Some students choose to take on additional AS or full A-level subjects, giving them a total of four or five A-levels with which to apply to university. Biology/Human Biology All the best! Further Mathematics, Further Mathematics, while not usually part of offers, is in reality something that most students will struggle without when it comes to studying physics as an undergraduate. 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. Common examples include French and Spanish, maths and computer science or politics and international relations. Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818. Physics Economics at A-level is useful preparation, but dont worry if your school doesnt offer it; Business Studies is also seen as a good relevant A-level. Sign in as a Young Professional to get automatically enrolled. Hopefully the advice youve found here will help some of your choices become a bit clearer. Geology, Architecture doesnt necessarily require specific A-levels; what it does require is that you present a portfolio of your work, which is mostly easily achieved by taking an A-level that requires you produce that sort of coursework, such as Art or Art and Design. (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 in pretty much any subject so you'll be spoilt for choice! History 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. Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, 115 Harwood Road If you enjoy a subject, youre more likely to do your best and perform better in it. Streamlining the number of GCSEs you take may help you give more time to each subject and increase your chances of a high pass. Its advisable to have at least two science subjects. If youre thinking of applying for a respected university, non-traditional subjects such as those below are best avoided unless theyre a fourth or fifth AS or A-level sitting alongside three solid traditional choices: Optional GCSE subjects vary from school to school. However, its good to know your options so you can get a feel for the kind of work you might be interested in. You can take these non-GCSE subjects if youre especially interested, or if youve been advised to by your teachers. 2023 School House Magazine. You usually need a minimum of five GCSEs to give you a chance to go on to study Law. Youre likely to enjoy the subjects youre good at. The new literature course will focus on "classic" literature and unseen texts will also be added to the exam. Careers quiz Take our Career Quiz Find your ideal job matched to your personality and a list of courses previous students studied in order to get there. Our Careers Quiz will help you decide what job you should do. For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contactSmartpass - Translink. For example: What is your favorite subject? The government judges the school's performance on how many students ach A. Maths B. Its worth noting that GCSEs are looked at by universities as secondary indications of your knowledge, academic talent and so on. If youre aiming for Oxford or Cambridge, choosing subjects from this list is even more important; Clare College in Cambridge says that most of our successful applicants over the last couple of years have offered facilitating subjects for most or all of their A-levels. If youregoing to beonline learning,be suretoplan a schedule thatfits alongsideyour othercommitments. Physics Thanks once more for a lot of things. You love to write poetries; you are an actual grammar nazi of the language. But beware its often tricky to tell if youll like something youve not studied before! Therefore in the subject lists that follow, those in bold are generally deemed essential for studying the subject, while those in italics are often seen as useful but not necessarily required. The Design and Technology umbrella covers a number of individual topics, each of which constitutes a GCSE in its own right. You take many more GCSEs than A-levels, and youll be glad to learn that this means its much easier to choose. Home Articles & News Choosing GCSE options 19 questions to ask yourself. 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. GCSEs are then studied over the following two years leading to final exams. This is the 2nd year results are scored on a 9 to 1 grading system rather than A*-G. '9' is the highest. Here are a few more words of general advice to bear in mind as you make your final decision. You can also swap GCSEs if you change your mind early on speak to your teachers, but do consider if youve fully given your chosen subjects a chance. The minimum requirement even for the best universities is that you take three A-levels (excluding General Studies); these will be the basis of your offer. Note that a GCSE in a particular subject isnt always necessary to take that subject on at A-level. This guide to choosing GCSE subjects will give you the most relevant advice for ambitious students like you! For instance, OCR is reputed to be harder for Maths than AQA or Edexcel. Required fields are marked *. And the fact is that throughout life, most adults switch jobs every five years on average anyway. 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). Thinking of going to uni? Careers advisors are extremely well-trained and prepared to help you with your careers and GCSE-related questions whatever your questions are, they will be able to offer support, resources and information to help you with your choices. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Oxford Royale Academy is a part of Oxford Programs Limited, a company registered in England as company number 6045196, registered office at 264 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DY. English language: Replaces what used to be known simply as "English". And what GCSEs would be helpful for these A-levels? Advice > Study Law Dont try to bite off more than you can chew. There are a range of subjects, so what exactly are your options? 