If you are a parent or carer of teenagers you will soon hear lots of jargon in school which leaves you with questions like what is a GCSE? How do we choose GCSE’s?
In this post, I am taking the jargon out of GCSE’s and helping parents understand exactly what is a GCSE and all that you need to know about GCSE options for your teenager.
GCSE’s and schools
In the UK all children who attend state schools will follow the National Curriculum and be assessed at specific points throughout their education. The national curriculum is a set of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools so children learn the same things.
It covers what subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject. In years 10 and 11 students prepare for their GCSE’s which are externally marked exams. This post explains what is a GCSE and how GCSE’s are chosen.
What is GCSE exams?
GCSE’s are the exams students take following a programme of study in Year 10 and 11. GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. It’s the part of the National Curriculum taught to pupils aged 14 to 16 in years 10 and 11. At the end of the course, students take exams, the results of which have a significant bearing on a child’s future career. The exams are typically taken in May and June with the results coming out in August.
Students are awarded a grade 9-1 with a 9 being the highest. A grade 4/5 is equivalent to an old C grade or a pass at O Level. If students do not meet this standard in English and Maths they are required to continue studying them at college or sixth form and retake the exams the following year.
GCSE’s replaced O’levels and CSE’s which are terms that parents might be familiar with. GCSE’s also changed how they are recorded a few years ago moving from A-G grades to 9-1 grades.
Why are GCSE’s Important
Many of us worry that our education system over tests children, but it is also important that we benchmark children. We need to ensure that all children are taught the same things to the same standard as that makes it a fair test. If schools mark or decide grades themselves there would be uncertainty and standards would be different. Taking GCSE’s ensure that all teenagers have the same exam and are marked according to set criteria.
As well as giving you useful skills and knowledge in themselves, GCSEs are an important stepping stone if you want to get a job or continue studying. Many employers and colleges ask for candidates to have at least five GCSEs, so they will come in useful, whatever you choose to do.
When do Teenagers Choose GCSE’s
Students choose their GCSE’s during Year 9 ready to start studying them in Year 10. Currently, students must study English, Maths, Science as they are known as the core subjects. Schools should have parents evening in Year 9 where they explain what is GCSE and the subjects they offer. This is invaluable to help parents understand their role in supporting their child during the GCSE preparation and exams.
What GCSE options are there?
The students will by now understand what is GCSE and will have the option to choose:
- A modern foreign language. The most commonly taught are French, German and Spanish, but some schools also offer languages like Mandarin and Russian. Some schools require you to take a modern foreign language, so check with your teachers whether these are part of your options or compulsory.
- A humanity subject like History, Geography, Sociology or Religious Studies.
- An arts subject like Music, Drama, Art and Design or Media Studies.
- A technical subject such as Design and Technology, Food Technology or Computer Science.
- All students have to do PE in years 10 and 11, but you can also take it as a GCSE option.
Different schools will have different ‘rules’ if it is a language school you could be expected to take a language as part of their subject choices.
How many GCSEs should I take?
You should expect to take around nine subjects. Most courses and jobs you might want to apply for in the future require you to have grades between 9 and 4 in a minimum of five subjects.
How to choose GCSE’s
When the time comes for your child to choose their GCSEs subjects, they may feel mixed emotions. It is an exciting opportunity because students now have the chance to tailor their education around what they enjoy and what they are good at. However, it can also cause feelings of anxiety because children often worry about what is a GCSE, what subjects to choose and how their choices will affect their future.
Parental support is one of the most important factors during GCSE’s
How Can Parents Support During GCSE”s
- If your child is feeling worried about what is a GCSE and choosing their GCSEs it is important to take some time to reassure them. Help them to think positively about this new milestone and see it as an exciting opportunity to focus on the subjects they enjoy the most. The subjects they choose now could even help to form the foundations of their future career.
- Deciding which GCSEs to choose involves a number of different factors, such as which optional subjects the school allows, your child’s interests and their future plans.
- Discuss your child’s favourite subjects, as well as their academic strengths and weaknesses. This is really important when choosing their GCSEs, because the enjoyment of a subject will lead to the best results. It is also a good idea to talk about what they wish to do after schools, such as university or particular career interests. These kinds of conversations will prompt your child to think about their academic strengths and how they could benefit their future.
- If your child does have a particular career interest, it can be helpful to research the qualifications required in order to secure a role in that industry. However, it’s also worth encouraging them to select a variety of subjects that will allow them to explore and develop a range of skills. In doing so, they are keeping their options open in case they change their minds about their careers later on.
- The best thing you can do for your child to help them decide on their GCSE’s is to help them collect as much information as possible. Relevant information from the school or online research will help to make decision making as stress free as possible.
Further Advice and Support
In this post, we have debunked what is a GCSE and have explored why they are important and how parents can help their teenager choose their GCSE options.
GCSE’s are important and therefore students need to know when to revise for GCSE’s. and also what brainstorming activities and revision strategies will work for them.
