GCSE option choices

[gluenotsoup]

Hi,
DD is just in the process of choosing her options. She thinks wants to do separate sciences rather than the dual award, so effectively has 3 sciences studied to 3 GCSEs rather than to 2. Her next choice is RS, she will also be doing German and History, already underway. So - she has to choose 5 but can only study 2. She is drama BTec as the next option as a reserve. I’m a bit unsure how to advise her here- is a BTec seen as being as good as a GCSE, or not looked on as favourably? Is she better doing something else at GCSE and discounting BTecs altogether? Or will triple science pile on the pressure when 2 will be just as good, and something like drama shows a rounded set of interests? She swings about what she wants to choose, and doesn’t really have a clue about what she wants to do in the future- sometimes it’s medical, then it’s law, then it’s something random like a spy so I’m advising she just gets as high results as she can in what she enjoys and see what happens on the future to keep options open.
What do you all think? Any advice greatly appreciated 😊

If she thinks she might want to go into something medical, then 3 sciences will be an asset, but not a necessity.

It sounds like she will have 9 solid GCSE choices, assuming normal English and Maths, it will be English x 2, Maths, Science x 3, History, RE, German . Her last choice won't really make any difference to future prospects and I'd strongly suggest taking something she will enjoy - and something like Drama might well provide some light relief. Plus as it's coursework it will be one fewer exam to worry about!

I agree with Redsky . Also Drama could be pretty useful for law/medicine in learning how to speak out etc. The only thing is drama relies on other people... Check the spec.

That’s kind of what I’m thinking, but it will be nine in total. So I’m wondering if drama will just provide more variety and confidence boosting skills, rather than the third science being just another science if two will be as good.
Are studying the three sciences separately much more difficult than the combined? I’m thinking it would be better to get 2 solid 8 or 9’s than 3 at g6 or 7 etc.
Her current grades in every subject is a 5 or 5+. A recent chemistry test was an 8, but she’s still working out how to revise if you know what I mean. English is her strength really.
Thanks for the advice, please keep it coming! 💐

Take single sciences for GCSE is a lot of science. For DD2's year it was 14 lessons per fortnight (compared with 10 for combined science). Some/many schools have to 'permit' you to do single sciences.

3 sciences rather than combined is ~50% more content in each of the 3 disciplines, so not necessarily harder just more .

Do watch the revision load, sciences are heavy as is History.

My DS picked exactly the same as your DD’s choices and then picked ICT. Out of his friends that did the same subjects some picked PE or drama, I don’t think it matters when you have so may solid subjects.
My DS went on to do physics, maths and economics A levels.

If English is her strength then three sciences may not be the best pick for her.

Thank you everyone. I have been encouraging her to the extra science, but starting to think it’s not necessarily the right thing for her, and only having 2 won’t be detrimental. She definitely wants to do RS, and she achieves well in it.
Do you think there’s any detriment to the 9th choice being a BTec? Drama or dance are BTec, PE or computer science plus a few others are GCSE, but she’s not keen. It might be 4th or 5th choice. It’s probably not relevant to general performance, but it’s an all girls school, rated outstanding, so hopefully she’ll do ok in most things.

It won't make any difference whether her last choice is a BTech or a GCSE. Agree that if English is her strength then 3 sciences is probably too much science (unless there is a desire to study them beyond A Levels).

When you say "current grades" what do you mean? What she'd get if she took the GCSE tomorrow (that seems unlikely!)? You really need to understand what "5" means in your school system. If it's current working level relative to GCSE expectations and therefore likely to improve that's different to working at level relative to standard of work expected now. I would not be particularly encouraging a child looking at 5s in science (i.e. a good pass but not showing particular aptitude) to take 3 sciences unless they really really wanted to. If the school's grading system means a 5 now will turn into a 8 or 9 by GCSEs, that's a different question.

(My DD sounds as though she may be similar to yours. She is taking very similar options to those you have under consideration: English x2, Maths, Science x2, history, RE, Spanish, Drama. She also has Art as a 10th. She is planning to take English Lang, English Lit and History A Levels with a Feminism or Ethics related EPQ).

The school gives end of year target grades and current grades being achieved based on the actual GCSE grades, so in theory if she was to sit them today based on in school tests etc then she would be achieving a 5 on most, some a 4+, some a 5+. The target grades so far have gone up one a year, so I think they will be 6+ in y10 and 7+ on y11. Her actual progress grades are mostly consistent but not quite as linear if you see what I mean. She’s not great at revising yet, leaves her homework to the last minute and flaps a bit in general.
It’s actually really hard to help them isn’t it? I don’t know many people who knew what they wanted to do at 13, I’m probably over thinking it. I didn’t get much advice at that age so trying to be aware of that and help without controlling 😂

My DD chose triple science mainly to be in a more motivated class.

