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GCSE DT - please share experience

Hi, I’m Y10 now & I’m thinking to switch to DT from geography. Our school exam board is AQA. Can anyone share the experience? I want to make an informative choice. I’m interested in DT, however, taking it as GCSE is another story, I believe. I want a fun subject, but also worry that DT is kind of a subject not totally related to your efforts in terms of the grade.
Original post by lorainlam
Hi, I’m Y10 now & I’m thinking to switch to DT from geography. Our school exam board is AQA. Can anyone share the experience? I want to make an informative choice. I’m interested in DT, however, taking it as GCSE is another story, I believe. I want a fun subject, but also worry that DT is kind of a subject not totally related to your efforts in terms of the grade.

I did both geography (grade 9) and DT (grade 7) I insanely regret taking DT but my advice is coming from someone who is academic so my opinion will be different to yours if you're not academic.
I also thought that it was gonna be a 'fun' GCSE which to some extent it was as the lessons were pretty relaxed. However DT is genuinely extremely annoying to get a high grade in, it was my lowest grade at GCSE even though it's supposed to be 'easier'. This is because DT teachers do NOT teach content at all and this seems to be a common thing among most schools - many of the kids in my class failed both sets of their mocks. Also, there's barely ANY resources online for DT revision whereas there's millions for geography. Trust me, with no teacher teaching the content and no revision sources online it is very hard to learn. Personally, I found geography easier than DT because you actually get taught geography and so are better prepared for the exam. Most people found geography quite easy and straight forward so I'd recommend keeping geography.
Although to be honest, at the end of the day GCSE results do not matter unless you want to apply to top 10 universities for highly competitive courses so do what you enjoy. But if I could go back I'd completely avoid DT.
Reply 2
Original post by georgia10201
I did both geography (grade 9) and DT (grade 7) I insanely regret taking DT but my advice is coming from someone who is academic so my opinion will be different to yours if you're not academic.
I also thought that it was gonna be a 'fun' GCSE which to some extent it was as the lessons were pretty relaxed. However DT is genuinely extremely annoying to get a high grade in, it was my lowest grade at GCSE even though it's supposed to be 'easier'. This is because DT teachers do NOT teach content at all and this seems to be a common thing among most schools - many of the kids in my class failed both sets of their mocks. Also, there's barely ANY resources online for DT revision whereas there's millions for geography. Trust me, with no teacher teaching the content and no revision sources online it is very hard to learn. Personally, I found geography easier than DT because you actually get taught geography and so are better prepared for the exam. Most people found geography quite easy and straight forward so I'd recommend keeping geography.
Although to be honest, at the end of the day GCSE results do not matter unless you want to apply to top 10 universities for highly competitive courses so do what you enjoy. But if I could go back I'd completely avoid DT.

Thanks for your advice! Yes, I agree with you that DT is kind of subjective, the grade u achieved may not be related to your efforts made. I checked the AQA DT grades statistics, only around 25% achieved A* to A; whereas Geography is 44%! Indeed, I’m also passionate about History. So I’m also thinking to switch to History. Did you take History? I want to give up Geography as I’m not interested. For history, there is 68% achieved A*to A, surprisingly high!
Original post by lorainlam
Thanks for your advice! Yes, I agree with you that DT is kind of subjective, the grade u achieved may not be related to your efforts made. I checked the AQA DT grades statistics, only around 25% achieved A* to A; whereas Geography is 44%! Indeed, I’m also passionate about History. So I’m also thinking to switch to History. Did you take History? I want to give up Geography as I’m not interested. For history, there is 68% achieved A*to A, surprisingly high!

I didn't take History GCSE although I am doing it for A Level. I wish I had done GCSE History over DT as I know I would've gotten a higher grade in it and would have better prepared me for A-Level. If you're interested in History I'd recommend switching to it from DT especially if you're passionate about it! Doing History GCSE will also be more helpful when choosing your A Levels as you haven't closed down the option of doing History A Level (depending on your sixth form's requirements). Whereas doing DT GCSE, personally it didn't help me at all and shut down more of my A Level options (but this was only because I wanted to do History A Level without the History GCSE which I had dropped to do DT GCSE if that makes sense). I also find History wayyy more interesting than DT ever was!
Reply 4
Hi, I’m in year 12 I did DT AQA in GCSEs and got a 7, it was good, fairly “easy” if you revise the theory part and the NEA is quite fun, it’s one of them lessons that you can just sort of be layed back in and it’s abit different to your compulsory GCSEs so I would advise you staying in DT I also did geography which was great I loved it I got an 8 but dt was my more chilled back subject! Hope this helps!!
Reply 5
Original post by lorainlam
Hi, I’m Y10 now & I’m thinking to switch to DT from geography. Our school exam board is AQA. Can anyone share the experience? I want to make an informative choice. I’m interested in DT, however, taking it as GCSE is another story, I believe. I want a fun subject, but also worry that DT is kind of a subject not totally related to your efforts in terms of the grade.

im currently in yr11 doing DT gcse (aqa), it was the one subject that i was pretty certain on from the beginning in terms of taking and enjoying it, but now i really regret it.

the teachers arent always the best at teaching theory (although that obviously differs from school to school), but my main issue is the NEA. I am not a particularly creative person, i took DT because i enjoyed being in the workshop away from the normal classroom setting all day, while making and putting things together. however, spending hours trying to sketch and come up with designs is something i didnt expect and am absolutely not suited for, creativity is in no means my strong suit. that being said, if you enjoy that and it comes easy to you, you will probably enjoy taking it. (but prepare to be spending more time in the design process than actual manufacturing)

i think only one person in the year above got a 9 in dt last year, and it was someone who spent many many lunchtimes sat working on their slides and enjoyed sketching. if this does not appeal to you, dont take it (although idk anything abt geography so have fun with that)

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