GCSE History vs Geography?

[ptb223]

My ds needs to choose between history and geography, he loves history a lot more than geography and finds it more interesting. He is in the top groups for both. In terms of results he does well on both, but lately he has been doing better in geography than history. Even in essays he is doing better in Geography. His geography result was quite above top group average (and according to dc the highest in the group), history just slightly above top group average. Both teachers, describe him as very enthusiastic about the subject but in general he gets more praise from geography teachers. During lockdown he seems to be doing particularly well in history. We always thought that the choice between geography and history would be easy as ds absolutely loves history and has a real interest for it, but the fact that he has been doing well in geography and getting so much praise from so many geography teachers made him quite confident and I feel like he is enjoying the subject more now (history still his favourite). Which one should he go for, history because he loves it, or geography because he is getting more and more confident and the results are better?

Does he have any career ideas or thoughts about what he might want to study in college?

Also, does he know whether he would be likely to have the same teachers next year?

I would go with the one he enjoys most deep down.

History if that's the one he loves. He may want to do A level?

He is into science and maths so I think that will be his choices for A-level and perhaps a language. We don't know about the teachers for next year yet.

History - from what you’ve said.

He loves it, and from what I understand it gives a very good grounding in essay writing for future subjects ( not necessarily history) - if he’s leaning in that direction for further education.

Geography.

If he loves history now, he won't after doing it for GCSE. Taking an exam in a subject is a sure fire way to destroy the enjoyment from it.

If he does consider history, check which topics they cover and that he is interested in those specific topics as there are lots of options that a school can pick.

He loves history which feeds into other subjects. If we want to understand today we reflect on the past for an understanding in politics, sociology, psychology, literature, art etc.

Why is it one or the other in most schools.... can’t both be done?

My DD had to choose between them. She was very good at both (possibly marginally better marks in geography), enjoyed both and had great feedback from both teachers. Both offer the development of skills that help across a wide range of subjects, especially essay writing. In the end her decision was made when I asked her what she would be most upset about if she didn’t get as her option, it was history. Let him make the decision and go with what he loves the most.

I am a reader in exams. I would choose History over Geography. Over the past few years it has been a better exam, easier than Geography.

*youngestisapsycho ds can do both, but doing both means he can't do a language, which he loves and is very very good at.

I loved GCSE History (admittedly 5 years ago). Definitely didn’t destroy my love for it, in fact encouraged it.

A level History however...

Thank you for all the answers, I really appreciate it. In the end it will be ds choice but I want to be able to help him make the best decision for him.

Geography is nicely linked to science, if he is strong in science and maths more so than English he would likely achieve higher in Geography.

But there is a lot to be said for enjoyment too. Needs to be his choice at the end.

History GCSE involves writing longer essays (more writing) and remembering more facts (including very specific detail facts). Write Write Write.

Geog, the answers are much more about process. The answers tend to be shorter written or single word answers. They learn wider information in my experience about more subdomains of geography, whereas history is much more in depth about a few specific historical periods.

Which historical periods are on the history syllabus?

No brainer for DSs that they should do geography, they aren't huge fans of lots of writing & remembering lots of little specific facts (eg., dates).

Go for the one he enjoys (even though as a geography teacher it pains me to say that) with regards to career path unless he wants to be something in a geography related science or town planning or something it really won't make much difference. He can always do different qualifications later if needed, the progression of gcse to a level to uni isn't set in stone. Both history and geography give useful skills like report and essay writing, research and debate so skills wise it doesn't matter too much. Is there any options path where he can do both?

Oh sorry I didn't see that you said he wants to do a language as well.

Honestly at this age he should do what he likes best. Exams are miserable enough without being a subject you despise!

oohmyback yes he can do both, but doing both means he can't do a language and that for him is not an option, so it will have to be history or geography.

Geography is a much wider subject now than it was when I was at school. It's an incredibly useful subject to study and my understanding is it's viewed highly by universities.

My DS is choosing options and i always thought he would do geography. Shorter exam questions,(he's dyslexic and doesn't usually excel at longer essay style questions)interest in the world from when he was young, nose in an atlas etc. He could do both, but that would mean not doing GCSE PE, which he is keen to do and shows a natural aptitude for. But he is choosing history. He is just far more enthusiastic about the syllabus and topics covered than he is for geography. They start the syllabus in this year and his marks, even for longer essay questions, have astounded us. It's clearly helped by the fact he enjoys it.You have to choose the subjects you love. I like the idea of a previous poster looking at this from the point of view of which subject would you regret not doing. It has to be his choice, he's the one sitting in the lessons. I ignore my tinge of regret at his choices as i am a Geography graduate and couldn't have imagined doing anything else. But i would have baulked (and failed) at the subjects my parents suggested. Physics and Art...

Hi @ptb223!

My daughter had the same decision to make, although not as a prospective 'STEM' A Level student: Iceland field trip or A Level History, with 3 GCSE languages already selected? ... History it was, a greater love and a subject she still studies as part of her Masters course.

Your son should consider Geography as it is 'half' Geology, not essential but nevertheless a good background to have as a future scientist. If that's not important, then History as he likes it more.

The essay writing is not that significant either way - all learnt sentences and paragraphs targeted at Mark Schemes, anyway - and he will be taught any writing he needs in the future.