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Subjects for GCSE - how important for Uni entrance

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1811

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 13:03

Thanks for that Puffin. DD is interested in doing Business Studies; I'm suprised it's considered a soft subject, I had thought that would be a useful one to do as the students have to set up a little business. The shcool requires them to do 2 English subjects, 2 science subjects, maths and a language so that's a pretty good mix already. I've suggested she do Arabic, History, Business Studies and Drama if she's got her heart set on it. It's so hard to make choices when you really don't know what a particular job involves.

Puffinlunde34121

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 12:53

The choice of GCSE subjects will ultimately influence which subjects she chooses for A-level so it may end up affecting her University choices A lot also depends what sort of University she wants to attend in the UK and what she wants to do - for example art and drama would be useful is she wants to study these subjcts There has been a lot of discussion in the UK press recently that Universities are downgrading applicants that have ""soft" GCSE and A level subjects and are preferring applicants that have "hard" subjects when deciding which applicants have a place The "hard" subjects include traditional subjects such as maths, english, history, geography, modern languages and pure sciences (chemistry, physics or biology ie not general science) Whereas the soft subjects include photography, art and design, media studies, business studies or other subjects that are considered more practical and less academic If she really wants to keep options open then as well as the maths and 2 english subjects perhaps it would be a good idea to take a humanities subject such as history or geography, a language and a science and then either art or drama?

1811

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 12:40

Thanks for your replies. We have a parents' evening tonight but it's still down to dd to make the final decision and I want to advise her as best I can. She'll be doing A levels after GCSE. The drama teacher has already told them that students need to score 97% for an A* in Drama! I think it wold be nice to have a GCSE in Arabic having done it since primary school and she's quite good at it. She also likes history and that's useful for everyone so they have a better understanding of our world. It seems so recently that she was still in nursery. Thanks again.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 11:04

You can take up a new language though for IB. However I expect the school will insist on GCSE's in English, maths,sciences and a language so that shouldn't be a problem anyway. I think for the other choices it's a question of keeping doors open for possible A level subjects(if that is the route she is taking) which will be important for uni. You can see on uni websites what their requirements are - mostly apart from GCSE's in English and maths they are looking for higher qualifications relevant to the degree. So for instance if she may want to do a degree in Geography for example she will need GCSE in order to do A level in order to get onto a degree course. Some subjects you can take at A level without GCSE but most not so keep options open. Apart from that I would say let her do something just because she likes it!

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EW GURU

Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 23:17

I would suggest Geography and History plus 2 others she enjoys. Universities are more interested in A level results so I wouldnt stress about GCSE options. ETA. A language is also very important <em>edited by tally-ho on 07/02/2011</em>

275

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 22:57

Hi AR I'm no expert on this topic but would say based on my own experience that it's important to have a good balance of subjects - i.e. some 'sensible' ones (e.g. maths, English) and some which you dd just enjoys (e.g. in her case, art and drama). Given that the school requires her to take some traditional subjects anyway, I don't think that choosing art and drama is likely to narrow her choices down later in life. It sounds to me as though she has a good mix there. Hth x

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