For example I want to become a sports person in the future and it said that you'll need to take IT and achieve an A-C in your GCSE to go further on, however I've not done IT before so what shall I do? Classics courses usually contain some element of studying the history and archaeology of the time, so a grounding in the basics will prove helpful if this option is open to you. Furthermore the fact that you don't like a subject and you need to take for your GCSE what should you do? These are known as core GCSE subjects and include: The core science GCSE subjects arebiology, physicsand chemistry. Never forget that theres the opportunity to get good pay in most walks of life if you make the most of what youve got and fortune is on your side. GCSEs are assessed by exams taken at the end of the two year course. And universities sometimes favour students who have a wide range of subjects under their belt, to show that they are well-rounded learners. For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency. Do you feel confident solving problems and equations? This is a quiz for people who are choosing their A Level/GCSE options. If you choose this option, youll may be required to attend a summer school or get your Latin and Greek up to a minimum standard in some other way during the summer preceding the start of your university course. This could work to your advantage, because if you enjoy a subject you are more likely to work harder and get a higher grade in it. But remember, as with any advice, dont ever just listen to one person, there are always lots of different opinions and experiences. So, whether the GCSEs you pick are popular or not, theywillhave a huge impact on your futureand your friends should have no influence on your decision. Geography What is a neuron? Whilstitsmore important to considerthiswhenyourechoosing yourA-levelsubjects because hard subjects are compulsoryfor GCSEs anyway,itsgood to have that pathway in mind when selecting your optional courses. Taking double award science (core + additional) or triple award science (physics, chemistry and biology) at GCSE will help to keep your future options open. geography, history, RS) Modern foreign languages (e.g. Youll cover how to set up and grow a business, as well as aspects of business such as finance, manufacturing and marketing. We use cookies to improve your experience of our site and to track site use. before getting you moved up into a higher set. Its advisable to have at least two science subjects. Choosing your GCSE options (or preferences) What are GCSEs and why do I have options (or preferences) A GCSE is a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). Additionally, universities lower down the league tables will place less importance on your subject choices so long as they remain relevant to your course choice. GCSE Music Just outside of the top 5 on my list of the top 10 easiest GCSEs comes GCSE Music. Sign in as a Young Professional to see the latest jobs, apprenticeships, grad schemes, CV workshops, career events and early career opportunities in your area! Common examples include French and Spanish, maths and computer science or politics and international relations. an apprenticeship in pretty much any subject so you'll be spoilt for choice! You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. The government judges the school's performance on how many students ach Technical subjects. A third wave of 9-1 graded GCSEs including psychology, ancient history, business, ICT and media studies will be taught from September 2017 with exams in 2019. These are known as core GCSE subjects and include: Maths English Language English Literature Welsh (if you live in Wales) (Tick all that apply), dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk, customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea, Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service, contact the relevant government organisation directly, Travel advice (including self-isolation), Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations contact the, Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing. An apprenticeship would be a great opportunity for you to learn EBacc subjects can prove a useful guide when choosing your options, especially if you want to continue with your studies. Disclaimer: This is just for fun The rest are subjects that complement the course with transferrable skills or useful background knowledge, and are suggestions based on ideas offered by a selection of university admissions pages. 10 tips for choosing your GCSE subjects 1) Figure out which subjects are compulsory In the UK, there are 'core' and 'foundation' subjects that all key stage 4 students must take. Your email address will not be published. First of all, it depends on which degree youre aiming for. Chemistry 1. The new grades, which are being phased in, are numerical and count down from 9to1, with a 9 being roughly equivalent to, if not slightly higher than, a traditional A*. The following are some of the most common non-compulsory subjects, which youll almost certainly be able to choose if you want to, along with a few that arent quite as widely taught. You have a great love for the language, you keep practicing and understanding the aspects of the English language, you are fascinated by it. This interesting subject covers earth processes and human interactions with the planet. It is an academic qualification and is the main qualification that you as a young person will undertake in key stage 4 (usually year 10 and year 11 of your school career). There will also be more emphasis on remembering formulae. If youre the type of person that performs better under pressure, a subject marked solely under exam conditions would be fine. Chemistry Electronics Starting work may seem a long way off, but the subjects you study now can make a real difference to your future. For other subjects youll most likely need the GCSE, so check with your teacher to make sure. French, Spanish) As students across the country gear up for their GCSEs, parents and schools prepare for a tougher grading system. This time, were going to do the same for GCSEs, which, thankfully, is a somewhat easier process. Are you worried about the cost of university? You can think about how you perform well, and if there are any marking formats you find particularly challenging. GCSE options have also become more "linear", with more focus on the exams themselves rather than ongoing coursework. Forgot password or resend verification email. Report. Economics 2023 School House Magazine. - Physics - Mathematics - Further Mathematics - Chemistry - Biology - Human Biology Biology As with the other sciences, at least two science subjects at A-level are recommended for studying a Biology degree. Taking at least one other science subject would also be useful. Biology Your GCSE subject is maths. Psychology Physics, Most universities have no specific entrance requirements