Choosing Your GCSEs

Choosing your GCSEs

Choosing your GCSEs can seem like a big decision and the next two years will be interesting and challenging.

Before you choose your GCSEs seek advice from a range of people such as subject and form teachers, the Careers Adviser, and parents/guardians. You might also talk to older students who have recently studied these subjects.

Ultimately, though, these people can only offer you advice. Remember that it is you who will study the subjects that you will choose, so make sure that the final decisions are yours.

Which GCSEs should I choose?

This is a difficult question, and really one that is down to a combination of things, including your school’s selection of subjects, your own interests and your plans for the future (if you know them already!)

Your school’s selection of GCSE subjects

Obviously, you can only choose the subjects that your school has to offer. Before you make any steps, you should look at the school’s option booklets to see what is available. This will also give you an overview of each of the subjects and tell you which subjects are compulsory, and any limits to what you are allowed to take.

Year 9 Options - The Westwood Academy

*Remember, there are some subjects that you can still take at ‘A’ level even if you have not studied them at GCSE. These include Psychology and Business.

Your plans for the future

Though your career may seem a long way off, it’s important to start thinking about what you may wish to do when you’re older. Start thinking about after your GCSEs – what you might want to study or work as? Then work backwards to consider which GCSEs may be helpful in creating the right foundation for your future plans.

Prospects Career Quiz might be a good place to get some inspiration (register for a free account)

 Career Planner | What job should I do? | Prospects.ac.uk

Future careers may not yet be at the front of your mind; however you should still be selecting GCSE subjects that will keep open as many possibilities for your future as you can.

Essential advice about choosing GCSEs

1. Enjoyment: Choose subjects you think you will enjoy. This means researching content closely and asking teachers and others who know you well for advice.

2. Aptitude: Choose subjects which you think you will be good at - you will be more likely to enjoy them as well. Think about why you might enjoy subjects and how committed you feel – e.g., drama: have you enjoyed performing previously? Do you like working collaboratively? Are you committed enough to rehearse for GCSE performance work in the evenings and maybe at weekends?

3. Prospects: Think seriously about future ambitions. If you already have a university course in mind, check entry requirements for specific courses at university and work back from there.

4. Balance: If you have no idea what you want to do in the future make sure that your options provide a broad and balanced programme.

5. Independence: Don’t choose on the basis of what friends are doing or on the basis of favourite teachers. Make your own decisions.

GOOD Reasons to Choose a GCSE option subject.

• You like it or find it interesting
• You’re good at it
• You need it or it’s useful for your future career
• Your teachers think it is a suitable choice for you
• It will combine well with other options and help your general education
• You like the method of assessment and learning

BAD Reasons to Choose a GCSE option subject.

• Your friends are doing it
• You think you should do it – even if you don’t want to
• You can’t think of anything else to choose
• You think it will be easy
• It sounds good even though you haven’t found out about it
• You really like the teacher you’ve got now

Resources to help.

Icould   https://icould.com/stories/choosing-your-gcse-options/

Career pilot https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/gcses/choosing-your-gcses

BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrjh92p

Look at the school Options booklet carefully. There may be limits to which subjects you can do.

Remember! You can talk to your teachers or contact the school’s careers advisor Mrs Florance s.florance@twa.kmat.org.uk - or the KMAT Careers Lead Mrs. Linsell s.linsell@KMAT.org.uk  if you need help.

I really can’t decide!

Try making a table of all the subjects and categorise them into ‘Yes’, ‘No’ and ‘Maybe’.

Then remove the extremes, rate your options and consider the mix of subjects. This will help you narrow it down.