deem soft and those you would view as academic?

This thread was initiated by Dd btw. Any replies gratefully received!
Thanks

Two of mine did RS a level , one currently studying a science subject at uni (did rs,biology and chem a levels) wants to be a medic, one wants to do Theology then law (English lit, history, rs). Dc3 does NOT enjoy it but is doing for gcse as following the herd!

This has to ultimately be about enjoyment but mainly grades. If your child would excel at art but picks economics instead and gets a 4, which would be the better choice?

They are going to be studying the subjects for 2 years (3 in some schools, as Ds's school makes you take options at the end of year 8) so they have to want to do the work and push themselves to get the highest grade for them.

If your child has an inkling of what they want to do after GCSEs then look at that now so she knows if she has to have something specific for the A level/Btec courses or apprenticeships etc.

At the end of GCSEs they just have a bunch of numbers on some paper, the higher the numbers the better. Choose the subjects that will give your child the highest numbers.

@Pollyputthepizzaon

I would be steered by future career choices but avoid philosophy, media studies, art (unlesss a passion or future career), drama (ditto), film studies and anything else of that nature.

As a Film Teacher, can I ask why?

I have twin DDs about to go into yr 10 at an academically selective school. I’m a teacher. I made a conscious decision not to interfere with their options choices as I genuinely don’t think it makes a difference long term, once the basics are covered. Both DDs have to do English, Lit, Maths & Triple Science. They also do RS and sit it in yr 10. Beyond that, the school doesn’t insist on anything. One DD went with History, German, Art & Sociology. The other is doing Geography, Art, Music & Drama. I think the most important thing is that they enjoy the subjects they choose as they are more likely to work hard at them and therefore get higher grades.

eviltwins nothing controversial there!

Thanks for the feedback, this was initiated by DD as she is very strong willed and wants to challenge herself. She enjoys most learning and wants to take History, Geography (very scientific and loves this aspect of geog, also has a passion for WWII and most history) and German. She wants to do Medicine at Oxford/Leeds etc. and is capable of doing so. She is into getting the best value for money and things so would Economics be good? Wants to take Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Biology for AS.

As an A-Level teacher, I echo a PPer who says future A-Level choices do need to be taken into account when deciding GCSEs.

The mix she has chosen would be ideal for studying medicine at Uni so she needs to consider GCSE subjects which would allow her to get into those A-Level subjects i.e. the subjects she enjoys and would likely get the best grades in. It's great she's thinking this far ahead already!

Sociology, Law, Economics, Business Studies. Basically anything you can pick up at A level or degree without having studied it beforehand.

Depends on what is on offer skme schools make you choose geography or history.
So long as she does the usual any choice is fine.

More importantly she needs to look into volunteering such as with kids with disabilities or older people or any local volunteer role to build skills and experience for her med school interview.

If at state school she can look at widening participation schemes for oxbridge

Well, you can pick up sociology, law, economics and business studies at 'A' level, as well as psychology, philosophy etc without doing the GCSE but you might not really know what they're about or whether you'll enjoy them or not.

I know lots of people who started 'A' level psychology in particular and found it very different to what they'd expected. I did it over 30 years ago, and even then it was the subject that I did with the highest drop out rate.

Doing one of these at GCSE to see whether you like it or not isn't a bad idea if it interests you.

I think it would depend on your child.

DS is more Maths and Science, he has taken History and Geography. Both on the ebacc list and both probably deemed academic subjects but he is not good at writing essays so finds history much harder than geography.

I took p.e, food tech, textiles and health and social care. Unless you actually plan on a career in medicine or caring, I definitely wouldn't recommend h&s, it's very coursework heavy and useless in any other careers.
Health and social care GCSE is no longer available due to GCSE reforms.
There has also been considerable changes for the Design and technology GCSEs - it's no longer called Food Tech - it's food and nutrition now.
The reformed GCSE media is a much better qualification than the old Media Studies imho.
Your dds potential options sound fine to me.

@Titsend
My DD took Textiles and PE (was compulsory) as well as triple science, history and Spanish. Now 3rd year medic. Do what you will get the best grades in - Unis do not care. They just count the top grades. So her A* in Textiles counted for more than her A in Spanish. Plus she's now able to make her own clothes.
And I would consider doing 3 A levels and getting the best grades. The Unis don't care about the 4th, and an EPQ would give her a research topic to discuss at interview, as well as sometimes lowering the offers. Eg Sheffield accept AAB in have an A/A* at EPQ.

I'd also recommend 3 a levels, except in the ops case with maths and further maths. Mine did 3 x epq, now medic and wannabe lawyer

From the point of view of a uni lecturer, no one really cares what your GCSEs were. Make sure you have the ones that will get you on to the a levels you want/need. Make sure you have English and maths, otherwise don't sweat it. They won't be on your CV for long as you'll get other qualifications and experience.

As long as you have Maths, English, 2 or 3 science and a humanity, I think the rest doesn't matter too much. My very academic DD is doing a lot of the subjects that some have advised against on this list - and doing very well. As others have said the priority should be to pick subjects she will enjoy as she's likely to do better at them.

Re economics- my DS took it and hated it despite being strong in maths/science. It's not really about money management :) - he found it a very dry subject.

I’m going to echo most of the other posters - have a good mix and balance of subjects. She has the core she needs so she should pick ones she will enjoy.

Well t depends on you want to do. I did RE it was my only A so obviously it wasn,t a waste of time for me. I also did childcare which is seen as a soft option but my career has all been about childcare so again was the right decision for me. Media studies was a mistake partly because of how it was taough/how the course was organised.

No one cares if you get good grades.

As a teacher I don’t think there are good/bad options. I think it’s about the child and their future.

Academic dd about to go into yr 10 and has to do English, Lit, Maths, RS, double science as min

Her extra choices she has gone with Geography, History and German

Although have heard rumbling this year 10 might be asked to drop 1 GCSE due to circumstances...

Not definite yet but I am concerned

Won't you be limited by option blocks? You can't just have free choice as there could be no way to timetable it. For instance it's very unlikely you'd be able to do two languages unless it's language specialist school.

If your daughter is able she'll be give EBacc options so English Lit and Lang. Mathematics, Triple Science and usually History or Geography. It's good EBacc passes that will get her on to challenging A Levels.

The "free pots" are where you get choices to follow your interests and it's important that they do interest her. A university is not going to disregard her for doing GCSE drama, but she may learn more about how to present herself when she's nervous (I.e interviews!), how to work well in a team, and gain cultural capital. The arts are not inherently "soft".

I'm a secondary school music teacher, with a degree from Oxford.

There are no soft GCSE subjects: even the top unis only consider A-level choices. Grades matter greatly, though, so your DD should only do her best subjects.

Having said the above, it's probably good if she's academic to choose a language and a humanity.

Based on her being very able and aiming for medicine then I don't think she needs to worry about having the right GCSEs for A Level preparation as she'll have her maths and science as part of her core.

If triple science is an option then that would be worth doing for A Level preparation, but beyond that she'll want a broad range of subjects that play to her strengths so she can get high grades.

In my experience anything with a group work element for final assessment is a risk, unless it's something like music where the school only encourages competent musicians to take GCSE. Art, photography and some BTEC options can be a black hole for time due to the coursework/portfolio requirements. It's not unheard of for students in those subjects to have days off timetable to do and redo pieces. Equally, for students who are able with perfectionist tendancies those subjects can take over, often at the expense of other subjects or enjoyable enrichment opportunities.

For instance it's very unlikely you'd be able to do two languages unless it's language specialist school.

Two languages is perfectly possible at our (leafy) comp.