ECDL vs GCSE ICT

[Starmummy]

Ds is chosing his GCSE options. He is predicted to do very well at ICT, however if he does this he will have to drop another subject.

As the school will only students to chose 4 options - he wants to do history, business studies, economics and DT resisant materials. However he also wants to do ICT. What he is thinking is if ECDL is recognised as the same numebr of points as GCSE he will study ECDL as soon as the exams finish this summer.

Would this be considered a good idea? Or should he drop business studies for ICT?

TBH I don't think that it really matters very much.

From a uni point of view the ECDL will not really count in the same way as a GCSE but that doesn't matter at all. None of these subjects are likely to be on any list of "required" subjects and so I'd encourage him to do whichever he finds more interesting. Do you know anything about the level of teaching in the different subjects?

Does he have any thoughts about a-levels?

Thanks muddleduck.

Nope, he has no ideas really, beyond the fact he considers himself entrepreneurial. Trouble is I think he will struggle with his other subjects and would really benefit from an easy subject that he could coast and then spend the time on the other subjects. However my sensible self says ooh must get proper subjects to stand any chance at A levels and uni.

I'm in such a tizz over these options choices, although outwardly maintaining a very cool calm stance. tee hee.

so what would be "easy" subjects for him?

Something that spreads the work out so he doesnt have to cram for the May exams. He thinks he has now decided on Business Studies, Economics, History and DT resistant material because he took on board your point about ICT. He plans to cross reference his DT project for business studies. Not sure if that part of the exam but I am rapidly googling to find out via the exam board. Bizarrely his drama teacher was desperate for him to do Drama. He is good and he does enjoy it but it does not play a part in any future he can imagine, so he has not considered it at all.

IMHO I'm not sure that BS, Economics and History constitute easy. He will not consider a MFL. He finds it very very difficult and we both think that struggling to do a subject you dont like and probably will not get a decent grade in is a waste of time. Although we have weighed it very seriously against a balance of subjects.

It all seems such a worry. When I did O levels, you didnt get a choice, extra German if you were good at languages and Latin if you were very academic. Not that made it a good thing but it seems a lot easier than the endless pondering and struggle for the right choices.

I do want to say I know I'm not the first or only but you get where I'm coming from

Just to throw a spanner in the works, DS did ICT and his was all coursework. So no final exams, and all finished by Feb half term. Obv it depends on the board!

Yeah I knew it wasnt going to be hard and that he would then have more time to spend on other subjects, but then it seemed a waste when he could do another subject altogether. sigh, still dithering.