11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi there, Ive been a 'browser' for ages now and have just plucked up the courage to register and post. I am a mother of 1 so everything i face i do as a '1st timer' and therefore would be grateful for any advice. Can anyone explain the GSCE options to a student in year 9 - how many subjects can they choose, what they can and cant 'drop' and how many GSCE's they actually take. My child is currently in a Bucks Grammar. Thank You

11plusaddict wrote:Hi there, Ive been a 'browser' for ages now and have just plucked up the courage to register and post. I am a mother of 1 so everything i face i do as a '1st timer' and therefore would be grateful for any advice. Can anyone explain the GSCE options to a student in year 9 - how many subjects can they choose, what they can and cant 'drop' and how many GSCE's they actually take. My child is currently in a Bucks Grammar. Thank You

They normally take between 9 and 11 GCSE subjects in grammar schools, and some do more depending on things like the timetable and their own interests and capabilities. The core subjects are English Lang and Lit, Maths, Religious Education and the Sciences, which together account for 6 or 7 passes, depending on whether they do double science (counts as two subjects) or Physics, Chemistry and Biology separately. Some schools are stricter than others about which subjects they want to make compulsory in addition though, and most grammar schools would also include one modern language as a core subject.

RE can be done as a half GCSE, as can IT if required, and these are sometimes taken at the end of Year 10, giving a bit more leeway in Year 11.
The kids would then be offered a choice of one further GCSE from each of two or three groups, so adding History/Geog, a further modern or classical language, and Art/Music/Design Technology to get to their final total.

Hope this helps, but each school is different in what they offer.

Hi 11plus addict!

Welcome!

Bucks Grammars vary more than you would imagine! Some don't block and get the children to chose and then block around the choices. Any Science specialist school will offer 3 separate sciences - you will usually get a booklet home describing the choices.

Look on the school's website - many still have last year's options booklet available - I certainly felt we were given plenty of useful advice on choices.

KES Parent wrote:
Hope this helps, but each school is different in what they offer.

And in my experience schools change in what they offer from year to year as well - my three (youngest now in Yr 10) have all had different combinations of compulsory and optional subjects, the youngest being the only one to have the triple science option and to be doing some sujects early...

Many thanks for your replies - i will try the schools website and wait for the open evening which i am sure will be imminant.