GCSE Options

That's exactly what happened to me. I was so smart before I was in GCSE and did a mistake of taking really tough GCSE subjects liked the triple pure science and others 6 subjects that I thought I could do it only to end up failing almost every examination and I can't even drop any subjects (But I ended up getting 6-9 for all subjects in GCSE). So, my advise is take subjects that relates to what you want to do in the future or if you don't know what you want to do in the future, pick a subject that interest you or something easy that you can actually handle. If you want to a subject but think you can't handle it, just find a tutor or take extra classes.

"but most people say that once they start the proper GCSE work, it is really hard to keep up good grades" -- firstly, this isn't true so don't worry about that. There's not really a big leap in content apart from new subjects you take (like business / CompSci), it follows it's natural progression so you won't go from last Y9 maths lesson being easy to first Y10 lesson being hard - GCSE has a looot of recap and new topics are added in naturally rather than rushed in. Only GCSE's I see having big differences in content from pre-GCSE are History, languages and music.

Basically, you just want to choose GCSE's you enjoy and are good at. The subjects themselves don't matter (not for GCSE, for A-Levels yes somewhat) however you may want to choose ones which compliment your future A-Level aspirations, as well as ones which you just think are interesting. Only your maths, English and science will be looked at for university (and a language if you plan to go to UCL). Of course achieving a strong set of grades overall will help you compete in top universities (more specifically Oxford) and colleges, so that's very important - don't pick up a subject if you have a feeling you wont be good at it.

One tip, don't fall for EBACC - as a student that means nothing for you, and there are no benefits / extra qualifications of doing it. It is purely a way for schools to measure progress, but some staff will try to make it out as if it's going to help you in the future - it wont. But yeah man, there's really not much to say, it sounds like a big decision (and at your age it kind of is) but in the long run it's not really something people will look at. As soon as you earn a qualification above GCSE's (so Level 3 or above) then what you did at GCSE's pretty much becomes irrelevant (again, apart from Maths and English) in terms of getting a job.

I am currently a year 9 student. Next month, I will be choosing my GCSE subjects, but I'm really indecisive and can't choose. I study well and am in top sets for everything, but most people say that once they start the proper GCSE work, it is really hard to keep up good grades. I really want to do well and succeed, so I was wondering if any you could help me.

If you can, please could you share some tips about choosing GCSE subjects?

Try not to worry too much, for picking your subjects choose ones you enjoy. The jump in work difference to GCSE isn't really that different, in A levels it is a bit more, if you want, try choosing subjects that could lead to your A level choices and to what you want to do in life. Don't worry, you got this!

Firstly, what's EMBACC?
Ok, this is useful, my school doesn't have many subjects separate for GCSE - health and social is the only new one, I'm going to take.
Thanks so much for the advice!

The English Baccalaureate (EBACC) is a common set of GCSE's taken together which allows schools to compare the grades achieved on said GCSE's to indicate their performance with other schools. The reason it's a specific set of GCSE's is so you can compare them directly - i.e. you can compare 2 schools maths, or 2 schools history and so on.

The subjects are:
Maths, English, Science, humanities subject (History or Geography) and a language

The problem is is that many students are told to do this combination, yet are not good at humanities / languages or did not want to do humanities / languages (and do badly / struggle to do well) but are told it's "best for their future". This is not the case. Most schools have a humanities subject as required however languages aren't commonly forced, which is where many student complaints come from. Feel free to take this set of GCSE's if you want, there's certainly nothing wrong with it, but just know it's no different to any other combination, other than that the school can measure their progress easier by this model.

I'm thinking about taking History and Geography, but not a language - its too stressful. We haven't been told about EBACC at our school, but thanks for the heads up.

I'm thinking about taking History and Geography, but not a language - its too stressful. We haven't been told about EBACC at our school, but thanks for the heads up.

No worries man, and I saw you said you wanted to do A-Level sciences; I'd definitely go for triple science in that case. That should take up a slot too

Triple science isn't that much different from combined, apart from you get 3 separate GCSE's from it and there's a few more topics / practicals you have to do. And a few more freesciencelessons videos to watch

EBACC only benefits the school not you - no need to take a language. My tip is to read the specification so you know what you wil study and how you are assesed.

I am currently a year 9 student. Next month, I will be choosing my GCSE subjects, but I'm really indecisive and can't choose. I study well and am in top sets for everything, but most people say that once they start the proper GCSE work, it is really hard to keep up good grades. I really want to do well and succeed, so I was wondering if any you could help me.

If you can, please could you share some tips about choosing GCSE subjects?

EBACC only benefits the school not you - no need to take a language. My tip is to read the specification so you know what you wil study and how you are assesed.

I am currently a year 9 student. Next month, I will be choosing my GCSE subjects, but I'm really indecisive and can't choose. I study well and am in top sets for everything, but most people say that once they start the proper GCSE work, it is really hard to keep up good grades. I really want to do well and succeed, so I was wondering if any you could help me.

If you can, please could you share some tips about choosing GCSE subjects?

Just a heads-up: some top unis (admittedly very few, I can only think of UCL and Edinburgh off the top of my head) will want a MFL at GCSE. I only know because I was one of the last years to be required to take a language at GCSE at my school, but I didn't like MFL so I chose Latin.

For some strange reason, I have my a-level subjects planned out, but I have no clue what to do for GCSEs, but my a-levels are basically 2 sciences and maths, which are compulsory for GCSE at our school anyway, so that's going to be ok. Thank you so much!