Options :(

(18 Posts)
expatbrat Tue 12-Mar-13 23:31:47

To the point views appreciated.
DD has absolutely no idea what she would like to be when older and here we are choosing GCSE Options. She has a math/science brain and generally pretty good at other subjects. No definite view apart from DT which she really wants to do.
Heres what she's chosen.....

English Language
English Lit
D & T
Last choice is between Economics and Psychology

Am I right in thinking Biology and Physics don't go together? She does have the option of Chemistry but prefers the first two.

How to choose when you have not the least idea what your really interested in yet?

Clary Wed 13-Mar-13 00:30:07

That's a good spread of subjects, sounds fine to me.

Biology and Physics are both sciences, not sure what you mean by them not "going together" - they do just as much as Maths and French, ie not especially but they don't need to.
She has all the basic bases covered there. If she wanted to be a medic/vet etc she would need all 3 sciences would be my only caveat.

OnGoldenPond Wed 13-Mar-13 00:46:20

Just one note of caution - when I was applying for biology courses at uni (admittedly some time ago grin !) a lot of courses required chemistry A level. Chemistry GCSE would be very important to provide the background knowledge needed for most biology courses. I would think the same would be true for a lot of physics courses as chemistry acts as a bridge between the different science disciplines. You should bear this in mind as your DD is keen on the sciences. Personally, I would choose chemistry instead of Media if possible to keep as many science options open as possible.

Also I have heard that D&T has quite a high workload due to the amount of coursework involved so make sure your DD is sufficiently interested in the subject to make this worthwhile.

Kez100 Wed 13-Mar-13 03:37:50

Just beware that some of those subjects are easy to pick up at A level without GCSE - Media, Psycology and Economics whereas missing out on GCSE in Chemistry and even, possibly, a second language if she is good at them, is very much more difficult.

MarjorieAntrobus Wed 13-Mar-13 04:07:32

Agree with what everyone else has said.

If she has a maths/science brain (your words) then chemistry should be in the list to the exclusion of something else, unless she can do 3in1 science as a double GCSE.

Also reiterating PP that psy, media and economics can be taken at AS/A2 without GCSE. Not so for sciences and languages.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud Wed 13-Mar-13 04:22:54

I too would query why, with a science brain, she's not covering all three sciences. Media, psychology and economics are all things you can study at university without the A level and aren't as well regarded for university admissions - I believe they are not enabling subjects, in the current jargon - so if she wants to keep her options as open as possible I'd add the chemistry and ditch one of those.

Knowsabitabouteducation Wed 13-Mar-13 05:05:44

If you are in England, Chemistry is not an option. She has to do it.

Media, Psychology and Economics are better picked up in the sixth form.

OnGoldenPond Wed 13-Mar-13 08:13:58

Knows - it is possible to take the sciences as 3 stand alone options if the OP's DD is taking iGCSEs - at least this is the information I have been given at recent open days by schools which do iGCSEs.

Though in this case it would definitely be a mistake not to do chemistry. The OP's DD may not enjoy it as much as the other sciences but it really is necessary as groundwork for just about all science courses.

eatyourveg Wed 13-Mar-13 09:39:12

Agree, it seems odd without chemistry if biology and physics are definite choices

Eastpoint Wed 13-Mar-13 10:34:57

Another person adding switch media for chemistry if possible. She has a 'creative' in her D&T, economics rather than psychology but 2nd language/history stronger choice.

It is hard to choose if you are maths/sciency rather than language arts - fewer options.

expatbrat Thu 14-Mar-13 13:55:18

Sorry for delay in reply. Thank you all for the advice.

These are IGCSE's. Media unfortunately is compulsory. I have managed to convince her that Chemistry is a much better option than Economics or Phycology in keeping her options as open as possible.
Made a long list of all the careers we could think of and started narrowing it down to things she might like to do. Still no idea and can't really blame her at 13 years old smile

Thanks again

outtolunchagain Thu 14-Mar-13 15:11:37

I wouldn't worry about careers the GCSE should be just that ; General Certificate of Education . She needs a good spread of the basics , these will open doors to choices later .Plenty of time to explore interests later , think about the GCSEs as the base of the higher ed pyramid , then narrower AS, even narrower for As and so on

So maths ,sciences preferably 3 but my ds did duel because he wanted the extra humanity , a language , an essay type subject like history and a social science like geography .All stuff that can be built on

Happymum22 Fri 15-Mar-13 15:05:45

I agree on the point Chemistry is definitely needed. DDs is looking at jobs at the moment and lots have the basic requirement of Cs in all 3 sciences.

I'd also consider just doing 9. My DDs all went to a very academic school but are encouraged to do 9, 10 if really can't decide. It makes a difference on the work load, especially with a heavy coursework subject like DT. Unis and jobs aren't going to car at all if you have 9 or 10. Some schools push brighter ones to do 10+ so that they bump results up for the school, so watch out for that.

Happymum22 Fri 15-Mar-13 15:07:35

Is media done early? I know a friend whose DD did it in year 10? If that is the case scrap the do 9 not 10 comment. Sounds like school bumping up their 5 A* to C rating with an easier subject like media that most will get a C in.

mediawhore Fri 15-Mar-13 19:28:25

Media is NOT an 'easy' subject. A hell of a lot of work is required for the CWK element.

At A level it is also very hard, requiring high level analysis, proficient technical skill, academic essays and application of theory.

It's a fascinating and highly relevant subject though which is why it has a negative image - interesting, relevant subjects MUST be easy, right?

Knowsabitabouteducation Sat 16-Mar-13 16:34:19

It's not a hard subject either. It has a certain amount of work that is not particularly intellectual.

The lack of intellectual demand puts it into the 'soft' category. This does not mean that it is not useful to those students who take it. Not all students are intellectual, so MS can be something they can achieve well in. The education system needs to enable all students to achieve something.

creamteas Sat 16-Mar-13 17:46:16


IMO subjects are are labelled as soft subjects just because traditionalists don't like them, rather than anything innate about them. After all the analytical skills needed for Media are not that different to English Lit, but no one seems to call that a soft subject.....

speedology Fri 05-Jul-13 20:09:07


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