Dropping a GCSE in year 11?

I made the stupidest choice ever in year 9. i'm REALLY struggling with one of my subjects and i've asked my school if i can change to another (which i know for sure i can catch up in - i took a past paper online and got a high A in the new subject.)

Anyway, my school have told me that there is no way I’d be allowed to change, but can take the subject I’d like to do privately. Honestly, this just isn’t good enough. Everytime I think of going into the lessons for the subject I’m doing now, it just fills me with dread. I actually cannot stand this subject and don’t know why I made such a ridiculous decision.

I even showed them the past paper I took online compared to last years end of year exam in the subject I currently do (which I got a C/D in – barely.)

I’ve asked if I can drop the subject on the condition that I take up the other one privately as that would mean I still leave the school with the same number of gcse’s as the rest of my year. But they still said no. They haven't given me any reasons or anything - just a no. I keep hearing the phrase ‘in your best interest’s’ being thrown around but just looking at these grades it clearly isn’t!

I really need to be get rid of this subject but I have no idea how! please help me?

and for anyone who's gonna tell me there's only two terms left and to stick it out. i really can't. that's what i did all through year 10 and i'm just fed up now. i've been working like crazy and to see that i just about average a D is really upsetting. my teacher has given up on me and the rest of the class are miles ahead. i've asked for extra support from my school but none has been offered and I can’t afford a private tutor. I really don’t know what else to do to convince them. please help!

sorry for the long post.

Reply 1

Jinxy

17

what subject and what subject do you want to swap it for?

Reply 2

DarkWhite

17

Out of curiosity, what is the subject?

If all else fails, you could just not turn up to the exams; it wouldn't appear on your certificate then, so it would be like you never took it. In lessons just sit there with your iPod on or do work for another lesson, or just refuse to turn up (not that I condone doing something to get your into trouble...)

The school have paid to enter you into the exam, and if there's a chance you'll get a C in the subject, then that's another alright garde for their A*-C statistics...

Reply 3

Jinxy

17

I felt the same about German and ended up coming out with a C. You may surprise yourself.

Reply 4

Shiny Dirt

9

if you can't manage gcses, good luck for a-levels.

Reply 5

maxfire

14

Just put up with it. Everyone has stuff we don't want to do. It's only a GCSE.

Reply 6

username186742

I was like this with French, I simply hated it. I just told my school I would not be sitting the exam and if they'd still like to enter me go ahead but I wouldn't do it. They still entered me for it but I didn't turn up to the lessons or the exam.

Reply 7

<3 biology!

6

You have still got a year to change your grade you know. What subject is it?

Reply 8

letsdothetimewarpagain

19

Talk to your school and ask them to withdraw you from the GCSE you are currently doing and then ask to be entered privately for the other. Prehaps get your parents involved but like you've said it is only another 2 and a bit terms, which is also plenty of time for you to turn your grade around :yes:

Reply 9

letsallpaintthetownred

4

I had this for art.

Biggest waste of my time ever, I had no talent for it, and it was tons of work for what's considered a "soft subject".

Turns out the school gets tons of money for each student who takes a subject (I never knew this) so they weren't interested in mine or anyone else who tried to drop its best interests.

I had to have meetings with teachers, letters from parents and had to pay for a doctors note to say it was putting me under undue stress! (Btw didn't bribe my doc, it was like a prescription charge).

Reply 10

Maxine_johson

8

just drop it one gcse isnt worth it.... i dropped art and it was the best decision of my life...

Reply 11

Cupcakee

2

I felt the same with Spanish and got a B. I had no choice but to take another language as I took my GCSE in French a year early. Good luck whatever happens

Reply 12

Maxine_johson

8

letsallpaintthetownred

I had this for art.

Biggest waste of my time ever, I had no talent for it, and it was tons of work for what's considered a "soft subject".

Turns out the school gets tons of money for each student who takes a subject (I never knew this) so they weren't interested in mine or anyone else who tried to drop its best interests.

I had to have meetings with teachers, letters from parents and had to pay for a doctors note to say it was putting me under undue stress! (Btw didn't bribe my doc, it was like a prescription charge).

loooll i had the same problem except my teacher did the best he could to kick me out

Reply 13

theciz

1

Yeah, I dropped RE, but that wasn't because it was hard it was because it was boring and I could. :awesome:

When anyone asks my GCSE grades, they don't even notice I only did nine, heh heh heh. So, go for it! I don't think it puts you at a disadvantage, plus plenty of people in my year dropped certain subjects (although this was in 5th year and they were scallies... but still).

Reply 14

ByronicHero

20

just dont go to the lessons.

Reply 15

aimz666

paddy__power

just dont go to the lessons.

thats what id do

Reply 16

gerrybeth

I did this with French... and since year 7 i had really enjoyed it hence why i chose it in year 9 options. But a few months into year 11 exam stress got to me and i suffered from panic attacks due to the fact French is alot of work in different areas. So i just dropped it! It was also our headteacher that was teaching us french and she advised that it would benefit my general well being and i could always do it in the future if it was crucial to my career path. After that i was much more relaxed, really enjoyed my last year at school and the fact i had more time to concentrate on my other subjects meant i did really well in them.
It won't make a huge difference if you just drop the subject especially if it fills you with dread!

When you get to applying to uni, you realise that having a good set of say 10 gcse's is better than an alright set of 11.

I have 10 A*-B my headteacher personally wrote a letter to congratulate me :smile: