Are 8 GCSES enough?

[Janevaljane]

DD is currently studying for 9 GCSES (the school recommends 10 maximum). English x 2, maths, history, French, RS, double science and 3d design.

She's really not enjoying 3d design at all and regrets choosing it. She's going to give it until half term and then make a decision.

If she drops it, she'll only be doing 8 gcses and I just wanted to check if that will affect her later. She's a diligent student and working at a solid 7 in most subjects (apart from maths where shes a 4/5).

Thank you!

She does a huge amount of sport in and out of school so I guess that's her 'rounding'. I'm trying to encourage her to do debating as well athough she's very shy in public situations.

Janevaljane DD2 had the same issue. She did have to be very assertive.

What about PE? it is much more academic than you think, and includes a lot of biology.

pointythings DD did group work for Citizenship and nearly failed because her friend just didn't pull her weight at all, in spite of DD trying to exert "leadership qualities" over her. You can lead a horse to water etc. She got a D for coursework because of this, but aced the exam and ended up with a B overall (2016 grades).

They only do PE at A level sadly otherwise that would have been a definite.

8 is plenty. When you look at uni entry reqs the most that eg medicine ask for is 7 GCSEs.
Better to get higher grades in 8 than lower with 9.
An art based subject does take a lot of work - to the detriment of other subjects I think.

I might not be being pushy enough but actually I'd quite like her to enjoy the next two years as much as she can. If 8 is fine for uni then that would be great. Still haven't heard back from the school, I know they'll encourage her to carry on in the first instance (she's happy to carry on until half term)

Have a look at different uni requirements. They’ll list what they expect and it might reassure you both.

When you look at uni entry reqs the most that eg medicine ask for is 7 GCSEs.

I believe it is 8, not 7. It was 8 when DD was considering medicine.

I’ve looked recently and the ones I have seen ask for 7.
Best way is to research yourself for the potential uni/degree of interest on here
www.ucas.com

8 is enough pretty much anything she might want to do.

*for !

www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/choosing-a-medical-school/gcse-requirements-for-medicine/

Varied from zero to 9
Most ask for 5/6

Thanks. I'm sure she won't be doing medicine, although perhaps physio. I'll see what the school say. Their selection is a bit rubbish, tbh. The local state have far better choices for a 'creative' gcse,.PE, music technology both of which she would enjoy.

8 gives a good mix, my ds is doing triple science, maths, English, engineering, PE and geography which leaves everything except languages open to him.

I think she wishes she'd done triple science tbh

Is it too late to ask if she can do triple science? At DD's school triple science took up an option, so the triple science students had more science lesons than the double science students.

I'm not sure she's academic enough to do triple. She was in bottom set science last year (although they said bottom 3 sets were the same really) and she's now in set 2 of double science (out of 5). She really enjoys science though. Gets about 70% in tests.

For physio 5 GCSEs is enough.
www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/physiotherapist/entry-requirements-and-training-physiotherapist

Ds1 is doing A level physics but still only did combined science for GCSE, far better that he ace that with a 9,9 than get a lower grade for biology which was his weak point or spend time on biology when he could be working on other subjects.

He did 9 GCSEs, the core ones plus 4 options. Better to have higher grades and a lower number of GCSEs than a higher number and lower grades surely.

Re the free slot, definitely work on the maths. School can help identify weak spots so she can focus on those. There are also an abundance of maths GCSE videos on YouTube which will help explain concepts and then she can practise it. Her school may well have their own "my maths" or similar.

Thanks all. I thought the school would encourage her to keep it but apparently her tutor said fine, if you hate it don't do it. She thought they might at least put up a fight! So I guess she'll drop it. She has a new maths teacher who she really likes and she's making good progress. Apparently she's told him she needs a 6 and he's 'working on it'.

So I guess 8 gcses it is.

Sorry to jump on your thread
My dd2 said she really wants to change Health and social to something else
She would literally pick anything just to get out off it. Her form teacher will not allow her move. I asked will I email school or ring and she said no they would give out then in front off the whole class your going home whinging what should I do don't want to make trouble for her in school but don't want her wasting time doing a subject she hates.

Maybe think about triple science then? At my dd’s private secondary school everyone does triple science and they manage it.

Hmm not sure. Oldest dd did triple and got BBC, middle dd dod double and got 8.8. All quite similar academically.

@Janevaljane

No, I don't think so titchy, they can do prep in blank slots (private school).

8 is fine. It’ll give her an opportunity to do extra maths in her old DT time, thus a better grade in a much required subject. If she can get that 4/5 in maths to a solid 5 (or even a 6) then it’s worth it especially if she’s not enjoying DT and unlikely to get a good grade. Lots of kids do 8 and it’s better to get decent grades with 8 subjects than less decent with 9 subjects. As pp have said, 8 is plenty for 6th forms and no employer will care.

In addition to what everyone says, if she's going to keep up the sport, even if she can't do a qualification in it, and she's really good, surely that should count for something, It doesn't sound like she'll be lazing aroujnd as a result.