GCSE Subjects query

[Orangeblossom7777]

Please can someone advise me about GCSEs - it is all new to me as studied in Scotland myself.

When applying for Sixth Form it says things like "7 grades 6" for example. Please can you tell me are e.g. English literature and English language separate grades, also what about combined science, is that three grades for Biology, Chemistry and Physics or just one overall grade?

I'm finding it a bit confusing, Many thanks

Even more confused. A different school says only 4-5 "B' grades at GCSE...grade 6s in the subjects studied at A level (which makes sense)

English Language & English Literature are two separate grades.

Combined Science you get given 2 grades eg 66 65 67 or if you do “triple science” then you get three individual grades in each science subject.

Ok thanks that helps. Mine is doing triple science and with English that is 5 grades overall.

Also doing Geography, Music, DT and Maths...do those have a single grade or more?

Apologies for ignorance, is totally different to the ones I did

It says

"The minimum entry requirement onto the A Level programme is 5 GCSEs at Grade 6 including at least a Grade 4 in English Literature or Language and Mathematics."

All of the others you mention are just one grade. A 4 is a pass, so they want a pass in English (either Lang or lit will do) and maths, along with good passes in any subject. You have to take English and maths if you don't pass them (get a 4).

In reality they might get in without passing English or maths (but not both), but getting them first time round is always preferable!

Sorry, you have to RETAKE English and maths if you don't pass.

So you could get a 4 in English, a 4 in maths and five 6s in five other subjects. Or get five 6s including A6 in English and/or maths.

OK right. Thanks

5 GCSEs is not that many then, considering science is 3 - could just do science, English and Maths and that would be OK

But I hear some private schools don't do that many.

Geography , music, DT and maths are all single grades. Further maths might be an additional option.

They have to have at least a 4 in maths and English language. They need 5 GCSE’s at grade 6 or above. So if they get a 7 in maths and English, they need 3 more subjects with at least grade 6

If they only get a 4 in maths and English, they will be able to do a levels but will need 5 GCSE’s at Grade 6 in addition to maths and English

Ok thanks again

I thought they were doing 7 GCSEs prior to this but now see it is 10!
But why do they do so many when they just need 5?

Most schools do at least 8 GCSE’s. Many do 9.

Breadth of education.

Some colleges ask for more than 5. Ds needed 5 to get onto his Btec course. He failed science but passed English x 2; Music & Computer Science

But for A levels the more selective colleges ask for between 6-8 at various grades. Some universities for medical degrees ask for 8.

Ok. I did Scottish Standard Grades and then Highers.

Quite different- more Highers and only a one year course. I did five..but then Scottish university courses are a year longer.

I think the Standard grades seemed much easier but it was a while ago

State schools are judged on the results of their students best 8 GCSE’s.

English, maths & 2 science are compulsory and then students also have to take at least 1 of History, Geography, a language or computer science, then the remaining can be anything for example an art or technology subject or another humanity.

Yes that's right, we had two 'pathways' a traditional one with a language and a flexible one if they didn't choose a language I remember.

Five gcses would not give much opportunity for A level subject choices. You have to do at least one English (vast majority do both) and Math. Dual science or triple, history or geography, a foreign language then three options (in our school). This adds up to nine (if you do triple science you take away an option). Options allows your child to do a subject that he is interested in: computer science, DT, art, drama, PE, RE and so on. In many subjects you can't do them at A level if you havent done them at GCSE.
The core subjects are a given. Then your child must think about what he is passionate about and might want to focus on as a career. Sciences? Then take the triple. Arts and music? Take those. There are enough subjects to give a broad background to then narrowing the focus down for A levels- not many 14 year olds know what they want to do for a career.