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help!

should I do triple science or an extra language (Spanish).
My other gcses are history, geography and french.

I'm ok at writing and reading languages but i find speaking and especially listening hard. Each skill is 25% at GCSE so I'm worried if I do two languages I'll put even more pressure on myself than I would have had with just one.

So any help please, I need to decide by this Friday!

Reply 1

undiscovered

I did triple science and two languages. The languages were easy but the science was a disaster and I am still annoyed at myself for doing it...

Reply 2

kellywood_5

Both are really well-respected subjects (not that that even matters at GCSE level) so just take the one you enjoy the most. If you enjoy languages, I wouldn't worry about taking both as your marks in reading and writing will help to balance your marks in speaking and listening. Very few people are equally good at all 4.

Reply 3

No Future

I do triple science and two languages (French and Spanish). I am very glad I did triple science, and it's good "value for effort" in my opinion. For example, with double science you still have to do the three courseworks for biology, chemistry and physics but at the end you only get 2 GCSEs out of it. For triple science you do the same coursework but get 3 GCSEs. We were also given the chance to redo some coursework to get full marks as we had more time than the double people.

Also, there is not a vast amount more work to learn for triple science for the actual exams than there is for double, yet you still get a whole extra GCSE out of it. We also seem to have much more time to learn and revise eg in chemistry we have already finished the syllabus and are revising comfortably whilst the teacher says that the double chemists are struggling to finish on time for the GCSE.

I often think how glad I am that I did triple science as it was the option that gave me the least work possible compared to other subjects I could have done, and it is in my opinion more highly regarded. Like when I went to a 6th form interview once, I spoke to the teacher involved with medical uni applicants and he was very impressed that I was doing triple. Most schools don't, so you'll stand out.

I actually feel sorry for my friends who do double science and say, geography or food tech - sooo much more work.

If you think you want to do A Level science, triple does prepare you well and give you a bit of an advantage. So it's good for scientific careers too. Science is always highly regarded and you can't really go wrong with it. (Assuming you're okay at science).

I also like Spanish and I've found GCSE language is not too hard, but if you find languages hard, maybe you should think about it.

If it was me, I'd do triple science, no question...Though, Spanish is still a good one to do.

Do you find science interesting? If you quite like it, you should be fine.

Reply 4

shyopstv

I was terrible at French at GCSE and still got a B - the listening exams are at least 50% multiple choice and you get a lot of time to prepare for your speaking stuff. If I had the choice at my school, I would have done triple Science but I couldn't so I can't really comment except to say that colleges and unis will only ever require you to do double. Triple might help if you do sciences at A level but you don't have to do it to do well.

Hope that helped :biggrin:

Reply 5

Lottie

No Future

For example, with double science you still have to do the three courseworks for biology, chemistry and physics but at the end you only get 2 GCSEs out of it.
I take double science and, at my school, we were only required to do two coursework pieces. I think this was due to time restraints more than anything else and I suppose they would have been accommodating should the need to do another one for some reason arose.

The teacher says that the double chemists are struggling to finish on time for the GCSE.

I have finished (or very nearly finished) the biology syllabus as I have 4 lessons of it a fortnight compared to 3 each in physics and chemistry. In physics, however, I believe we have reached the half-way point of our final module. In chemistry, we have just begun our final module but I do think we are making good progress. I am positive all of the work will be covered in time for the GCSE without any struggling or rushing.

It is in my opinion more highly regarded.

While this may be true, two A*s in the double award (or one in the single award) is going to be far more impressive than lower grades in three subject For example, I am taking double science at present with the likely result of achieving A/A* grade. One of my friends is taking triple science and looks set to achieve high grades in biology and physics but has found chemistry a struggle so she sitting foundation tier. She used to want to study medicine and become a psychiatrist but obviously this is no longer something she thinks is possible. (This may be influenced by the fact we follow the AQA modular course at GCSE in single and double science as well as biology and physics while chemistry is linear.)

If you think you want to do A Level science, triple does prepare you well and give you a bit of an advantage.

I agree with this, especially if you are considering taking more than one science at A Level. However, I know a number of my double science friends taking science subjects next year, some even taking two. If you are a bright candidate, there is nothing you shouldn't be able to make up over the summer or, indeed, during the first terms. It'll probably a bit of an uphill ride to start with though.

Good luck deciding!

I have no experience of Spanish but I've enjoyed GCSE French and German so much that I'm taking them next year as well. Saying that, I am more of a linguist than a scientist. It all comes down to your personal preference.

Reply 6

PurpleMonster

I would say do whatever one you enjoy most because thats whats going to encourage you to do well. I only did double science and found that easy (we ahd covered just about everything by the beginning of year 11 but then I had a good science teacher) and sometimes think that mabe I should have done the triple award but my friend did it and got so much work I felt I had an easier time doing something I enjoyed. I would weigh up which department would give you the most help if you needed it, which might be most useful to you and which subject you enjoy the most.

Reply 7

Twaffy

My school didn't offer triple science :frown:

Reply 8

isabella19

I want to do something in business or law when I'm older, so would it be worth just doing a bit extra science for GCSE rather than doing a whole extra subject ie. Spanish.