Do GCSEs actually matter ?

For getting into your a level courses (and Oxford), GCSEs matter. Apart from that, no. Your life will almost definitely not be over if you screw them up. In fact, it's a good learning curve to bounce back from.

Reply 121

MichaelTownly

13

The cringe is strong with some of the replies.

Reply 122

MichaelTownly

13

Too many people here answered with speculations instead of facts. Obviously, when you apply for universities you should have sensible GCSE grades but A Levels and the interview are the decisive factors. For college applications, you only need to have good behaviour and meet your course requirements.

Reply 123

ThePootisPower

10

*deep breath*

YES!

If you've got bad GCSE's you'll struggle to get into your preferred Sixth Forms and Colleges, and they will plague you for the rest of your life as they'll always turn up in your job applications and CVs.

Treat them seriously and do your best. They won't be the hardest thing you'll ever face but they're still incredibly important.

Reply 124

MichaelTownly

13

Schools and teachers put so much emphasis on GCSEs because your results ultimately benefit them as your good grades make them look good.

Reply 125

MichaelTownly

13

Original post by ThePootisPower

*deep breath*

YES!

If you've got bad GCSE's you'll struggle to get into your preferred Sixth Forms and Colleges, and they will plague you for the rest of your life as they'll always turn up in your job applications and CVs.

Treat them seriously and do your best. They won't be the hardest thing you'll ever face but they're still incredibly important.

Can't tell if you are trolling or not

Reply 126

ThePootisPower

10

Original post by MichaelTownly

Can't tell if you are trolling or not

Can't tell if you have brain cells or not.

I've heard stories from people in my school's learning support who were struggling to get better jobs because while they had good qualifications from A-level onwards, their GCSEs, which act as a foundation for your CV, were not high quality.

Reply 127

MichaelTownly

13

Original post by ThePootisPower

Can't tell if you have brain cells or not.

I've heard stories from people in my school's learning support who were struggling to get better jobs because while they had good qualifications from A-level onwards, their GCSEs, which act as a foundation for your CV, were not high quality.

Nice insult btw, it shows that you are really offended. It is definitely a respectable thing to do by a "respected member" of this community.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 128

MichaelTownly

13

Original post by ThePootisPower

Can't tell if you have brain cells or not.

I've heard stories from people in my school's learning support who were struggling to get better jobs because while they had good qualifications from A-level onwards, their GCSEs, which act as a foundation for your CV, were not high quality.

What you are saying is just so convincing when you use words like "stories", "better", "good" and "bad" which hardly suggest anything.

Reply 129

ThePootisPower

10

I've literally seen my best mates lose out on going to the sixthform they wanted to because their grades in certain subjects weren't good enough. Do you really think teachers are emphasising the importance of GCSEs just to look good to their boss? It's so you don't irreparably screw up your education - though I have a feeling educating you is a lost cause.

Reply 130

MichaelTownly

13

Original post by ThePootisPower

I've literally seen my best mates lose out on going to the sixthform they wanted to because their grades in certain subjects weren't good enough. Do you really think teachers are emphasising the importance of GCSEs just to look good to their boss? It's so you don't irreparably screw up your education - though I have a feeling educating you is a lost cause.

I never disagreed that sixth forms care about GCSEs.

Reply 131

MichaelTownly

13

Original post by ThePootisPower

I've literally seen my best mates lose out on going to the sixthform they wanted to because their grades in certain subjects weren't good enough. Do you really think teachers are emphasising the importance of GCSEs just to look good to their boss? It's so you don't irreparably screw up your education - though I have a feeling educating you is a lost cause.

Hehe, I know that teachers care about my education, but they put "SO MUCH " emphasis is due to the fact that their student's GCSE results ultimately determine the fate of their school. This is even more evident in optional subjects in which some teachers care more about their students' grades than the students themselves, despite that optional GCSEs often don't matter that much,

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 132

MichaelTownly

13

To be fair, chatting with you is a lost cause since your most recent reply doesn't quite say anything that I disagree with. You are getting emotional so I advise you to calm down. You really love the strawman, don't you?

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 133

MichaelTownly

13

In order to avoid future straws and confusion, I clarify that yes, six forms care about your GCSEs, and that although schools and teachers do care about their student's education, they often misrepresent the importance of GCSEs to encourage their students to do better. However, bad students won't care anyway and good students will over-stress.

Reply 134

MichaelTownly

13

By the way, you know who you should ignore when someone relies heavily on insults and emotion.

Reply 135

ArghhhNo

11

It does matter, when I was a 16 year old I was predicted high grades.
I already had my path in mind(British Army)
I didn’t revise much and although I got a pass in maths (D) it never affected me and in life Ive been pretty successful.
But I’m now in my late 30’s and having a career change which involves me need to apply for uni.
That D has stopped me from applying as you need 5 A-C grades which must inc Math,Science and English.
I’m now retaking it, I have a mortgage, family and a job to work round to do so.
So my advice is this, it may not affect your choice for career but you never know where life my take you. So work hard now, get the grades while you have very little to worry about and have NO REGRETS!

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 136

Cam3r0n

13

Put in maximum effort and keep your options open, that's all I'm going to say.

Reply 137

bambs123

4

Yes yes yesss, I really regret not taking mine seriously because although mine were not horrendous (3As, 7Bs) they did cost me a university offer last year at one of my top choices. I never thought I’d need them but honestly you’ll never know who will ask for them so it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry. Also, you’re only in year 10! Don’t stress, as long as you keep doing small but consistent amounts of work leading up till GCSEs then you’ll find the bulkier revision around March time will be a lottt easier

Reply 138

MichaelTownly

13

Original post by bambs123

Yes yes yesss, I really regret not taking mine seriously because although mine were not horrendous (3As, 7Bs) they did cost me a university offer last year at one of my top choices. I never thought I’d need them but honestly you’ll never know who will ask for them so it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry. Also, you’re only in year 10! Don’t stress, as long as you keep doing small but consistent amounts of work leading up till GCSEs then you’ll find the bulkier revision around March time will be a lottt easier