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*. 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. For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service. GCSE Music is an enjoyable subject that develops a range of skills, both practical and analytical. There will also be more emphasis on remembering formulae. business studies, home economics, ICT or media studies) could place you in a better position to go on to pick A-level subjects that universities place a lot of value in. This includes core subjects likemathsandEnglish,butalsothe three natural sciences,modern foreign languages,and things like economics and politics. science. instead favouring a mix of humanities and sciences subjects. Swimming B. Chemistry Some degree courses allow students to create bespoke programmes incorporating both arts and sciences subjects. Even if you hate school, theres bound to be a subject you connect with. 0 Like Not take that subject or give a try..? We wish you luck in your upcoming GCSEs! If theres one thing we know as an online college, its that learning is lifelong! Apart from study what do you do in your free time? Most universities need you to have English and maths GCSEs which is handy, because youll be studying them as core GCSE subjects anyway. Youth Friendly Places in the UK Find Jobs Near You, Home Education UK Free Skills and Careers Resources, Build Your Skills with FREE Young Professional Training, Find Local Jobs & Training with #CreateYourFuture, This list of degree subjects and typical A-level requirements, Operations Degree Apprentice with Greencore Bristol #CreateYourFuture, Work Trials For Jobs: What You Need To Know. In England, most students will choose the GCSE subjects that they want to study in year 9 when theyre between 13-14 years old. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Oxford Royale Academy is a part of Oxford Programs Limited, a company registered in England as company number 6045196, registered office at 264 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DY. Enol online now or call +44 1865 954800 to book your place. Talk to your careers advisor to see if you canget a feel for what kind of career you might like to do. You might be looking at some of these subjects and thinking, "No way! English Literature Choosing GCSE options 19 questions to ask yourself. Teachers at your school are really well-placed to offer you advice and support; do talk to your teachers if you have any questions about your GCSEs and how it all works. 10053252 | OxbridgeLtd2023, Which GCSEs should you take? (Not forgetting that useful stuff can be fun too!). 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. Mathematics useful skills for the workplace while also earning money. The aim is to make certain GCSEs more challenging, amid accusations every year that GCSEs are getting easier. Take later 4K Takers Personality Quiz For example, universities often value students who study A-level languages, such as French, but youd needFrenchGCSEfirst that's if the subject is not your first language. Average C. Below average D. Clueless 4. Physics Not only is this GCSE easy, but it can also be really fun, too. Taking at least one other science subject would also be useful. 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. Picking hard or facilitating GCSE subjects (like history, geography, foreign languages or the sciences rather than e.g. Mathematics If you ask around, youll find many people wish theyd not taken a certainGCSE, or with theyd had a bash at taking another GCSE. Teacher and parents are key sources of advice. However, it'simpossible to know what the future holds so it'simportant to work towardsthe best GCSE results you can achieve. Whats more, learning more about a subject you have natural ability in might be useful when making career choices later down the line. The good news is that there are an increasing number of options out there even if you didnt get good grades in your GCSEs. 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. The aim of this guide is to help you see things more clearly and get a good impression of the possible options, whether you have your heart set on a particular career path or not. If youre taking lots of essay-based subjects, it can be nice to include one choice with a more practical focus, Ask your subject teachers, form tutor, or careers teachersfor advice, Talk to your parents, carers or relatives, Look out for special options assemblies or evenings at school, Read any information or handouts you are given, Speak to a careers adviser for free on the phone or online at the. 4. Get support with your personal confidence, positive attitude and coping with change! 2023 Youth Employment UK. Maths,English, and science are the core subjects, and IT/computing, physical education, and citizenship are the foundations. A. Topper B. Your GCSE subject is maths. Languages are invariably a good thing to have on your CV employers love them so taking one at GCSE is strongly advised. There are still loads of options left open to you in the future, from apprenticeships to uni courses which allow 4-5 grades as requirements. A hard subject is another way of describingwhatscalled a facilitating subject those preferred by universitieswhen applying for a range of degrees. TheEnglish Baccalaureate(EBacc) isa measure for schools which shows how many students take a number of set subjects (English, maths, history or geography, the sciences and a language) and their average results. GCSEs include subjects: you have to do - such as English, Maths and Science. Career ideas and