Picking GCSEs

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My son is picking his GCSEs now. He's yr 10 in Northern Ireland and his school does all CCEA board. He is allowed a lot of choice.

Has anyone any experience of these options:
Digital technology programming
Business and communication
PE
Music.

He's doing maths, English, RE, media studies, biology. These are ones he has to do (he can pick any science.) Then probably history, geography, home economics food and nutrition, and chemistry. Which leaves him one choice. Or two if he drops chemistry.

I am not sure if the NI syllabus is the same but PE is not an easy option. The amount of video evidence required is considerable and I found quite stressful - does he play sports outside of school to a good standard? I know friends of DD who play cricket found videoing very difficult and you only get one summer season before evidence has to be submitted.

Yeps re PE - one of the sports DS2 did was football so at least he could be judged on his performance in winter of yr 11.

I would personally only consider music or PE if they are done to a relatively high level outside school tbh. DS had to offer three sports as well which some find a challenge. I would defo suggest chemistry - and chance he might do physics as well? I would recommend that tbh.

Sorry meant to say DD took music and found it challenging. This was old spec, not sure how it is now, but anyway mauy be utterly different in NI.

But she found the exam fine, the performance OK and the composition a real challenge. She was working at about grade 6 in yr 11 IIRC.

Digital Technology Programming seems like a good choice with his Media Studies? Or perhaps the Business & Comms?

Does he have a view for 6th Form?

My DD is doing Music, loves it and finds it easy; but I have heard that it's one that can be tricky if you aren't at a high level to start with and you would want to be doing a lot of outside school classes. (DD is G8 on her first study and does over 4 hours of 1:1 music lessons a week).

With music you have to really love it because it takes alot of time. My Ds practises his instrument for least 1 hour daily. He finds it easy but says alot of people in his class find it hard as they took it thinking it was an easy option. It's not, you need to be dedicated

Thanks all. He also has to do a mfl so probably french.

PE does require three sports- so finding a third one would indeed be a challenge. I don't know if you can still get a decent mark doing two sports well plus one other new or not so well. I don't know what standard he is at really.....on school b team. Suppose it depends what the competition is?! I was hoping it would overlap with biology.

He seems keen on music. Which does surprise me as he doesn't seem keen on practicing his instrument! I will speak to teachers about this. He did grade 3 a year ago.

He is weak in maths so I think that rules out physics?

His school allows a lot of choice which is confusing for someone like him who doesn't have a particular speciality or interest.

You mention possibly dropping chemistry, which would leave him with just biology in terms of science. Not sure that’s a good idea as it would rule out lots of degrees that require science and chemistry in particular. It would also leave a big hole in his general understanding of science, which is so important for everyday life.

Yes @Notcontent that's what I thought re physics. I didn;t do it at school as was focused on other subjects, but I really wish I could have opted for double science - not a scientist and never would be but really regret my lack of physics knowledge in daily life.

Wow OP so he will do 12 GCSEs in total? That’s a lot. No idea of spec or coursework content for NI, but in England the increased focus on exams and higher content of the reformed GCSEs mean that many schools only allow students to take 8 or 9, or maybe 10 for more able with triple science.

Being weak at maths is not IMHO a reason not to take physics – again in England it is very unusual not to sit physics, as part of combined science. If this is sitting single sciences, in England they are offered at foundation or higher tier so this may be an option.

Does he play 1 or 2 of his sports outside school? DS2 played footy and did athletics to a reasonable level, but his third sport was something only played in school (table tennis I think). He is very sporty tho so did well. His mate who is an amazing runner outside school had to offer a team sport which was done through school (?basketball possibly) and did well too.

Grade 3 atm sounds like music may be achievable. He will need to work tho – but don’t believe those who claim their yr 9 child was at grade 8 as that’s not my experience.

I agree with the above about music. If your child wants to go on to do Alevel music he will need a grade 5 in the instrument so he is already well on the way to achieving this.

He will be doing 10 in total. He has to do maths, English, RE and one out of further maths, English lit and media studies. Then one science or single award science. Then five others.

I think it makes sense to steer him towards chemistry although at this early stage I'd be surprised if he does it for a level. But you never know!