Choosing your GCSEs can be daunting as there are so many subjects to consider. We asked the following questions to members of the Stemette Society for their advice on picking GCSE subjects. Here are the responses…
1. What did you consider when picking your GCSE options?
Some universities require a language at GCSE level, e.g UCL. Keep your options open. Consider taking a language – regardless of how good you are. Many of my friends who want to go to UCL now have to cram a language GCSE alongside their undergraduate which can be pretty difficult. Also, having an extra language is super useful.
– Laiba
Pick subjects you enjoy. My school sets out that you have to choose:
– a humanity
– an art
– a modern language
– the mandatory subjects (everyone had to do triple science)
– and two free subjects.
I chose the subjects I loved the most or was most interested in (History, German, D&T, Drama and Ancient Greek).
– Savinay
When choosing your GCSEs, consider: which subjects offer me the widest range of choices? It is important to choose options that don’t close you off too soon. Keep your choices varied and choose “enabling subjects”, ie, the ones that give you the most options going forward.
– Joana
When choosing your subjects, make sure you enjoy them and are willing to study them for the next few years. Don’t pick subjects just because your friends are. These choices will decide YOUR future.
– Aasiyah
With GCSEs, my main advice is to choose subjects you enjoy the most. Don’t worry too much about it narrowing down your A-level choices or University application yet. Focus on whether you’re good at the subject and whether you enjoy it.
– Hannah
I only picked the subjects that I liked and would nicely lead to the A levels I wanted to do. If you’re undecided about the future (which is absolutely fine, it’s still early days), keep your options varied. Many places prefer a language, a humanities and a technical subject. It’s also important to remember that you shouldn’t force yourself to do something you won’t enjoy or aren’t good at. I sucked at Humanities, so I didn’t take any. I think this was a good decision as I had fewer exams and had more time to revise for my other subjects.
– Dyuti
Listen and consider all received advice. Ultimately, make your own decision. Remember that your parents don’t fully know your capabilities, nor does a teacher. It is your future and your life. If you enjoy a subject and you are good at it, go for it.
– Elinor
2. If you could choose again, would you choose differently?
If I could choose again, I would do a unique subject like Electronics, as it’s something I’m currently interested in, but wasn’t sure of then.
– Dyuti
If I could choose again, I would choose more creative subjects. Life as a teen is hard enough, so choose subjects that will make you happy.
– Jessica
If I could choose again, I probably would have done Computer Science. It was a subject I was good at, but I was rather frightened of it, so I chose German instead. I enjoyed German, but I wish I had done computing as well as German.
– Vanessa
Keep your options open. I would recommend you choose: a humanities, creative and language GCSE. This will qualify you for an EBacc (English Baccalaureate) and make you seem super well-rounded.
– Laiba
Diversify your choices. Try to include different GCSEs from different categories (humanities, STEM, languages, etc).
– Joana
3. What advice would you give to a Year 8 or Year 9 student who is about to pick their choices and wants to continue with STEM?
If you have a profession/university course in mind, research it. Maybe a particular subject could be useful for the future. To be honest, GCSEs won’t affect career ambitions that much. STEM subjects are mandatory anyway. Choose a variety of subjects that you like. When I chose my GCSEs, I was convinced I would be an architect, so I chose accordingly. Now, I want to go into Computer Science. My future hasn’t been affected at all by my GCSE subjects. If anything, they helped, as by doing subjects I liked, I got the grades I wanted. Choosing subjects can be daunting, but it’s honestly not the end of the world, whatever you choose. Just make sure you like what you’re doing, because you’ll end up doing A LOT of it!
– Dyuti
Think about what YOU enjoy. I was a jack of all trades at school, so I had quite a few teachers trying to persuade me to take their subject. If you’re in a similar situation, ask your form tutor or a teacher who doesn’t teach you for a more objective opinion. I don’t personally believe that your GCSE options determine whether you can go into STEM. So pick subjects because you enjoy them.
– Vanessa
As long as you enjoy the subjects you do, immerse yourself in your passions. For example, if your passion is STEM-related, you can start a club, for example, a Stemillions club.
– Jessica
Is your school particularly good at certain subjects? Some schools excel in certain areas. Look out for subjects with strong support.
– Joana
One thing you should remember is that there is no perfect combination. Choosing French rather than Spanish is not better or worse than doing the converse. So try not to be too sad about leaving subjects behind.
– Hannah
If you didn’t want to stay in STEM subjects, then that’s alright too. If you’re interested in the field but not the exams, there’s still a lot you can do to stay involved. There is not only one path to get into the STEM industry.
– Ella
If you feel inspired, check out this BBC Bitesize post and also check out this post from Youth Employment UK.