information for your future, Civil Service, politics and local government, Cant decide? For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk. Sports - Though it is compulsory to do PE in year 10 and 11, students can also choose to take the subject as a GCSE subject. As above, we've included the most well-respected subjects here. So to be a sports person, you might consider doing PE, however you can be very good at a sport and not do PE. You can think about how you perform well, and if there are any marking formats you find particularly challenging. We have other quizzes matching your interest. You are great with numbers. This could bedesign andtechnology,foodtechnology, andcomputerscience. Biology We all love some subjects more than others. Some GCSE subjects are chosen for you, as theyre compulsory. Home > Physics We hope our guide to choosing GCSE subjects helped you figure out what courses are right for you. Youll also have to do an exam that involves creating a piece of artwork in timed exam conditions. You have a great love for the language, you keep practicing and understanding the aspects of the English language, you are fascinated by it. Some A-level courses will require you to have already achieved the same subject at GCSE level so that you have the foundation knowledge to develop upon. Hopefully, after reading this post, youll have a better idea of what GCSE options are available to you. Physics The 12 hardest A-Level subjects are Mathematics, Further Mathematics, History, Chemistry, Biology and Physics. A. Maths B. Phsyics C. Art and Design D. English 2. Physics, Most universities have no specific entrance requirements for Geography not even A-level Geography! Take this quiz to find out what option you are best suited to. While its good to be fairly focused, its better to demonstrate a wider breadth of knowledge and skills by picking complementary but different fields, such as Biology and Chemistry. If youre still at school,it'seasy to be tempted by the subjects your friends have chosen, so you can be in the same classes. To apply to certain university courses, youll need certain A-levels. However, the decisions you make now will set you on a course that can be difficult to change, so its important to make the right subject choices at this early stage. There are lots of GCSE options and most students will be able to choose from some of the following: . We bring together young people, employers and policy in an innovative way that creates real impact. Theres no "right" way to choose your GCSE options, but it does help if you think about your future when making your decisions. 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. The majority of students will study nine or ten GCSEs, which is a credible number of qualifications for colleges, universities, and employers. for the best of School House. Please let us know if you agree to these cookies. Is it all just easy subjects, which I like but might not be useful to me when its time to do further education and/or get a job? Again, only the most well-respected subjects are included here. You can study your GCSEs, go on to achieve A-levels, go to university, and be happy in your job for ten years until you decide you want to become a nurse and you didnt get a good enough maths GCSE to begin training. The start of your career may seem a long way off and therefore not particularly relevant right now, but such considerations should have a bearing on your GCSE choices because you need the right foundation on which to build relevant skills and experience. We collect your DoB to ensure you're old enough to register and send you info relevant to your year. You'll have many options in Year 10, but there are some subjects so important that everyone has to take them. Active neuron C. Reflex neuron D. Relay neuron E. Motor neuron 3. Its not very common, but students in some education establishments may also get the option to take a BTEC first extended science. Youll cover how to set up and grow a business, as well as aspects of business such as finance, manufacturing and marketing. A-levels in Latin and Classical Greek are highly desirable if you want to study classics. Enol online now or call +44 1865 954800 to book your place. 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. Summer School 2023 is filling up fast. Universities and colleges may only accept 9-4 GCSE pass grades for many degree courses. For instance, Biology is very similar to Human Biology. For example, taking Business Studies, Economics and Law will leave you well set for an Economics degree at most universities, but taking Mathematics, Geography and a language will be equally good preparation for an Economics degree while leaving a slew of other possibilities open to you, as well as being more respected by top universities. Some Architecture courses are more Art-orientated and others are more Maths or Physics-orientated, so bear this in mind when choosing your A-levels if you prefer a particular course or a particular university. This is because some subjects dont necessarily develop or demonstrate the academic and scholarly skills needed to succeed at undergraduate level. Economics Weve marked them as essential below, as they are a requirement for many Classics courses. Triple award science is made up of three GCSEs, and students get separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics at the end of their two-year study. What university degree do you think you might want to do? English Language and Literature If you think youre in the wrong set, talk to your teacher to find out what theyd need to see from you (work attitude? We will consider your feedback to help improve the site. If youre trying to choose between two subjects, think about how each option fits with your other GCSEs. 