Should I retake my GCSEs? It is worth it?

I am currently on my last year of college doing a National
Diploma in Business Level 3, and already accepted an offer to do Policing and Criminal Investigation at Staffordshire Uni and my insurance to do Criminology and Sociology at Chester University.

But is it worth it to retake my GCSES?
I messed up my GCSES and I was stupid and stressed, I got my english and mathsn (English lang C Maths B) and my double award in science (C/D) and the rest I got a D in. So i came out with 3 GCSEs.

I want to get 5 GCSES so I want to retake some and do Science tripple award which would give me 3 GCSE science but cancel out my double award if better grades were achieved and I need to do one more GCSE. Might retake Geopgraphy.

But I will be doing these at home/uni so it will have to be a distant learning course were I study myself then just apply and resit it myself no colllege/schoo, or anything.


But should I do this? I mean I already have a place at uni and have A level equivalent (my BTEC is equiv to 2 A* Alevels in Business of course. I mean I would like to come out with 5 GCSEs but is it worht all the effort especially I am going to uni this year and will need to study gcses through my first year of uni to be able to resirt them next year (2016).


Thanks

Hi

My gut instinct for this one is no. You've already got your place at university (congrats!!) so there's no real *need* to retake your GCSEs. There will never be a point in you life where someone's going to say in a job interview, "Well you've got your degree, which is all very well and good, but your GCSEs weren't up to scratch, therefore we're not gonna hire you." There's just no way. Plus, you passed the three main exams you need at GCSE, so from a job/educational perspective, I'd say there's no need.


I get the sense that you really want to do this for your own personal achievement. If it's something you really want to do and think you can cope with as well as your university course (which would need to be the priority), go for it. The only problem I can think of is finding a place to actually sit the exam. I've never been an external candidate so I don't know whether this would be something tricky to sort or not. I'm not like a careers adviser or something so I hope this is of some use to you?

Hi

Thanks for the reply I am skeptical about it too but would like 5 GCSEs just to increase my chance of emoyability. Some jobs askf for 5 GCSES minimum. but do they mean that if your higest qualification is GCSEs? As you can tell from my uni coruse Imy drea job is to joi the police which do not require anything.

I am currently on my last year of college doing a National
Diploma in Business Level 3, and already accepted an offer to do Policing and Criminal Investigation at Staffordshire Uni and my insurance to do Criminology and Sociology at Chester University.

But is it worth it to retake my GCSES?
I messed up my GCSES and I was stupid and stressed, I got my english and mathsn (English lang C Maths B) and my double award in science (C/D) and the rest I got a D in. So i came out with 3 GCSEs.

I want to get 5 GCSES so I want to retake some and do Science tripple award which would give me 3 GCSE science but cancel out my double award if better grades were achieved and I need to do one more GCSE. Might retake Geopgraphy.

But I will be doing these at home/uni so it will have to be a distant learning course were I study myself then just apply and resit it myself no colllege/schoo, or anything.


But should I do this? I mean I already have a place at uni and have A level equivalent (my BTEC is equiv to 2 A* Alevels in Business of course. I mean I would like to come out with 5 GCSEs but is it worht all the effort especially I am going to uni this year and will need to study gcses through my first year of uni to be able to resirt them next year (2016).


Thanks

I am currently on my last year of college doing a National
Diploma in Business Level 3, and already accepted an offer to do Policing and Criminal Investigation at Staffordshire Uni and my insurance to do Criminology and Sociology at Chester University.

But is it worth it to retake my GCSES?
I messed up my GCSES and I was stupid and stressed, I got my english and mathsn (English lang C Maths B) and my double award in science (C/D) and the rest I got a D in. So i came out with 3 GCSEs.

I want to get 5 GCSES so I want to retake some and do Science tripple award which would give me 3 GCSE science but cancel out my double award if better grades were achieved and I need to do one more GCSE. Might retake Geopgraphy.

But I will be doing these at home/uni so it will have to be a distant learning course were I study myself then just apply and resit it myself no colllege/schoo, or anything.


But should I do this? I mean I already have a place at uni and have A level equivalent (my BTEC is equiv to 2 A* Alevels in Business of course. I mean I would like to come out with 5 GCSEs but is it worht all the effort especially I am going to uni this year and will need to study gcses through my first year of uni to be able to resirt them next year (2016).


Thanks

Hey,

Congratulations on your offer - that's really exciting news. My name's Katie and I'm the official rep for Staffs uni on TSR so I thought I'd introduce myself. If you've got any questions about anything let me know.

I'd generally advise against taking on GCSEs while at university - you really need to make sure you focus on your course. It's a big step up in terms of workload, plus there's so much else going on in terms of socialising, extra activities etc. You'll want to be making the most out of your time at uni and really enjoy the experience.

Do you know what job you want to do after university?

Katie