The Student Room Group

GCSE options - plz help (I'M STRESSING)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 20

My school made me pick computer science because business was full and it's soooo unfair! I'm literally just getting 6s

Reply 21

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Oh it's compulsory to take a language for gcse for us :frown:

Yes same I had to do BM (Bahasa Malaysia)... It's a language used in Malaysia 🇲🇾

Reply 22

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Also, will there be lots of essays in RS?

Yes, my friends do it and I hear it's heavily essay based

Reply 23

geography is actually calm during GCSE don’t worry about that one !!!

Reply 24

Original post
by TwistedParadox
DO NOT PICK COMPUTER SCIENCE!!!! I was forced to pick it and I'm in year 11 now and honestly it is the most difficult subject I take! You literally have to think like a computer and it's not worth the stress. I do geography and it is soooo easy I'm literally getting 9s. If you like science pick geography, plus it is mostly common sense and you can get easy marks 😃

Isn't computer science like the future though

Reply 25

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Isn't computer science like the future though


No Ai is the future, computer science is mostly about:

- Binary,and hexadecimal ( number bases computers understand)
- storing images and sound
- compression ( like about how to save storage)
- system software ( what a computer is made of and how it operates)
- The CPU memory and SQL
- Coding ( about 7/ 16 questions are coding)

I do AQA computer science but most schools do OCR but most of the content is pretty similar.

To be honest I think computer science is really boring and I think you should only pick this subject if you actually want to go into computer science at A-level or university, it's not worth the stress. GCSEs are basically about being able to get the highest grades in any subject to boost your grade point average, so you should just pick subjects that interest you and that you find easy! I'm literally getting 8s and 9s in my mocks and predicted grades but a 6 in computer science and it's pulling my Grade point average down! I hope this helps! 😊

Reply 26

Original post
by TwistedParadox
No Ai is the future, computer science is mostly about:
- Binary,and hexadecimal ( number bases computers understand)
- storing images and sound
- compression ( like about how to save storage)
- system software ( what a computer is made of and how it operates)
- The CPU memory and SQL
- Coding ( about 7/ 16 questions are coding)
I do AQA computer science but most schools do OCR but most of the content is pretty similar.
To be honest I think computer science is really boring and I think you should only pick this subject if you actually want to go into computer science at A-level or university, it's not worth the stress. GCSEs are basically about being able to get the highest grades in any subject to boost your grade point average, so you should just pick subjects that interest you and that you find easy! I'm literally getting 8s and 9s in my mocks and predicted grades but a 6 in computer science and it's pulling my Grade point average down! I hope this helps! 😊

Thanks :smile:

Reply 27

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Hi,
I'm in Y9 and i've got to pick my gcse options in around a week and i'm so scared cuz these are what I'm thinking about:
Maths, english literature, english language, biology, physics, chemistry, french, computer science, geography, religious studies.
But the thing is, I don't know if i'll be good enough with especially geography (my teacher waffles too much that I might fail when I come to year 11), computer science (same reason as geography), RS.
I was wondering if anything we learn in Y9 actually means something - I know it does, but like do they reteach most stuff from years 7-9 in year 10 or not??????????????

I need help on this too! Trouble is the subjects I want to do are all in the same block so can’t pick them all as they’re on at the same time on the timetable 🤣🫣

Reply 28

In some schools, the way it works is that they will teach you content related to what you will learn at GCSEs during Year 7-9 and will revisit it at GCSE in slightly more depth. For example, I learnt about the different types of volcanoes around Year 7 and we revisited it again at GCSE level but it was not very different from the previous time; it was more of a recap lesson.

Reply 29

My advice is as long as you enjoy the subjects you will take, choose whatever you like. It's unlikely that you will enjoy EVERY topic you will do but if you enjoy most of the subject, you should take it. Of course, some subjects you can't get out of such as English, Maths and most likely Science but it's best to choose what you want to do for the rest based on your interests.