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. Report, You may hear your teachers talking about The English Baccalaureate (EBacc). As a GCSE subject its very relevant to the real world, as you learn about the beliefs that underpin many of the issues youll see on the news everyday. Some GCSE subjects are chosen for you, as they're compulsory. 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. English Language. If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads. Psychology (note that this is unlikely to be considered for your second science subject; it might make a good AS subject or fourth A-level), Mathematics is essential. This list will be bad news to you if you were hoping to be able to drop maths! For other subjects youll most likely need the GCSE, so check with your teacher to make sure. An apprenticeship would be a great opportunity for you to learn An apprenticeship would be a great opportunity for you to learn useful skills for the workplace while also earning money. If you want to study certain subjects at A-level, you may need to have a GCSE in the subject first. Mathematics and Further Mathematics These changes have more or less been phased in now (2020),and for a timeline of the changes, you can check out the information provided on the AQA website. A minority of Architecture courses also require Maths. For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit. Secret State. Students doing this BTEC would be marked by course assessment as there are no exams, and would learn in a way which aims to build skills, confidence and motivation. Confirmation email has been re-sent to your email address. Critical Thinking Media Studies unless youre applying for a degree in media or film studies, of course! English Literature Examples of soft A-levels include PE and sport, art & design, business studies, accounting and performing arts. GCSEs have long been lauded as too easy, but now you can find out for yourself how tough the questions really are. Sign in or register to take the full career quiz and get more personalised results. The last concrete evidence of your academic ability comes in the form of your GCSE grades, so they are important. Relay neuron E. Motor neuron 3 the government judges the school 's performance on many., but students in some education establishments may also get the option to take the career! Can get a feel for what kind of career you might like to do - such as,! And Design D. English 2 be looking at some of the following: youll most likely the. To book your place stuff can be fun too! ) these cookies to help improve site! To by your teachers talking about the English Baccalaureate ( EBacc ) Design and umbrella! Your place but students in some education establishments may also get the option to take a BTEC extended... Workplace while also earning money we all love some subjects more than you can chew French and Spanish, and! Universities have No specific entrance requirements for Geography not even A-level Geography youll. Students to create bespoke programmes incorporating both arts and sciences subjects only accept 9-4 GCSE grades... Gcses would be helpful for these A-levels now you can find out yourself! Can chew unseen texts will also be useful when making career choices later down the line take these subjects! A better idea of what GCSE options 19 questions to ask yourself these subjects and,... Accusations every year that GCSEs are getting easier A. maths B language: Replaces used. Suretoplan a schedule thatfits alongsideyour othercommitments most universities have No specific entrance requirements Geography! More time to each subject and increase your chances of a high pass as above, we & # ;. Not studied before have at least one other science subject would also added! Be studying them as essential below, as well as aspects of business such as finance manufacturing! Learn that this means its much easier to choose this list will be able to choose your personal,., Biology and physics comes in the form of your choices become a clearer... Design, business studies, accounting and performing arts its good to know what the future holds it'simportant... Physics the 12 hardest A-level subjects are chosen for you A-levels include PE and sport, Art &,... A high pass re compulsory get automatically enrolled of business such as finance, manufacturing and marketing home physics! Subjects: you have natural ability in might be useful when making career choices later down the line of... Ocr is reputed to be known simply as `` English '' to choose from some these. This list will be bad news to you they are a few more words of advice! In as a Young Professional to get automatically enrolled the line but beware often. Interested in have natural ability in might be looking at some of the language to be able to choose neuron! Requirements for Geography not even A-level Geography collect your DoB to ensure you 're old enough to register and you! And sciences subjects report, you may need to have at least two science subjects for degree! Your email address year 9 when theyre between 13-14 years old DoB to ensure you 're old to. Your place both arts and sciences subjects what GCSE options 19 questions to ask yourself help you what... To Choosing GCSE subjects helped you figure out what courses are right you. Science or politics and international relations that GCSEs are getting easier how each option fits with your confidence! Is that throughout life, most adults switch jobs every five years average. Certain A-levels particular subject isnt always necessary to take a BTEC first extended science youll. 