Saying she's graded a 5 or 5+ doesn't mean much outside your school, but you should have a sense from that of whether she is generally a low, middle or high achiever. I'm guessing high given her aspirations, which would mean triple science should be in reach.

I would encourage her to do one subject just for fun. Quite a lot of academic kids at our school do a BTec in engineering or something. BTec gives them experience of coursework too. Drama may come with a requirement to be in school productions, but that's usually a huge positive for those who want to take it.

Just a quick comment, Drama possibly goes well with enjoying English.

The BTEC will be different, but both my DDs did drama GCSE. English Lit was about the words, Drama GCSE was about everything else (delivery, costume, staging etc).

Three sciences is a lot of work. It’s a lot to do for two years, and then a lot to revise for at the end. Yiu don’t need to have done them to do them separately for A-level, so if she’d enjoy drama, do drama.

Thanks everyone, there’s lots of really helpful insights here. I think I’ll have a chat with her and share some of the information from here regarding coursework, study levels etc and give her some time to mull it over for herself.
I gave examples of her current grades to give an idea of where she is working, do other schools do it differently? I quite like the system they use because it’s just one set of numbers from y7 to results day which I think helps both students and parents to keep everything in context.
I can see how triple science would be good but heavy going, and that drama might bring a whole other set of soft skills as well as just some creativity which would be lacking in the timetable otherwise. I don’t want her to feel overwhelmed if she doesn’t need to, that’s not going to help anyone is it?
She does dance and piano outside school as well, which takes up some time too, so maybe double science would be a slightly lighter option while not limiting her should she follow the medical route.

re grades: DD's school gave 'flightpath' grades. Which were 'from where you are now we would expect you to get something like this in your final GCSEs by the end of y11' grades. Often a range eg 3/4, 5/6 or 7+, especially lower down the school.

The only thing with double science is that if you're not so good at one of them it will pull both grades down. IF you do triple, you may get a low grade in one but you can still get higher grades in the two you are good at.

In my DC’s school only the DC who were really good at science did triple science. It tended to be the ones who were good at maths too and then they went in to do maths and science A levels.

Same situation here, but our school really decides who does triple or double science, if you want the other strand you'll need a good discussion with your teachers. The other choices are partly determined by timetabling, some options clash with others so it's not a completely free choice.
I also agree with @Spinnier regarding being in a more motivated class. DD really noticed that for Geography which was not an overly popular option. There are usually a number of BTechs that add interest and variety - encourage her to take one of those.

I know triple science is just one class, so 30 spaces out of about 200. She’s good at science, but I don’t know if she’s that good, it really is the very top achievers in science, and I suspect she’s probably in the 30 below that if that makes sense. If she wants to put it as her top, knowing everything mentioned her that’s ok, but I want her to be secure in choices 2 and 3 in case it goes to those, which I think it might. In which case RS and drama would actually be quite a nice balance.
I know what you mean about it being a totally free choice- it’s presented as such but there are so many factors at play that we just have to go with it really. I feel reassured by the replies here. 😊

Gah
Typos- not free choice among others😂

Our school really decides who does triple or double science

Yes, we have had similar, DD1 was told by her form tutor she'd be expected to do it. All the top set for science and maths have been told they are capable of it.

@CrimbleCrumble1

In my DC’s school only the DC who were really good at science did triple science. It tended to be the ones who were good at maths too and then they went in to do maths and science A levels.

At ours it's the most able students, science specialists or not. Different schools do it differently though. Some squeeze triple science into the same teaching time as double, others give triple extra teaching time but that means it uses up one of their options. Both have pros and cons and will attract slightly different students. I'm sure there are other ways of doing it but these are the 2 I've come across.

Double science is certainly a solid choice, and the norm across the country, and COVID has left a lot of anxious teens who don't need extra pressure.

If it's only 1 class of 30 out of 200 that take triple science, I would probably suggest not doing it in your DD's case as she sounds ambivalent. It also means that there will be really able scientists in the combined science groups.

(My DC's school lets anyone who's not working below a pass level take triple science. It's about a 60/40 split between combined and triple).

Our school almost discouraged GCSE students from taking triple science. The course leader (who has a science degree) said it was a lot of work and unnecessary even if you want to do science A levels - doing combined is not a blocker to that.

Given what you've said, I would go for combined, which is enough work on its own and opt for something else that she enjoys. My DD did Art instead, which was nice and creative and gave her a break from the academic subjects.

Our School invites students to take triple science but tbh it's not really necessary. My teens did it and they were fine with the work load.