Does doing more subjects give you an advantage?

This year I'll be taking exams on 9 subjects, not including the Deutsches Sprachdiplom (but not a GCSE subject). I also took 2 other GCSEs earlier in y9 and y10.

I'm thinking of dropping a subject, which will give 8 subjects if I do... good idea or no? I'm worried that it might be too little, especially because I heard that universities look to see if you're able to handle x amount of subjects and get at least an A in 1 year?

Reply 1

A Rolling Stone

20

Original post by rscuddy

This year I'll be taking exams on 9 subjects, not including the Deutsches Sprachdiplom (but not a GCSE subject). I also took 2 other GCSEs earlier in y9 and y10.

I'm thinking of dropping a subject, which will give 8 subjects if I do... good idea or no? I'm worried that it might be too little, especially because I heard that universities look to see if you're able to handle x amount of subjects and get at least an A in 1 year?

i think it will be fine as you've already done 2 GCSEs earlier (did you get good grades in them?) unless you are applying to Oxbridge, Imperial or LSE.

Reply 2

surendrarana

2

I suppose the answer is yes and no?

I mean, the thing is, when an employer or anyone wants to look at your qualifications, you'll look a LOT better when you do like 8 or 9 subjects and have Grade 7 / A all the way to a Grade 8 or 9 / A* instead of taking a whole range of subjects, but only having C's.

I'm pretty sure that you'll need like 5 GCSE's minimum (C or above, or whatever's the equivalent) for a decent job, but if you're going to aim higher (rock on) then yeah, try to be a specialist would be my advice.

Make sure your qualifications are something you're proud of and try to aim high. Getting high grades, but only taking 8 or so GCSE's is entirely enough for almost all careers in the future. While universities may care about how many subjects you have specialised in they'll probably put a lot more emphasis on the grades you need (they ask you for them in A-level apparently). taking less would also decrease your workload, and so you can focus more on the subjects you want and/or need.

A GCSE Year 10 student. (Good luck for your GCSE's too!)

Reply 3

rscuddy

OP

5

Original post by CollectiveSoul

i think it will be fine as you've already done 2 GCSEs earlier (did you get good grades in them?) unless you are applying to Oxbridge, Imperial or LSE.

Thanks! I got A and A* in the two subjects. unfortunately I am thinking of applying to Oxbridge in the future :")

Reply 4

rscuddy

OP

5

Original post by surendrarana

I suppose the answer is yes and no?

I mean, the thing is, when an employer or anyone wants to look at your qualifications, you'll look a LOT better when you do like 8 or 9 subjects and have Grade 7 / A all the way to a Grade 8 or 9 / A* instead of taking a whole range of subjects, but only having C's.

I'm pretty sure that you'll need like 5 GCSE's minimum (C or above, or whatever's the equivalent) for a decent job, but if you're going to aim higher (rock on) then yeah, try to be a specialist would be my advice.

Make sure your qualifications are something you're proud of and try to aim high. Getting high grades, but only taking 8 or so GCSE's is entirely enough for almost all careers in the future. While universities may care about how many subjects you have specialised in they'll probably put a lot more emphasis on the grades you need (they ask you for them in A-level apparently). taking less would also decrease your workload, and so you can focus more on the subjects you want and/or need.

A GCSE Year 10 student. (Good luck for your GCSE's too!)

Thanks

That's what I thought as well. I don't think I'll get bad grades, necessarily, but I don't want to mar it with a B or a C if I keep on with the subject.

Good luck on your exams as well!

Reply 5

username3412528

8

Honestly I would say GCSEs aren't a massive deal, even if it doesn't feel like it now. A Levels are a lot more important and as long as you are doing the GCSEs that will allow you to do the A Level subjects you want to do, it doesn't really matter how many GCSEs you do. Yes ultimately you want to try and get the best grades possible but it is not the end of the world if you don't do as well as expected, once you get to A Level you will look back and realise that there was no need to worry about GCSEs and then the same will happen when you get to uni. When applying for uni, your A Level grades are the most important thing, not your GCSEs.