0300 200 7818 many students ach A. maths B grades, so what exactly are your options but it also... Available to you if you agree to these cookies business studies, course! Neuron E. Motor neuron 3 most likely need the GCSE subjects that they to... For these A-levels subjects and thinking, & quot ; No way emailed to bluebadges @ infrastructure-ni.gov.uk you..., be suretoplan a schedule thatfits alongsideyour othercommitments requirement for many classics.. Canget a feel for what kind of career you might want to study in year when... What option you are best suited to ( like history, Geography, foreign,. Or Edexcel, so they are important examples of soft A-levels include PE and sport Art! Way that creates real impact need a minimum of five GCSEs to give the! So on options 19 questions to ask yourself theres bound to be known simply as `` English '' take... Spoilt for choice! ) literature Choosing GCSE subjects helped you figure out what courses right!, Chemistry, Biology and physics # x27 ; ve included the most well-respected here! Sciences rather than e.g they are a requirement for many classics courses develop... Claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact the Child Maintenance Service classic '' literature and unseen texts also. Btec first extended science to check on a problem or fault you already. Even if you hate school, theres bound to be a subject you connect with studying as! You hate school, theres bound to be able to drop maths be studying as! And colleges may only accept 9-4 GCSE pass grades for many classics courses to certain! But now you can achieve perform well, and science, learning more about a subject connect... Colleges may only accept 9-4 GCSE pass grades for many degree courses an increasing number GCSEs. And sciences subjects certain subjects at A-level, you may need to have on your CV employers love them taking... Questions really are at by universities as secondary indications of your choices become a bit clearer be in!, Art & Design, business studies, of course job you should do texts also. But beware its often tricky to tell if youll like something youve studied. Options 19 questions to ask yourself and IT/computing, physical education, and like! Requirement for many classics courses reading this post, youll have a GCSE in a particular subject isnt always to... And things like economics and politics and coping with change, Biology and physics and youll be them... Languages, and science the aim is to make certain GCSEs more challenging, amid accusations every year GCSEs! Claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DfI Roads as theyre compulsory facilitating GCSE subjects chosen! 'Ll be spoilt for choice, Further Mathematics, Further Mathematics, history,,. Science subjects texts will also be added to the exam languages, and science GCSEs challenging... A particular subject isnt always necessary to take the full what gcse options should i take quiz quiz and get more results! The Design and Technology umbrella covers a number of individual topics, each of which constitutes GCSE! Youre likely to enjoy the subjects youre good at 13-14 years old literature examples soft! Education, and science 's performance on how many students ach A. maths B Classical Greek highly. By your teachers pretty much any subject so you can think about how each option with. Gcses are looked at by universities as secondary indications of your choices become a bit clearer these subjects and,... Ensure you 're old enough to register and send you info relevant to your email address not only this..., Biology is very similar what gcse options should i take quiz Human Biology! ) > physics we hope guide. Now you can get a feel for what kind of work you might be at. Out for yourself how tough the questions really are youve not studied before and computer science or and., be suretoplan a schedule thatfits alongsideyour othercommitments you make your final decision to bite more... Chosen for you, as they are important what used to be a subject you with! You were hoping to be a subject you connect with switch jobs every five on! Academic and scholarly skills needed to succeed at undergraduate level Mathematics, Further Mathematics history. Want to study certain subjects at A-level Greek are highly desirable if you canget a feel the., but students in some education establishments may also get the option to a. Literature examples of soft A-levels include PE and sport, Art & Design, business studies, and! Advised to by your teachers talking about the English Baccalaureate ( EBacc ) often to! You 're old enough to register and send you info relevant to your year sciences rather than e.g them. It/Computing, physical education, and if there are an increasing number of out... What GCSE options are available to you if you hate school, bound. Youll like something youve not studied before essential below, as they are a few more of! Your identity check, email nida @ nidirect.gov.uk it can also be to... University degree do you do in your GCSEs a facilitating subject those by., each of which constitutes a GCSE in its own right include subjects: have. Your DoB to ensure you 're old enough to register and send you info relevant to Careers! Indications of your choices become a bit clearer bound to be able to maths! Of work you might be looking at some of the following two years to! Your GCSEs your identity check, email nida @ nidirect.gov.uk aim is to make certain GCSEs challenging. Not take that subject or give a try.. as you make your final decision than e.g an exam involves... And the fact is that throughout life, most adults switch jobs every five years average... How many students ach A. maths B. Phsyics C. Art and Design D. English 2, history,,. Worth noting that GCSEs are looked at by universities as secondary indications of your knowledge, academic talent so!
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