Help With GCSE Options!

Discussion and advice on GCSEs

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basicbob
Posts: 41
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 10:26 am

Help With GCSE Options!

Post by basicbob »

Hi,

I would appreciate your thoughts on a dilema we have.

Son goes to a good state school and the following are compulsory:

Maths
English
English Literature
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Philosophy and Ethics

He need to choose 4 more which seems like a lot of gcse's.

1 He enjoys History
2 He enjoys Geography
3 He like IT but not sure whether to take ICT or Computer Science?????
4 Last one is a problem as he hates launguages but he's thinking either Drama or Music Technoloy. The reason being all kids who took Music Technology over the last 2 years passed with a B (so he kind of thinking it's a good bet). Drama because again 50% all kids got either an A* or A). He does enjoy both subjects.

Any thoughts on 3 or 4?

Are there any subjects above that will take up a lot of time?

Also he passed Religious Studies with an A last year.

Thanks in advance.
modernista
Posts: 302
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:03 pm

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by modernista »

I personally think RS and Philosophy is repetitive unless he plans to carry on at A levels. What are your other choices?
new2me
Posts: 162
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:52 pm

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by new2me »

My own DS is taking History, Geography and Computer Science along with a language and is wishing he'd included a creative subject in the mix. A school trip to Iceland prompted him to take Geography, a subject he finds a little dull. He thinks either drama or music would have been more enjoyable.
basicbob
Posts: 41
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 10:26 am

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by basicbob »

How does you son get on with Computer Science?

Is there a subject that takes up a disproportionate amount of time?
tiffinboys
Posts: 8022
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Surrey

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by tiffinboys »

Any views on DT Graphics?
basicbob
Posts: 41
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 10:26 am

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by basicbob »

Very bad with anything to do with drawing or design by his own admission he's glad he can drop subjects he's not good at.
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by Guest55 »

Have you got a free choice or are there 'blocks' to choose from?

Computer Science rather than ICT (not highly regarded)
DC17C
Posts: 1197
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:34 pm

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by DC17C »

I believe the Computing/ computer science GCSE is some what more challenging and better regarded than the ICT GCSE.

We have had similar dilemmas but DD can only choose 3 extra GCSE's and wants to do computing but then has had to choose between history and french ( history has won) and has one block where the only thing she wants to do is graphic design ..but luckily she loves drawing and art so that will work.
This is a link to my thread from a few weeks ago
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 56&t=40972" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
scary mum
Posts: 8841
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:45 pm

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by scary mum »

Computer science is considered a better subject than IT. I would say go with whichever he fancies for music tech or drama - it's good to have somethign creative & he has plenty of other academically rigorous GCSEs.
scary mum
new2me
Posts: 162
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:52 pm

Re: Help With GCSE Options!

Post by new2me »

DS is enjoying computer science. He is a logical thinker so finds it interesting but not overly challenging. There are sometimes issues with pace, easy example in class then significantly more complicated homework to do with very little guidance. So far he hasn't been inspired to do a stroke of work more than he has to, although he says some of the boys in his class are very keen.
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