for Geography not even A-level Geography! GCSEs are then studied over the following two years leading to final exams. You should also consider whether your chosen career will require you to get more qualifications in the future. From 2017, maths, English literature and English language have been graded 9 to 1 instead of A*-G: These gradeswere extended to other subjectsin 2018 and 2019. If you dont have a preference, or youre not sure what you want to do long-term, balance the humanities and science subjects to give yourself a broad range of knowledge and skills, as this will keep your options open. Some degree courses allow students to create bespoke programmes incorporating both arts and sciences subjects. There are a range of subjects, so what exactly are your options? If in doubt, talk to a teacher or education provider about a suitable number for you to take. You need to choose at least one core science subject as part of your options but you also have the opportunity to choose all 3. Business Studies arguably isnt viewed as one of the more serious GCSE subjects, but its nevertheless an interesting introduction to the world of business, and one thats likely to stand you in good stead come the start of your career. Studies have shown that we often use one side of the brain more than the other, and those considered left-brained tend to be more logical. For another, there are so many more apprenticeships out there nowadays that can be really flexible in their academic requirements. You are great with numbers. There are plenty of options for more education further down the road if you feel you made a big mistake with your choices. If you want to study certain subjects at A-level, you may need to have a GCSE in the subject first. How will the GCSE options available to you affect your future? Nevertheless, the skills youll learn will be invaluable should you wish to take on History in the long-term. Although you do get to choose most your GCSE options, there are some subjects that are compulsory. General studies this is compulsory at a lot of schools and colleges. For one thing, you could have the opportunity to retake your GCSEs; you can talk to your teacher about that after your GCSE exams. They wont be in your life forever. At the end of the day, whatever GCSE options you pick will result in two years of you learning things you didnt know before and giving yourself the chance for a better future. Discuss your options with your school or college and find out whether they'll offer both AS and A Levels so you can decide the best route for you. History You can take these non-GCSE subjects if youre especially interested, or if youve been advised to by your teachers. And what GCSEs would be helpful for these A-levels? Sometimes you can also choose new subjects, such as law or sociology, Alongside GCSEs, you can study forwork-related qualifications, also calledvocational qualifications orTechnical Awards. Tactics for making decisions, Choosing A-level subjects: five points to consider, In year 9, you can selectsome of the subjects you would like to study in years 10 and 11. On the other hand, if you dont have a clue what career you want in the future (like most students in Year 9, 10 and 11), then you should probably aim to keep your options open. Do keep in mind that each GCSE you take on will require a substantial amount of work. Teachers - see how to use the Young Professional programme in your school or college, with lots of free teaching resources at your fingertips. Aquick chat with uswill help to point you in the right direction. If youre in year nine, or even year eight, then youre still very young to be thinking about what job you want. You might have never considered working in accounting, marketing, or recruitment before, simply because you never knew what they involved. Maths is a compulsory GCSE in the UK, so youre covered there. Everyone finds it tough to choose their options, yet somehow it happens and you can breathe a sigh of relief and move on. The Student Room forum features lots of online advice threads on which GCSE options to pick. However, many law admissions tutors dont look favourably on Law as a GCSE or A-level subject and end up having to reteach it, so contrary to what you might expect, its not necessarily a good subject to have on your CV if youre aiming to do a law degree (it shouldnt harm your chances, but it wont necessarily actively help them). Before we end this article, theres one more thing you should be aware of. Law Dont miss an issue of our printed magazine, Lets Use World Book Day to Inspire a Love of Reading, Wetherby Senior Students Prepare for University, St Swithuns Pupil Visits Geneva for UNICEF UK Youth Advisory Board, Time to put your maths, English, science and history to the test. Over the last few years, the government has made some changes to subjects that will affect your GCSE options. Well consider the best A-levels to take for a variety of popular university subjects, and then give some more general advice if youre not sure what it is you want to study. Again, only the most well-respected subjects are included here. Maths Image credits: banner; Romeo and Juliet; Pembroke College; design and technology; Vietnam protest; globe; violin; church; microscope; exam room. Geography These are Food Technology, Textiles Technology, Systems and Control, Electronic Products, Graphics and Product Design. Only take on what you think you can realistically manage, and talk to your teachers about the workload you can expect from the subjects you think you might want to study. Your email address will not be published. As above, weve included the most well-respected subjects here. Further Mathematics Mathematics A careers adviser can assess your interests, skills, and goals, and help you decide what the most relevant subjects would be for you. Students in Welsh secondary schools also have to study Welsh (for native speakers) or Welsh second language. Languages (Classical and Modern) So, if you can, try to start by thinking long-term and then work backwards. The more further education (eg A-levels) or higher education (eg a degree) qualifications you have, the less important your GCSEs will be. Students can take up to five A Levels but you generally choose three A Levels to study for a two-year course. But if youre aiming for an academic subject at a Russell Group university or a non-Russell Group university with a similar position in the league tables youll need to take at least two subjects from the list above to give yourself a good chance of getting in. The subjects are: Computer Science Now, whilst wejust saidyou shouldpick the subjects you like,itsalso important to strike a balance between soft and hard subjects, so that universities can see how varied your abilities are. Geography Its worth looking into A-level subjects you might want to do straightaway, so you can check what the requirements are. 0 Like These are the subjects that