I would also recommend talking to some older pupils or looking at their books (you could ask your subject teacher to show you their books instead). Try looking at some textbooks too in your library if you have one at school or in your area and just skim through it to see if it appeals to you.

Reply 30

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Hi,
I'm in Y9 and i've got to pick my gcse options in around a week and i'm so scared cuz these are what I'm thinking about:
Maths, english literature, english language, biology, physics, chemistry, french, computer science, geography, religious studies.
But the thing is, I don't know if i'll be good enough with especially geography (my teacher waffles too much that I might fail when I come to year 11), computer science (same reason as geography), RS.
I was wondering if anything we learn in Y9 actually means something - I know it does, but like do they reteach most stuff from years 7-9 in year 10 or not??????????????
I hate to be the big long paragraph person, but I'm doing the same subjects as you except RS. I don't know what exam boards your school do but a few topics you learn in Y9 geography and RS are somewhat important but not in Y9 computer science. PLEASE keep your books from year 9 somewhere safe so that you have notes of the important topics for year 10 and 11. Teachers do reteach or do revision sessions on some of the most important Y9 topics, which to be honest isn't that much. For most subjects, though, the bulk of the content you cover is taught in year 10, to make year 11 easier and because nobody in year 11 can recall loads of topics from all the way in year 9. If you are behind in your classes right now, focus on specifically geography and RS but don't be that concerned abt computer science
Simple answer - they don't reteach everything, but the most important stuff from year 9 and before will definitely be revised in your school's revision sessions and you'll be able to find the really really important stuff in GCSE revision resources like Physics Maths Tutor (which also does English really really well). KEEP YOUR Y9 BOOKS!! You've got this :smile:

Reply 31

Original post
by Maria
Yes, my friends do it and I hear it's heavily essay based

yep im in y11 and i take aqa RE now, and even tho theres a fair amount of essays its not that bad. in the exam the biggest question you have to do is a few 12 markers per paper (dependent on ur exam board), and ik that may sound quite overwhelming now and you may not think you will be able to do it, but trust me its honestly not that bad and i find RE to be a easy and actually quite interesting subject, as much as i love the sciences and maths its nice to have a break from that and its widely seen as quite an easy subject to which i agree
so if i were you, defo take RE

Reply 32

Original post
by Stephreb12
I need help on this too! Trouble is the subjects I want to do are all in the same block so can’t pick them all as they’re on at the same time on the timetable 🤣🫣

what subjects are you thinking of?

Reply 33

also for any year 9s reading this and also thinking about their options im begging you DO. NOT. TAKE. DT. i promise you youll regret it and it will actually make ur life so stressful, you might see it as a fun and easy subject thats a nice break from being in a classroom, but trust me its actual hell when you get more and more into it and I personally (as well as literally everyone else in the DT classes across my year) am finding it to interfere timewise a lot with my other subjects
(edited 12 months ago)

Reply 34

Hey, to give you a quick short answer :smile:
GCSE Geography is considerably easier than history, as a y11 who takes both. Many people say geography is hard but honestly, all you have to do is memorise a textbook and copy it out in the exam. LITERALLY that is it. And you can teach it to yourself with flashcards etc. so I would pick it if I were you.
GCSE Computer Science on the other hand is a definite NO unless you have fabulous skills! It is very hard compared to y7-9 and tricky to learn yourself, so if your teacher is bad then don't take it. And you don't really really need it except if you want to be a programmer.
GCSE RS - content is chill but the essays are a bit bleh. I personally find it very boring but if you're decent at English then I'd say pick it above some of the creative subjects where it is harder to get a good grade.
Lmk if you want anymore advice! Good luck choosing.

