The Student Room Group

gcse options help

I am picking my gcse options soon and I want to work in the medical or psychology field (for example jobs like being a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, ect...).
From all the options available I'm thinking of picking history and sociology but I can't decide between hospitality and catering and French. I want to do hospitality and catering because it's something I enjoy but I have been told that French would be a better GCSE to pick because it would enable me to achieve the EBacc qualification and would help when applying for sixth form and university. I keep hearing different things so I am not sure what to pick. What would be the best choice?

Subjects which we have to do are:
English
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Religious studies
History/ Geography

And we pick two options out of:
Art, Craft and Design (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Business (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Computer Science (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Creative Media Production (Pearson BTEC Tech award)
Design Technology (Engineering) (GCSE 9-1 Full Course)
Drama (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Economics (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Enterprise & Marketing (Cambridge National)
French (GCSE 9-1 Full Course)
Geography (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Health & Social (Pearson BTEC Tech Award)
History (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Hospitality and Catering (WJEC Award)
Music (Pearson BTEC First Level 2)
Sociology (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Spanish (GCSE 9 - 1 Full course)
Sport Studies (Cambridge National)
Three Dimensional Design (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
(edited 2 years ago)
Original post by lsfrm
I am picking my gcse options soon and I want to work in the medical or psychology field (for example jobs like being a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, ect...).
From all the options available I'm thinking of picking history and sociology but I can't decide between hospitality and catering and French. I want to do hospitality and catering because it's something I enjoy but I have been told that French would be a better GCSE to pick because it would enable me to achieve the EBacc qualification and would help when applying for sixth form and university. I keep hearing different things so I am not sure what to pick. What would be the best choice?

Subjects which we have to do are:
English
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Religious studies
History/ Geography

And we pick two options out of:
Art, Craft and Design (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Business (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Computer Science (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Creative Media Production (Pearson BTEC Tech award)
Design Technology (Engineering) (GCSE 9-1 Full Course)
Drama (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Economics (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Enterprise & Marketing (Cambridge National)
French (GCSE 9-1 Full Course)
Geography (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Health & Social (Pearson BTEC Tech Award)
History (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Hospitality and Catering (WJEC Award)
Music (Pearson BTEC First Level 2)
Sociology (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)
Spanish (GCSE 9 - 1 Full course)
Sport Studies (Cambridge National)
Three Dimensional Design (GCSE 9 - 1 Full Course)


Hi, i'm a year 12 who took her GCSE exams in 2022. The main advice I would give is to think about first what you're good at and then what you enjoy. This is because you're more likely to put more effort into subjects that you enjoy. I took GCSE French and it was definitely a rollercoaster. I picked it because I was good at in year 9, however in my opinion it does get quite a bit harder in year 10 and 11. I did struggle quite a bit of the time, however I managed to find the right mindset when going into the real exams and I did a lot of exam practise and I ended up getting an 8. My main tips would be to do lots of vocabulary revision and to do practice questions! I'd say if you enjoy French definitely go for it as I did enjoy it overall. its also a nice break from other subjects as you don't do too much writing.
Original post by KatieMcF
Hi, i'm a year 12 who took her GCSE exams in 2022. The main advice I would give is to think about first what you're good at and then what you enjoy. This is because you're more likely to put more effort into subjects that you enjoy. I took GCSE French and it was definitely a rollercoaster. I picked it because I was good at in year 9, however in my opinion it does get quite a bit harder in year 10 and 11. I did struggle quite a bit of the time, however I managed to find the right mindset when going into the real exams and I did a lot of exam practise and I ended up getting an 8. My main tips would be to do lots of vocabulary revision and to do practice questions! I'd say if you enjoy French definitely go for it as I did enjoy it overall. its also a nice break from other subjects as you don't do too much writing.

thank you!