GCSE subjects for a future Zoology

[BlueChampagne]

DS is very interested in Zoology. He is torn between PE (for the biological side) plus double science, vs triple science. Any experience on what might be better for studying zoology in the future?

I’d go with triple science as it opens up possibility of A level sciences. I suspect you could probably persuade a sixth form to take you for PE A level without GCSE but harder to do science A level without GCSE

Sorry, title should have read 'a future in Zoology'.

DD hopes to do it at Uni so we have done some research.
Shes doing A levels in Biology, Psychology and Politics. She says she has found the Psychology useful as some of the Zoology she will do at her chosen Uni covers Animal psychology and behaviour. She enjoys Politics but also feels it makes her more aware of peripheral issues affecting animals etc. She is also having a gap year working with animals and has done so in the holidays too
Thats A level I know rather than GCSE but you might find it helpful

We recently went to GCSE options evening at DS school.
We were told that combined vs individual sciences wouldn’t limit A level choices. The only limiting ones were languages as you couldn’t usually do an A level without a GCSE

Triple science. He needs biology in more depth, as he will need to take it at A level.

PE breadth of study is more important at his age.

a) triple science is not a prerequisite for science A Levels

and

b) he’s 13/14 he might change his mind.

C) more fresh air and exercise in his week will be good for him.

In terms of preparation for future courses, Triple Science will be better, he'll be better prepared for A Level Biology. He will be able to do Biology A Level if he chooses Combined Science, but Triple Science goes into greater depth, so he may find A Level easier. There's not much to be gained by doing PE, unless he has a particular passion and aptitude for it, and he thinks he'll score a better GCSE grade in PE than in Triple Science.

You don't have to do triple science to do science A levels. If your DS enjoys the breadth of PE then he should choose that plus double science.

My DS did PE GCSE and is now doing it for A level and there is a lot more to it than many people realise. At A level it is accepted as an alternative to Biology for quite a lot of courses such as physio where the biological knowledge has to basically be Human Biology. It's certainly not an easy option.
You can do A level sciences after double science. At least one well respected school in our area only offers double science and they have plenty of pupils go onto A level sciences and STEM subjects at University.
I would say go for whatever he thinks he is likely to get better grades in and enjoy more though. Good grades across a reasonably broad range of subjects should probably be the aim, and breadth does allow for changes.
My DS wanted to study marine biology at your DS's stage, and you would have thought nothing would dissuade him. He is now in year 12 and looking at engineering degrees. Keep your options open!

My daughter is doing triple science and one of her options was PE . She is intending on taking two sciences and PE for A level.

What I would say though is I wouldn't take gcse pe unless your DS is good at sports and does at least one to a good standard outside of school (though two is preferable).

Dd only does one but is national team standard plus plays for the school A team in another - her individual is her week area but still
Predicted a 9 overall as her other two are so strong. Getting all the filming together is quite time consuming and stressful and requires more parental work than any other gcse. Don't take that commitment lightly.

geography?

DS is at Uni doing Zoology
GCSE. Separate sciences
a levels Economics, Biology, Bus studies
Feels these set him up well - especially Biology. And he like the human sciences which leads in from economics. There’s a huge variety of modules - some being taught for the first time - advising NGOs on environmental strategies etc

Thanks all. It's the human biology side of PE that he's interested rather than the sport, though he does do a couple outside school (though not to a stellar standard). Hersetta427 thanks for the warning about parental commitment!

Double science is enough for A Levels. I would suggest he chooses what he enjoys. Triple science is huge commitment that doesn't give much more benefit than combined.

As an FYI, the practical side of PE GCSE (actual sporting performance in 3 sports plus a sports performance evaluation on one sport is worth 30% of the overall exam so weaker sporting performances could effect their overall grade.

I don't agree that triple science is a huge commitment. It has the same timetabled lessons as those doing combined - it just goes at a faster pace as they go more in depth into the topics covered (about 30% more). If he is considering any science A levels I would say go for triple so that he has that knowledge of the extra 30% that is not covered in combined so not immediately playing catch up.

Whilst it is not impossible to do A-level sciences after doing dual award, separate sciences are recommended. Bear in mind most good universities would prefer you to have two of the Core Sciences at A-level, although they would consider Biology plus something like Geography/Psychology/PE, they may raise the grade requirements for such an offer. Worth bearing in mind.

With regards to PE, I don't think there is as much focus on the human biology side of things as it sounds like your DS would want. The focus is largely on strong sporting ability and a high level of knowledge of the factors involved in sporting success. The applied anatomy and physiology is one topic within component one which also encompasses movement analysis, training and data so it's not huge. Unless your DS is genuinely a strong and passionate sportsman, PE may be a risk. At our secondary, to do PE, students are expected to have a very high level of sporting ability and be participating at a high level with extra-curricular clubs or outside school in at least 3 sports, to include both team and individual sports.

Not sure if he is considering Geography as this too has strong links to Zoology.

DD2 did triple science but had no interest in doing PE, then did Biology, Psychology and History at A level. It's set her up very well, the Psychology gave her a head start in research methodology and the History has helped develop her essay writing skills. She's second year Marine Biology.

I must be a terrible mother. My contribution to my DS's PE GCSE and so far A level was...zero.
Well nothing beyond my existing commitment to support his sports anyway. Oh and I have just made a financial contribution to a new Go Pro. If it had just been for fun not school related I would probably have told him he had to pay for it all himself or wait for his birthday. But other than that it had absolutely no impact on me. He sorted everything out himself.
Incidentally the key thing in practical element of GCSE is being able to demonstrate improvement. It does help if you are good at sport obviously and it's really only feasible if you do at least one sport out of school. It's easier to get higher marks if you do play at a higher standard but there are very few people that play 3 sports to a high level and that's not essential. To do well at GCSE you need to be sporty for sure, but not national level sporty.
A level is a bit of a different cup of tea. Only one sport but you do have to demonstrate fairly high levels of attainment. My DS plays 2 sports and he spent a long time studying the syllabus before opting for what is actually his less favoured one as he thinks the marking criteria for that one are more attainable. He knows he is going to have to absolutely nail the theory to get the A or A* that he is aiming for though as the practical marks are much harder to come by. He is a county player so quite good but its going to be challenging.
There's a lot of biology in A level, but much less in GCSE. As you'd expect I suppose. And of course it's human biology. It's an interesting syllabus but on reflection, if your DS is doing it only from the biology interest, I don't think he will enjoy it. You do need a real interest in sport.

Thank you all. Swinging in the direction of triple science 😉

My ds would have left the country if I had suggested he do PE GCSE 😆At A-level he's done Biology, Physics and Spanish. He started Geography as well and I think in hindsight he would have preferred to keep going with that rather than Physics, but at the time the amount of essay writing in Geography, plus the fact it might limit his uni options for Zoology, swung it in favour of Physics.

I don't think ultimately it would have done, but the end is finally in sight for Physics. He also really appreciates the broad range of topics and skills that Spanish gives him.