Subjects at GCSE

It is GCSE decision time. There are certain subjects you have to take, and you choose the rest so this is not easy. The detailed subject information breaks down all your options into compulsory and non-compulsory non examinable compulsory subjects, and there is additional information to help you choose:

• A summary of what each subject is all about.
• Career suggestions, so you’ll know how a particular subject fits your career idea.

GCSEs replaced O-levels and CSEs in 1988. New vocational GCSEs were introduced in Autumn 2002: they are explained in more detail below.

• Most pupils take GCSEs in most of their subjects.
• It usually takes two years to study for a GCSE. Coursework is part of most GCSEs: work over an extended period, which could include essays, field work reports, art work, making products, or investigations.
• GCSEs are graded A*-G. The grade your child gets will depend on coursework and exam marks.
• Pupils might take exams only once (at the end of year 11, aged 16) or twice (at the end of years 10 and 11).

GCSEs: the official student guide to the system is available from the QCA.

GCSE tiers
At some time during the GCSE course teachers will decide which tier they should enter in each of their GCSEs.

Each tier has a target range of grades that can be awarded. The aim is for your child to take an exam in which their ability will be tested, without their being thrown off course by questions that are much too difficult or much too easy. Some GCSE subjects are not tiered: art and design, history, music, PE and religious studies. All other GCSEs have tiers.

Maths has three tiers.

The diagram below shows you the grades it is possible to reach in each tier.

All other subjects have just two tiers. Again, a diagram below shows which grades it is possible to achieve in each tier. The solid lines show the normal range of grades for each tier. The lighter area shows that pupils in the higher tier can go down one grade outside the tier. If they do badly in the exam, rather than being unclassified, they could get an E. This is called an 'allowed grade'.

Most schools will decide which tier is right for each pupil around the January before the final exam, after the bulk of work has been covered and they have the results of a mock examination.

Maths GCSE paper

Science GCSE
There are three ways to take GCSEs in science. Pupils can:

• take three separate GCSEs in each of biology, chemistry and physics
• take a double award, which covers the three areas and is equal to two GCSEs
• take a single award GCSE, which covers all three areas, but in less depth. It is equal to one GCSE.

Not all schools offer all three ways. A science GNVQ is also available.

www.parentscentre.gov.uk

COMPULSORY SUBJECTS

English

• English involves reading, writing, discussions, spelling, grammar, listening and putting forward your ideas in both formal and creative ways.
• English literature involves analysing writing, poetry, drama and understanding how authors and writers achieve different effects. The historical and social influences will also be included.

Career suggestions:
journalist, library assistant, teacher, media researcher, copy editor.

Mathematics

• Mathematics involves numbers, algebra, shapes, measurements and learning how to handle information.
• You will also learn how to use your knowledge to solve real life problems.

Career suggestions
Bank cashier, accounting technician, insurance broker, stockbroker, Building society manager, statistician.

Science

• Lots of jobs need science, so do your research carefully before deciding which to take (if you do have the option).
• Applied science is a double award GCSE which will appeal if you want to find out more about how science meets the needs of society. You will also learn how science is used every day.
• Taking just one science could limit your options later.
• All the science courses, except for separate sciences, involve a mixture of biology, chemistry and physics.
• Biology is about nutrition in humans, plants, evolution, transfer of energy and nutrients.
• Chemistry looks at atomic structure, bonding, the periodic table and chemical reactions.
• Physics investigates electricity, forces, waves, the solar system and the wider universe.

Career suggestions: scientist, laboratory technician, pharmacy technician, agricultural scientist, doctor, physiotherapist, environmental health officer, forensic scientist.

Information and communications technology (ICT)

• ICT involves studying what information and communications systems can be used for and how they can solve problems.
• You will learn about hardware and software, the effect of new technology on the world and how to present work using ICT.
• Applied ICT is a vocational course that might appeal to you if you like using computers and want to know more about ICT systems, how organisations use ICT, ICT tools, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation techniques and multi media software.

Career suggestions: IT operator, systems analyst, PC support person, network manager.

Compulsory subjects – some of these are non-examinable

Citizenship

• It is all about your role as a citizen in the different communities in which we live and work.

Short GCSE: citizenship.

Career suggestions: barrister, police officer, journalist, social worker

Physical education (PE)

• PE involves developing your sporting skills in four different activities – there are lots to choose from (ask your school what they offer).
• You will also assess and analyse others’ performance within the coursework element.

Entry level: physical education

Short and full GCSEs: physical education and games

Career suggestions: sports coach, leisure centre assistant, PE teacher, sports physiotherapist

Religious Studies

• The course will develop your knowledge and understanding of one or more of these religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.
  

Short and full GCSE: religious studies.

Career suggestions: welfare rights officer, social worker, volunteer organiser, teacher,anthropologist.

Optional subjects

Art and design

• Imaginative, creative, artistic? Well, this one is for you! There are lots of opportunities available from a general art and design course to a specialised one such as graphic design or textiles.
• Applied art and design is a GCSE double award which will suit you if you are very keen on art, craft and design. You will look at different types of materials, the different skills needed to work with them and work to project briefs.

Short and full GCSEs: General art and design, drawing and painting (fine art), graphic design, photography, textiles, 3D design and applied art and design double award

Career suggestions: graphic designer, artist, illustrator, clothing designer, hairdresser, product designer.

Business studies

• You will learn about the different ways companies are organised and run, national and international competition and e-commerce.
• Applied business is a double award GCSE that will interest you if you are very keen on finding out about how businesses work and make a profit.