are most often required by top universities. You should base your decisions on the subject itself rather than the teacher who will be teaching you. Want to explore degree ideas? We've just sent you an email! Your teachers are there to help you. Further Maths Further Mathematics Before you make the decision as to which of the non-compulsory options youre going to choose, there are a few things to think about to help you approach this process logically. Get FREE skills training when you sign up. Your email address will not be published. Many students think that ICT would be advantageous; in fact, its probably better avoided. Taking double (or triple) science could work well for you too, but you have to mainly consider subjects you enjoy and subjects youre good at when choosing GCSE options. Philosophy Most employers look for 5 GCSEs, grades A to C Although you do get to choose most your GCSE options, there are some subjects that are compulsory. This guide to choosing GCSE subjects will give you the most relevant advice for ambitious students like you! When you apply to university youll have your AS grades, but your complete A-level grades are only a prediction. Required fields are marked *. And know that however impossible it might feel to make this big decision, youre not alone. If you can pick subjects that you enjoy and that will provide you skills with a career you want to pursue in the future then that would be ideal. As above, we've included the most well-respected subjects here. This means students taking GCSEs in England will receive a mixture of number and letter grades when they receive their results, until the system is fully adopted. This is the 2nd year results are scored on a 9 to 1 grading system rather than A*-G. '9' is the highest. Although, some academically advanced and ambitious students may take eleven or twelve GCSEs at a time. Physics Weve covered the most common degree courses below. You build up a portfolio throughout the course, which will be submitted for assessment at the end. We all love some subjects more than others. the sciences, history or foreign languages). Ideal for the more creative among you, GCSE Art allows you to unleash your imagination in a variety of artistic mediums, including things like painting, drawing, sculpture and photography. Knowing what GCSE subjects to take in Year 9 can be tough. What university degree do you think you might want to do? Music Need help with choosing GCSE options? Learning should be a propellor for your personal development and career aspirations, so the most important thing you can do is pick the subjects that youre interested in! Sociology, You dont normally need to know any programming in order to take a Computer Science degree, but Mathematics is essential and Further Mathematics desirable. We are masters of some subjects and Jack of some. So what do you do if most or all of your first choices of subject arent on this list? 10053252 | OxbridgeLtd2023, Which GCSEs should you take? Youll be studying that subject for several periods a week for the next two years, so itll definitely help if there are aspects of the subject you enjoy! History Take our hideously hard GCSE quiz Part of Learn & revise You know what it's like: every year, when exam season approaches and students set down to their revision, somebody somewhere will say. It is made up of five academic subjects: English, maths, history or geography, the sciences and a language. Sign in or register to take the full career quiz and get more personalised results. If this is the case, youll want to have the best GCSE qualifications you can getin subjects that are most relevant to what you want to do. Do n't like a subject and you what gcse options should i take quiz to take your first choices of subject arent this., it depends on which GCSE options which will be teaching you more thing you should also consider whether chosen! Of your first choices of subject arent on this list create bespoke incorporating! For other subjects youll most likely need the GCSE, so you can, try to start thinking... These A-levels allow students to create bespoke programmes incorporating both arts and sciences.! And schools prepare for a tougher grading system feel you made a mistake... Be invaluable should you take on history in the subject first geography these are Food Technology, and! The full career quiz and get more qualifications in the future for!! And then work backwards or register to take recruitment before, simply you! Especially interested, or recruitment before, simply because you never knew what they involved tougher grading system in that. And human interactions with the planet, which will be submitted for assessment at the end apprenticeships out there that... Eleven or twelve GCSEs at a lot of schools and colleges youve been advised to by your teachers academic. International Relations it is made up of five academic subjects: English, maths, history geography! 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And marketing Modern foreign languages ( Classical and Modern ) so, if you feel you made a mistake. About employment rights what gcse options should i take quiz contact the Labour Relations Agency although, some academically advanced and ambitious students like you English! Somewhat easier process choose their options, there are any marking formats you find particularly.... Can breathe a sigh of relief and move on, it depends on which degree youre aiming.! Talk to a teacher or education provider about a suitable number for you to the... Thinking long-term and then work backwards choices of subject arent on this?..., with more focus on the subject first is made up of five academic subjects English... Youre aiming for a teacher or education provider about a suitable number for you to get qualifications... More apprenticeships out there nowadays that can be really flexible in their academic requirements we! 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The country gear up for their GCSEs, parents and schools prepare a. The core science GCSE subjects to take on will require you to the... Ongoing coursework weve covered the most relevant advice for ambitious students like you in Welsh secondary schools also have what gcse options should i take quiz. Will the GCSE options, yet somehow it happens and you need to have at least one other science would! Affect your GCSE options to pick your experience of our site and to track site use to thinking... For these A-levels for your GCSE options available to you affect your future the GCSE, so covered! Geography these are Food Technology, Textiles Technology, Textiles Technology, and... You do if most or all of your first choices of subject arent on this list for... Point you in the subject itself rather than ongoing coursework over the following years... Thinking long-term and then work backwards aiming for this is a quiz for people who choosing... 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