The Student Room Group

my gcses and idk what a levels to do 😭

So ive done 2 other posts, one which was quite helpful and the other which didnt get any responses and tbh wasnt worded well.
For my gcses, Im taking triple science, maths and english lit and lang. Im also taking history, health and social care , drama and german.
In my yr 10 mocks I got:
Bio - 3 (foundation)
Chem- 4 (foundation)
Physics- 4 (higher)
English lit- 7
English lang- 4 or 5 cant remember lol
German - 4 (higher)
Maths - 4 (higher)
Drama- 5
Health and social care- Lvl 2 Merit
History- 6

These arent brilliant. I was thinking of working in healthcare as a midwife or nurse, but I doubt I’ll reach the requirments to do biology or chemistry which some unis like. Others on here said that I’d be fine doing B-tec science and health and social care, but then I need to find something to go with it and deal with my friends or parents saying that I should be aiming higher. Based off my gcses and what ive said, what would you suggest I do? A career aspiration change maybe? Go into law instead? I dont know bro I need advice 😭🙏
Reply 1
If you do decide to go into law you are on track I think. I've chosen A level law and it needed a 6 in English for my college. I'm personally hoping to go down the law route but lots of university courses don't need specific courses as long as you get the high grades. (I have chosen law psychology and art!) Your English is pretty high so if you are thinking of a levels it would be a good choice, or anything else that interests you.

I know its not amazing to hear ( I was in the same boat as I wanted to do veterinary medicine) but I don't think you'll be accepted in chemistry due to your maths and chem grades 😕 However if you are 100% set on healthcare there may be some ways but it will definitely be a lot harder.

Either way good luck on what you choose to do and at the end of the day by the time it comes to uni you may have a complete different view on what you want to do so just go with what you feel like!!
Reply 2
Original post by craaaa
If you do decide to go into law you are on track I think. I've chosen A level law and it needed a 6 in English for my college. I'm personally hoping to go down the law route but lots of university courses don't need specific courses as long as you get the high grades. (I have chosen law psychology and art!) Your English is pretty high so if you are thinking of a levels it would be a good choice, or anything else that interests you.
I know its not amazing to hear ( I was in the same boat as I wanted to do veterinary medicine) but I don't think you'll be accepted in chemistry due to your maths and chem grades 😕 However if you are 100% set on healthcare there may be some ways but it will definitely be a lot harder.
Either way good luck on what you choose to do and at the end of the day by the time it comes to uni you may have a complete different view on what you want to do so just go with what you feel like!!


Thank you so much for this its so good to hear it from someone who had to alter their aspirations and makes me feel better about it
Reply 3
Try to watch walkthrough vids for science on YouTube or do past papers. But you can still get into nursing with BTEC, also you could always do another degree and switch if you don’t like it
Reply 4
Original post by lopsyloo
So ive done 2 other posts, one which was quite helpful and the other which didnt get any responses and tbh wasnt worded well.
For my gcses, Im taking triple science, maths and english lit and lang. Im also taking history, health and social care , drama and german.
In my yr 10 mocks I got:
Bio - 3 (foundation)
Chem- 4 (foundation)
Physics- 4 (higher)
English lit- 7
English lang- 4 or 5 cant remember lol
German - 4 (higher)
Maths - 4 (higher)
Drama- 5
Health and social care- Lvl 2 Merit
History- 6
These arent brilliant. I was thinking of working in healthcare as a midwife or nurse, but I doubt I’ll reach the requirments to do biology or chemistry which some unis like. Others on here said that I’d be fine doing B-tec science and health and social care, but then I need to find something to go with it and deal with my friends or parents saying that I should be aiming higher. Based off my gcses and what ive said, what would you suggest I do? A career aspiration change maybe? Go into law instead? I dont know bro I need advice 😭🙏