Short and full GCSEs: business studies and applied business studies double award.

Career suggestions: administrative officer, local government administrator, office manager, human resources officer

• This covers the ancient civilisations and literature of Greece and Rome . You may also be able to study a classical language.

GCSEs: Latin, Greek, classical civilisation.

Career suggestions: archaeologist, museum attendant, researcher, librarian

Design and technology

• There are lots of different courses to choose from.
• Technology courses are creative and practical offering the chance to use tools and design implements.

Short GCSEs: food, graphic products, electronic products, resistant materials, textiles

GCSEs: electronic products, food, graphic products, resistant materials, textiles, automotive engineering, engineering and control.

Career suggestions: chef, dietician, kitchen assistant, product designer, electrician, production worker, engineering operative, textiles technician. library assistant.

Drama

• Drama covers all the different stages involved in putting on a performance, including backstage work such as lighting, costumes or make-up. It involves a lot of practical work, group work and learning how to analyse production.techniques.

GCSE: drama.

Career suggestions: actor, dancer, lighting technician, wardrobe assistant, stage manager.

Engineering

• Engineering is a double award GCSE that involves understanding how products are made, engineering systems and services.
• You will work to a design brief and present your solution to an audience.

Career suggestions: mechanical engineer, machine operator, materials engineer, motor vehicle technician, production operative, engineering maintenance technician.

Geography

• Geography is broken down into two main areas – physical and human geography. Physical geography looks at environments such as rivers, glaciers and coastal landscapes, whereas human geography looks at agriculture, industry and discovering how the environment shapes people’s lives. Geography involves using maps, statistics, photographs and taking part in field trips.

Career suggestions: oceanographer, geologist, environmental scientist, teacher, town planner, surveyor.

Health and social care

• Split into three sections – healthcare, social care and early years care – you will research what each involves and look into the jobs available. Discover how to encourage good health, deal with emergencies and develop a health plan.

GCSEs:
health studies, health and social care double award.

Career suggestions:
care assistant, registered nurse: adult branch, nursery nurse, playworker, social worker, midwife, hospital porter, health service manager.

History

• Use books, newspapers and the Internet to research how people lived in the past.
• There are three main courses – the school’s history project, the modern world, and social and economic history.

Short and full GCSE: history.

Career suggestions:
archivist, museum attendant, researcher.

Home economics

• Understanding people’s needs helps develop your skills in managing and organising resources –useful for a number of careers.
• Child development teaches you all about the care of children from birth, while home economics looks at topics such as design and technology and food and nutrition from a less technical position.

GCSEs:
home economics courses in: child development, textiles, food and nutrition.

Career suggestions:
baker, chef, dietician, childminder, nursery nurse, children’s nurse.

Leisure and tourism

• This is a double award GCSE that covers different leisure and tourism organisations such as theatres, theme parks, travel agencies and air transport.
• You will gain valuable communication skills and understand about things like customer service and dealing with difficult customers.

GCSEs:
leisure and tourism double award.

Career suggestions:
holiday representative, holiday centre worker, hotel receptionist, tourist information centre assistant, air cabin crew, airline customer service agent.

Manufacturing

• This double award GCSE looks at how products are designed, made and the importance of materials.
• Working alone or as part of a team, you will learn how to develop a design specification, draw up a final design and offer a manufacturing solution.

GCSE:
manufacturing double award.

Career suggestions:
3D designer, production manager: manufacturing, quality control inspector, textile operative, sheet metal worker.

Modern foreign languages

• Whatever career you choose learning another language is useful.
• Courses will involve reading, vocabulary, grammar and, of course, speaking in your chosen language.

Short GCSEs:
French, German, Spanish, Urdu.

GCSEs:
French, German, Spanish, Italian, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and others

Career suggestions:
bilingual secretary, translator, teacher, hotel receptionist, holiday representative, diplomatic service officer.

Music

• Involving both practical and theory you will get involved in performing, composing, listening and learning to appreciate music.
• You will also get the opportunity to develop your own skills as a musician or singer.

GCSE: music

Career suggestions:
music therapist, musician, composer, disc jockey.

Skills for working life and life skills

• This course offers all the things that should make getting a job much easier such as: information technology, team working, and money management and assertiveness skills.
• The life skills course will be a good choice if you hope to live independently in the future. You will learn the same things as in skills for working life, but in addition can choose two or three specialist units from citizenship or independent living like dealing with problems or working in the community.

Career suggestions:
general clerk, secretary, receptionist, care assistant, nursery nurse.

Social Sciences

• You can either study the following separate subjects which are to do with modern society and how it operates; economics, government and politics, law, psychology, and sociology or a mixture of them all in social sciences. Find out which are available at your school.
• Economics looks at how money is made and distributed through taxes, exchange rates, international trade and consumer spending.
• Government and politics is concerned with central and local government, political parties, and different political thinking.
• Law will be for you if you are interested in the legal system, how laws are made and enforced, people’s rights and responsibilities.
• Psychology looks at how the mind and bodywork, how we learn and social influences on human behaviour and development.
• Sociology involves the family, education and employment systems, social change and the causes of inequality.

GCSEs:
social sciences, economics, government and politics, law, psychology and sociology.

Career suggestions:
economist, financial adviser, stockbroker, local government administrator, auditor, police officer, prison officer, legal executive, barrister, occupational psychologist.

All the information on this page is from www.connexions.gov.uk/whichwaynow/

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