Page 3 | Anything we should know before choosing gcse options?

ReturnToRiding · 2026-01-17T22:45:19+00:00

Just that really, is there anything to consider for choosing options? Anything you’d recommend or not?

XelaM · 24/08/2026 08:59

Take triple science if possible as the extra content is actually not that much.

Food Tech and PE have been the worst GCSEs (but my daughter had terrible teachers for both and some left midway through Y11).

BahMinthumbug · 24/08/2026 09:07

XelaM · 24/08/2026 08:57

Don't be put off taking Art by all the scaremongering about the amount of work!! It was my daughter's absolutely favourite GCSE and the 10-hour "exam" is very easy and laid back. It's also finished before all other GCSEs, so doesn't impact on exam prep.

Zombie thread but it is not scaremongering.
Art is a massive commitment and timesuck.
A lot of costs for materials school budgets cannot provide.
Syllabus now changed such that they have to spend the whole year on the first theme chosen.
Grade boundaries harder to get a 9. Some teachers exasperated by moderators stating A04 final pieces should be clearer in the portfolio.
Glad your daughter enjoyed it but that is not the case for many students, especially those who are academic - prior high attaining expected to get 8s/9s - as they'd probably do better taking another subject. You do art for one reason only: you love it and have a passion for it and are sure that this won't wain, given all the research and written evaluation and annotation needed.
And it does impact on other subjects right up until the final exam - it's only the last lead up after you've completed, where you then pick up some revision lessons and have it under your belt. For the first 18 months it's full on and takes time away from revising for others.

XelaM · 24/08/2026 09:10

OhDear111 · 09/02/2026 15:03

@redskydelight MN must be different then. On here it’s often maths, 3 sciences, stats and CS - as an example. That’s not balanced.

And? Who care if it's balanced or not as long as they achieve top grades in those subjects? No 6th Form or uni cares about "balance" over and above high grades.

XelaM · 24/08/2026 09:15

BahMinthumbug · 24/08/2026 09:07

Zombie thread but it is not scaremongering.
Art is a massive commitment and timesuck.
A lot of costs for materials school budgets cannot provide.
Syllabus now changed such that they have to spend the whole year on the first theme chosen.
Grade boundaries harder to get a 9. Some teachers exasperated by moderators stating A04 final pieces should be clearer in the portfolio.
Glad your daughter enjoyed it but that is not the case for many students, especially those who are academic - prior high attaining expected to get 8s/9s - as they'd probably do better taking another subject. You do art for one reason only: you love it and have a passion for it and are sure that this won't wain, given all the research and written evaluation and annotation needed.
And it does impact on other subjects right up until the final exam - it's only the last lead up after you've completed, where you then pick up some revision lessons and have it under your belt. For the first 18 months it's full on and takes time away from revising for others.

Edited

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It completely depends on your art teacher whether 8/9 is attainable (a they are the ones marking your work). I would say an 8 is very attainable if you have a neat sketchbook and follow what your teacher advises. Most kids use AI to help with annotations (amend it of course). A 9 is harder to obtain in some schools than in others.