Choosing My Options
Making choices
You'll have many options in Year 9, but there are some subjects so important that everyone has to take them. English, Maths and Science are the subjects most often required for courses and careers. Doing as well as you possibly can in Maths and English will improve your chances of getting a job or course at a later stage.
For subjects you can choose you should:
- make sure that you have accurate and up-to-date information
- talk to those who can give you good reliable advice such as your careers teacher/adviser
- discuss the options with your family and subject teachers
There are a number of factors you should consider when you make your subject choic
Choosing the subjects, you need.
If you know what career you want, choosing the right subjects can be critical. For example, if you are considering following a science pathway you will need at least double award science.
Choosing the subject you like and are good at.
Nearly everyone gets better marks in subjects they enjoy and are good at. You should take this into account, but always keep in mind your preferred course or career when you leave school
What to avoid
You shouldn’t choose subjects for the wrong reasons, for example:
- you like the teacher – the teacher may change
- there isn’t much homework – that will change
- your friends are taking the subject – it might be right for them, but not for you.
- You think they are ‘girl or boy’ subjects there is no such thing all subjects are for everyone.
Interests and aptitude
You may already know what you hope to do after your GCSEs. Although it may be too early to make final career decisions, you may have an idea of the broad area, which interests you, for example, clerical, active, social, practical, scientific or artistic for example. Some subjects may be more relevant to one area than to another.
How will GCSEs affect my future studies?
GCSEs can determine the sixth form you go to
Entry requirements for school and college sixth forms vary – ranging from four to five C grades (that's between a 4 and 5 under the changed GCSE grading system), with perhaps Bs in the subjects you want to study, through to at least six GCSEs at grade A for the most selective colleges.
Your GCSE performance is usually a good indicator of how well you’ll do in A-level or other advanced studies – in fact, it’s the only real hard-and-fast evidence of your academic abilities a college has to go on. Many sixth forms use a scoring system, based on GCSE grades, to predict how well you’re likely to do (and from that, decide whether or not to accept you).
For instance, five B grades (roughly 5 or 6) and five C grades (roughly 4 or 5) at GCSE could roughly translate to a predicted CCD at A-level, while straight A grades would suggest AAA is possible.
GCSEs can determine the qualifications you take next
Some sixth forms may say you can’t do a particular subject unless you’ve got at least a grade A (at least a 6 or 7) in that subject at GCSE.
If your grades are mostly Cs (4 ), studying A-levels or Advanced Highers could be off limits altogether; a sixth form may offer you a vocational (ie a more practical and hands-on) course such as a BTEC Level 3 qualification instead. Most universities accept Btec qualifications, by the way.
GCSEs could be used to assess eligibility for a uni course
Regardless of the subject you want to study, the majority of university courses look for at least a C grade in English, maths and perhaps science – that's grade 4 or 5 under the revised structure.
Some university courses go further and ask for specific subjects at GCSE, with certain grades, so check directly with universities if you're in doubt.
Don't let a disappointing GCSE performance put you off applying to the university course you really want, though – a good AS-level performance, for instance, could outweigh a set of weaker GCSE results, particularly if you expand on this in your personal statement.
But given recent A-level reforms, universities might use your GCSE grades more than before when deciding whether to accept you or not.
GCSEs may limit the universities you can apply to
Some of the top academic universities (often belonging to the Russell group) will ask for very high A-level grades – AAB or higher – for most courses.
Because of the assumed connection between your GCSE and A-level results, it'll be down to you to prove you’re able to achieve top grades. Grades B and C (or a 4 to 6) at GCSE are suggestive of Cs and Ds at A-level – which won't be enough to get into some universities.
The more competitive the university and course, the higher the number of high-achieving students with top GCSE marks applying. Some courses actively state this, like the University of Bath example above.
GCSEs can affect the career you end up doing
A career-related degree may also have subject-specific entry requirements:
- Engineering courses such as chemical engineering: you'll usually need A-levels or equivalent in chemistry and maths, and physics for other engineering courses, which in turn means you’ll need to have good GCSE grades in science and maths.
- Medicine: competitive courses like medicine may ask for a whole suite of good GCSEs. The University of Birmingham’s medical school, for example, specifies ‘normally, applicants must offer A* grades in each of English (either English Language or English Literature), mathematics and all science subjects. Integrated Science (double certificate) is acceptable as an alternative to single sciences. Overall GCSE performance will be considered.’
- Social work and secondary school teaching: these professions won’t consider you without at least a grade C (or 4 or 5) in maths and English language at GCSE.
- Nursing and primary school teaching: grade C (or 4 or 5) in GCSE English, maths and science.
And when it comes to employment right now – for that weekend job while you're doing your A-levels or a part-time job at uni – your academic grades will go on your CV, too.