Reply 35

Original post
by Shayla Waggie
I hate to be the big long paragraph person, but I'm doing the same subjects as you except RS. I don't know what exam boards your school do but a few topics you learn in Y9 geography and RS are somewhat important but not in Y9 computer science. PLEASE keep your books from year 9 somewhere safe so that you have notes of the important topics for year 10 and 11. Teachers do reteach or do revision sessions on some of the most important Y9 topics, which to be honest isn't that much. For most subjects, though, the bulk of the content you cover is taught in year 10, to make year 11 easier and because nobody in year 11 can recall loads of topics from all the way in year 9. If you are behind in your classes right now, focus on specifically geography and RS but don't be that concerned abt computer science
Simple answer - they don't reteach everything, but the most important stuff from year 9 and before will definitely be revised in your school's revision sessions and you'll be able to find the really really important stuff in GCSE revision resources like Physics Maths Tutor (which also does English really really well). KEEP YOUR Y9 BOOKS!! You've got this :smile:

Thank you so much - that was the most realistic reply I've got - I do love getting long paragraphed replies because it's so detailed :smile:

Reply 36

Original post
by 17ZC
also for any year 9s reading this and also thinking about their options im begging you DO. NOT. TAKE. DT. i promise you youll regret it and it will actually make ur life so stressful, you might see it as a fun and easy subject thats a nice break from being in a classroom, but trust me its actual hell when you get more and more into it and I personally (as well as literally everyone else in the DT classes across my year) am finding it to interfere timewise a lot with my other subjects

Thank you so much for that :smile:

Reply 37

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Hi,
I'm in Y9 and i've got to pick my gcse options in around a week and i'm so scared cuz these are what I'm thinking about:
Maths, english literature, english language, biology, physics, chemistry, french, computer science, geography, religious studies.
But the thing is, I don't know if i'll be good enough with especially geography (my teacher waffles too much that I might fail when I come to year 11), computer science (same reason as geography), RS.
I was wondering if anything we learn in Y9 actually means something - I know it does, but like do they reteach most stuff from years 7-9 in year 10 or not??????????????

Idk if this is too late but from my experience so far comsci has been really straightforward. If you have that sort of logical mindset in the slightest, it is really easy to adapt. We covered like a third of the course in ks3 (happy accident) and the programming side is just a matter of practice. Y9 stuff can help but it honestly depends on the subject and if its something to build on.

Reply 38

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Hi,
I'm in Y9 and i've got to pick my gcse options in around a week and i'm so scared cuz these are what I'm thinking about:
Maths, english literature, english language, biology, physics, chemistry, french, computer science, geography, religious studies.
But the thing is, I don't know if i'll be good enough with especially geography (my teacher waffles too much that I might fail when I come to year 11), computer science (same reason as geography), RS.
I was wondering if anything we learn in Y9 actually means something - I know it does, but like do they reteach most stuff from years 7-9 in year 10 or not??????????????

I take both GCSE Geography and History, and honestly, I find History more interesting. However, Geography is definitely easier in my opinion. I got a grade 6 in Geography and a 4 in History recently in my mocks (Im in year 11), which reflects that difference. I think Geography is a good choice if you're looking for something more manageable, but if you're really passionate about History, then go for it.
As for Year 9, it depends on your school, but usually, they start teaching proper GCSE content in Years 10 and 11. That said, we did cover some GCSE topics in Year 9, which we revisited in Years 10 and 11. But you've made good choices overall. I know some people who take Computer Science, and they find it really challenging. Religious Studies, on the other hand, is a good choice, but honestly, it all depends on your strengths and your interests tbh.

Reply 39

Original post
by LIFEchoicesHelp
Hi,
I'm in Y9 and i've got to pick my gcse options in around a week and i'm so scared cuz these are what I'm thinking about:
Maths, english literature, english language, biology, physics, chemistry, french, computer science, geography, religious studies.
But the thing is, I don't know if i'll be good enough with especially geography (my teacher waffles too much that I might fail when I come to year 11), computer science (same reason as geography), RS.
I was wondering if anything we learn in Y9 actually means something - I know it does, but like do they reteach most stuff from years 7-9 in year 10 or not??????????????

Most subjects use basic knowledge from Y9, but the actual content is fresh for GCSE usually. I'd suggest picking what you think you'd enjoy. If you're bored, you'll drop grades due to not overly caring.

Quick Reply