Well, judging by your results, English is clearly your strong point, and I think law is certainly a respectable field with a great many opportunities. If you wanted to do law then doing English Literature A-Level is probably best, alongside maybe history too if you're into that (but I saw you didn't do it for GCSE). Realistically, anything alongside English Lit for A-Level should get you set up nicely for Law. Hope everything goes well.
Reply 5
Original post by lopsyloo
So ive done 2 other posts, one which was quite helpful and the other which didnt get any responses and tbh wasnt worded well.
For my gcses, Im taking triple science, maths and english lit and lang. Im also taking history, health and social care , drama and german.
In my yr 10 mocks I got:
Bio - 3 (foundation)
Chem- 4 (foundation)
Physics- 4 (higher)
English lit- 7
English lang- 4 or 5 cant remember lol
German - 4 (higher)
Maths - 4 (higher)
Drama- 5
Health and social care- Lvl 2 Merit
History- 6
These arent brilliant. I was thinking of working in healthcare as a midwife or nurse, but I doubt I’ll reach the requirments to do biology or chemistry which some unis like. Others on here said that I’d be fine doing B-tec science and health and social care, but then I need to find something to go with it and deal with my friends or parents saying that I should be aiming higher. Based off my gcses and what ive said, what would you suggest I do? A career aspiration change maybe? Go into law instead? I dont know bro I need advice 😭🙏

You dont say what year you’re in so it’s difficult to determine whether you’re on track for A levels. I don’t know from your post what you actually WANT to do. Where is your heart? Law and nursing are very different so my question to you is, have you actually thought about what the job you want to do will be like ? Or thought about work experience? Do you like people? Would you like to work in an office? It’s all very well having a qualification but it’s meaningless if you hate the job or it doesn’t suit you. And what do you mean your parents are telling you to “aim higher?” Higher than what?
Reply 6
Original post by Strotty
You dont say what year you’re in so it’s difficult to determine whether you’re on track for A levels. I don’t know from your post what you actually WANT to do. Where is your heart? Law and nursing are very different so my question to you is, have you actually thought about what the job you want to do will be like ? Or thought about work experience? Do you like people? Would you like to work in an office? It’s all very well having a qualification but it’s meaningless if you hate the job or it doesn’t suit you. And what do you mean your parents are telling you to “aim higher?” Higher than what?


Ive just started year 11. Im not sure what exactly I want to do, but I did work experience at physio therapy and I didnt enjoy it very much. I know its not the same but I dont think I liked it because I need something exciting. I do like people but I sometimes find it hard to talk to people if you get me. And by my parents wanting me to aim higher, I mean they want me to be a barrister, not just a lawyer, and a doctor, not a nurse. They think I can do really well in life.
Reply 7
Original post by NotRike
Well, judging by your results, English is clearly your strong point, and I think law is certainly a respectable field with a great many opportunities. If you wanted to do law then doing English Literature A-Level is probably best, alongside maybe history too if you're into that (but I saw you didn't do it for GCSE). Realistically, anything alongside English Lit for A-Level should get you set up nicely for Law. Hope everything goes well.


Thank you! I did do history but I understand missing things when reading. Im thinking of doing german because I enjoy learning a language. A 4 doesnt seem great at the moment but thats where my teacher said I ‘should’ be at this point.
Reply 8
Original post by MillieeM2
Try to watch walkthrough vids for science on YouTube or do past papers. But you can still get into nursing with BTEC, also you could always do another degree and switch if you don’t like it


Thanks!
Original post by lopsyloo
So ive done 2 other posts, one which was quite helpful and the other which didnt get any responses and tbh wasnt worded well.
For my gcses, Im taking triple science, maths and english lit and lang. Im also taking history, health and social care , drama and german.
In my yr 10 mocks I got:
Bio - 3 (foundation)
Chem- 4 (foundation)
Physics- 4 (higher)
English lit- 7
English lang- 4 or 5 cant remember lol
German - 4 (higher)
Maths - 4 (higher)
Drama- 5
Health and social care- Lvl 2 Merit
History- 6
These arent brilliant. I was thinking of working in healthcare as a midwife or nurse, but I doubt I’ll reach the requirments to do biology or chemistry which some unis like. Others on here said that I’d be fine doing B-tec science and health and social care, but then I need to find something to go with it and deal with my friends or parents saying that I should be aiming higher. Based off my gcses and what ive said, what would you suggest I do? A career aspiration change maybe? Go into law instead? I dont know bro I need advice 😭🙏

