Whether you’re currently in Year 9 and only just beginning to think about your GCSE subjects, or you’re half a term into Year 11, chances are you’re already aware of the difference between core subjects and the options you choose for yourself. Whilst for some, the opportunity to drop subjects such as English, Maths or Science may have been welcome – alas, it’s not to be.
These subjects remain core throughout the UK and most further education establishments and employers will not accept an application without at least a pass in these areas. Some may have more specification requirements, such as a grade 5 or above. Therefore, it’s essential you put the work in now to ensure you get the grades you need to progress in the future – even if you’re still not entirely sure what you want that future to look like.
Simply emphasising the importance of Maths, English and Science doesn’t help anyone though, does it? We can hear you now; “But I’m no good at Maths, English or Science” and we get it. Genuinely. We sympathise. However, all the wishing things were different isn’t going to do anyone any good. Perhaps understanding why people value these subjects so much would help.
Let’s start with English, which is arguably the easiest one to justify in terms of its day-to-day relevance, no matter what career you choose. If you live and work in England then the reality is, you’re going to need English on a day-to-day basis to read instructions, communicate both orally and in written format, to take bookings at a restaurant or to pass on information.
Whilst there may be an argument that Shakespeare or Chaucer has little bearing on functional English skills, demonstrating you can read, understand and interpret information are always beneficial and transferrable skills which employers and further educators will want to see.
The same goes for maths. Even if you have no intention of becoming an accountant, maths teacher or data analyst, you will still need maths in your day-to-day work life. That may be working out discounts, calculating measurements for cooking or giving the right change to a customer. True, algebra may never form a part of your normal life; however, the skills understanding algebra provides you with such as logical thought, will always be useful and shouldn’t be overlooked.
How about science? Many wrongly assume only those who want to work in medical or clinical settings require good GCSE science grades, but that’s simply not true. So many further qualifications, such as Psychology, teaching and engineering require a good understanding of science. In order to progress through the required qualifications for these sorts of roles, you’ll need to start with a strong GCSE grade in at least double science. Some FE courses will require specific grades in any or all of the sciences.
It’s really easy to assume, at the age of 12, 14 or 16 that you absolutely will not need to know one end of the microscope from the other in your future adult life. However, one thing most adults will be able to tell you is that things change. You have no idea what you might want to know in the future, what things might suddenly spark an interest, and what regrets you may develop. Trust us, we were all your age once upon a long time ago.
This is why it’s important you err on the side of caution and do everything you can to ensure you get the relevant grades in these three subjects whilst you have the chance. Yes, there is always the possibility of doing resits, or retaking a course; however, why go through that if you can avoid it? Do it right the first time and things will be significantly easier.
But, how do you do that if one or even all of these subjects are not your strong suit? What are your options if you’re worried a pass (or higher grades) are beyond your reach?
Tutoring online for example with online chemistry tutors, online biology tutors or online physics tutors could provide you with very valuable help when preparing for your GCSEs
Working with a professional GCSE Tutor, for instance a physics tutor or a maths tutor, may be precisely the kind of support you need when it comes to securing the grades you want. Whether you’re looking for an online maths tutor or an online science tutor, working with someone with specific subject knowledge will help give you the edge and make your studying more impactful.
Even if you’re taking double science, rather than triple science, you may still find it useful to work with a dedicated chemistry tutor, biology tutor or a science tutor. Many students find that they tend to prefer one of the sciences over the others, and therefore this one tends to be their better subject. If you find this is the case, then working on the areas you find more problematic will help focus your resources. If you find biology and chemistry easy, or at least not that daunting, then an online physics tutor may be your best bet, or if you think you may want to study Engineering, then working with physics and maths tutors could be invaluable for you.
They will be able to work with you to identify your areas of weakness, by asking questions, working through problems with you and going over sample questions and papers. They can then provide clarification on specific subject areas and keep working with you to build your confidence. It may be that they are easily able to identify some gaps in your knowledge which, once resolved, will lay a good foundation for you to be able to continue your studies and improve your skills further.
Here at Tutorspot we have a wide range of online tutors available to support you with any subject you need help with from GCSE through to A Level tutors and beyond. You can start searching for the right tutor for you today by emailing us at info@tutorspot.co.uk or giving us a call or text on 07480637128.
