GCSE options 2 humanities.

[Whathappenedtothelego]

Looking for advice on GCSE options.

4 choices available - DC loves history, so that is a definite and wants to do 2 MFL.

4th choice would really like RE/Philosophy and Ethics.

Are 2 humanities +2 MFL too much work?

DC is hard-working, average attainment.

Does anyone have DC who have done similar? How did they find it?

I know RE is compulsory so I suppose they have to do some parts of the course either way.

DC actually gets better marks at Phil&E than history, but really doesn't want to give up history.

Alternate choice would be drama.

DD is taking Spanish, RE and History. She doesn't find it too much work, but then she loves writing! I probably wouldn't recommend if your DC doesn't. The advantage of drama would be a bit of light relief from a lot of academic subjects, although there is quite a lot of writing in drama too!

General rule of thumb is to take what DC thinks they will enjoy most.

Two MFL is great! (MFL is my subject).

The two will support each other as the exams are the same (assuming the same board, usually AQA) so skills for translation in French will be needed for German too. Not loads of writing either.

Lots of schools insist on history or geography and then plenty of students do RE as well so it seems to be a popular choice. I've never heard of it being an issue tbh.

That's reassuring to hear!

School "strongly advise" either history/geog + one MFL, but they also strongly advise a "creative" subject for breadth and balance.

If MFL aren't too much writing then hopefully they will balance out the other two anyway.

My son did 3 humanities at GCSE history, geography and religious studies. His other choice would have been ancient history.

Mine (y10) is doing History, Geography, RE and Latin (no MFL) and managing OK so far. She didn't want to do any of the creative subjects and the option blocks worked.

My DD is doing History and RE as part of 11 subjects, one Level 3 and she says its fine. I asked her the other day if history was more work than others as I've heard people say that and she said not so far, she's in year 10.

DS is just choosing and has gone for History and Geography

DD wanted to do all 3 humanties but school vetoed as not balanced though then she got to do computing which to me seemed even less balanced as she then had triple science and triple maths/stats/add maths level 3 as well plus computing and 2 humanities.

History and RE are quite usual at gcse. Well done with two MFLs. Not too much work for a motivated DC. Do what you are interested in.

What do they mean by creative I wonder? Unless PE counts ds2 didn't do one. Drama or music or tech or art isn't for everybody. I know I was not keen, I did history and languages at that age, no cookery or needlework (I am old!) in sight!

How many GCSEs is she doing in total? If it's 10 or more, I think the need for a "creative" subject to balance out the others is more important. Otherwise it becomes a bit of an academic slog (I would think PE would count, although bizarrely DD's school didn't put music into their "creative" option block).

DD (year 11) does 2 MFL plus history and geography - as did DS (currently at university).
Both were absolutely ok with it.
If that’s what your DS wants to do then go for it.

Yes, Dc is not one for practical subjects really. I was the same and couldn't get far enough from art and textiles ( though I think languages can be quite creative anyway!)

It is 9 GCSEs I think, 2 English, 2 science, maths, 4 options - though drama can be either gcse or Btec.

When my DD were at school they were expected to do English x2, Maths, sciences x2 or 3, RE, a MFL, a Humanity and a creative subject, eg art, tech, music, drama. Extra subjects could be added and DD2 did art and drama and DD1 did 2 x MFL. So 9 of 10 was the norm. I was happy that they had a broad education at Gcse.