You've got a whole year to do better and since you're already planning on the future and are worried about your grade it makes me feel like you're determined to do better in which you most definitely can! You can become a lot better in just a year especially during GCSE! Also Unis do not really look into GCSE's grades that much! They focus their attention more in A-levels alot more, requirements for GCSE in russel group unis tends to be around 5-6! Start revising now consistently and you'll get the grades you want 🙂 For GCSE science i used to use cognito a lot and got 9 9 8 in triple science so perhaps you can try that website
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 10
Original post by JimmyJackwagons
You've got a whole year to do better and since you're already planning on the future and are worried about your grade it makes me feel like you're determined to do better in which you most definitely can! You can become a lot better in just a year especially during GCSE! Also Unis do not really look into GCSE's grades that much! They focus their attention more in A-levels alot more, requirements for GCSE in russel group unis tends to be around 5-6! Start revising now consistently and you'll get the grades you want 🙂 For GCSE science i used to use cognito a lot and got 9 9 8 in triple science so perhaps you can try that website


Thank you so much!
Reply 11
Original post by lopsyloo
Ive just started year 11. Im not sure what exactly I want to do, but I did work experience at physio therapy and I didnt enjoy it very much. I know its not the same but I dont think I liked it because I need something exciting. I do like people but I sometimes find it hard to talk to people if you get me. And by my parents wanting me to aim higher, I mean they want me to be a barrister, not just a lawyer, and a doctor, not a nurse. They think I can do really well in life.

Have you spoken to careers guidance? They can be really helpful. For info - both barristers and solicitors study the same law degrees, it’s when they do the LPC they choose either to be a self employed barrister or a solicitor. A barrister represents their client at court - but they are instructed by a solicitor. So one is not better than another, they are very different on a day to day basis, depending of course, on their specialism. If you like “doing stuff to people” you could be a doctor or a nurse, but maybe that would be too exciting☺️, or maybe not exciting enough. I’m not sure what would be exciting for you as we all have our own definitions. But a good chat with careers guidance after doing some online questions might help narrow it down. X
Reply 12
Original post by Strotty
Have you spoken to careers guidance? They can be really helpful. For info - both barristers and solicitors study the same law degrees, it’s when they do the LPC they choose either to be a self employed barrister or a solicitor. A barrister represents their client at court - but they are instructed by a solicitor. So one is not better than another, they are very different on a day to day basis, depending of course, on their specialism. If you like “doing stuff to people” you could be a doctor or a nurse, but maybe that would be too exciting☺️, or maybe not exciting enough. I’m not sure what would be exciting for you as we all have our own definitions. But a good chat with careers guidance after doing some online questions might help narrow it down. X


Hi, our career advisor is never in, I have tried but no luck 😔. I am thinking law , or even politics, would be best for me as I like a set plan or I get quite stressed and stuff and thats something i might not have in healthcare if you get me. Thank you for your help I’ll keep trying the advisor !
Reply 13
So for law degree, English, politics, history for A levels all the essay writing qualifications which sounds up your street as your English is good. The science A levels are harder anyway, so avoid as you’ll need good ish grades for Law at a decent Russell group uni. And do 3, not 4 A levels as you only need 3 to get into Uni. Good luck, and yeah, keep at that careers advisor. Maybe send an email and find out when they’re next in so you can arrange an appointment? X
Reply 14
Original post by Strotty
So for law degree, English, politics, history for A levels all the essay writing qualifications which sounds up your street as your English is good. The science A levels are harder anyway, so avoid as you’ll need good ish grades for Law at a decent Russell group uni. And do 3, not 4 A levels as you only need 3 to get into Uni. Good luck, and yeah, keep at that careers advisor. Maybe send an email and find out when they’re next in so you can arrange an appointment? X


Will do and thanks for the subject suggestions. Thank you!

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