GCSE Options Update

latin is really hard

latin is really hard, especially the literature side of it so perhaps its a good thing that you can't do it? i do both classics and latin, and i would say i prefer classics. i've not really heard anything about it being considered as a 'softer' option, nor have i seen anything about lots of oxbridge applicants having a gcse in latin. i think uni's tend to focus more on your a-levels than your gcses; all they look for in gcses is good grades and perhaps some subjects that are relevant to your course. if you really want to do latin, i would change one of your other options. good luck xx

1)Classical Civilisation is much more interesting than Latin in my personal opinion. Granted that's subjective, but anyway...
2)There's no such thing as a "softer option".
3)You do not need a GCSE in Latin to go to Oxbridge.

Thanks for replying, really appreciate it! Do you know how the content is in Latin compared to Class Civ?

Unfortunately no I don't know, as I didn't do GCSE Latin.
I'm currently doing a Latin module as part of my Classical Studies uni course though (suitable for beginners so I would imagine it's comparable to a GCSE sort of level), hence my experience of knowing it's hard.

GCSE Classical Civilisation content I know really well though. Again, it's very subjective, but I find it interesting and therefore easy to remember. I mean, remembering crazy things like how the goddess Aphrodite was born from sea foam after a Titan chopped his penis off and threw it in the sea, is way funnier than trying to remember grammar rules and conjugations.

Thanks for the reply! I think the literature section is what everyone fears tbh! How is the lit in Latin compared to Class Civ? I wanted to do Latin because I enjoyed it and igt is a facilitating subject but my options cannot fit the timetable!!!

Thanks for the reply! I think the literature section is what everyone fears tbh! How is the lit in Latin compared to Class Civ? I wanted to do Latin because I enjoyed it and igt is a facilitating subject but my options cannot fit the timetable!!!

Hey everyone! So recently, I have made my GCSE options, but I have to consider my options again because one of the options do not fit into the timetable. I was supposed to do French, Latin, RS and History, but I cannot do Latin and my reserve is Classical Civilisation. I have seen that many Oxbridge applicants have a GCSE in Latin, and I have read that in other websites, Class Civ is seen as a 'softer' option. I really like Latin but I have no choice but to swap. Absolutely devastated. I would really appreciate your advice about this. Thanks all!

Thanks for the reply! I think the literature section is what everyone fears tbh! How is the lit in Latin compared to Class Civ? I wanted to do Latin because I enjoyed it and igt is a facilitating subject but my options cannot fit the timetable!!!

i think faciliating subjects are more for a-levels, and if you're taking other facilitating subjects e.g stem or humanities or whatever then you shouldn't worry too much about not taking latin !

i think faciliating subjects are more for a-levels, and if you're taking other facilitating subjects e.g stem or humanities or whatever then you shouldn't worry too much about not taking latin !

There are no 'facilitating' subjects ...

I can't believe people are telling you you have to have Latin - most schools don't even offer it!

i prefer the lit in classics compared to the lit in latin, mainly because it's not as in depth; you still do have to know your texts well, but you do not have to quote directly like you do in latin, and you do not have to analyse the language techniques used. i find classics more interesting because theres a wider range of things you learn about, whereas latin is just the language and memorising your set texts.
p.s. because not every school does latin, you can still learn latin in uni if you really want to! good luck with ur options, i'd love to know what you end up choosing! (: