{"id":1199,"date":"2022-08-29T17:26:56","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T17:26:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutorspot.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1199"},"modified":"2023-05-18T09:24:36","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T09:24:36","slug":"tips-for-picking-gcse-options-never-too-early-to-start-thinking-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutorspot.co.uk\/blog\/tips-for-picking-gcse-options-never-too-early-to-start-thinking-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for picking GCSE options – never too early to start thinking about it"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choosing which GCSE\u2019s to study will be the first chance many students have had to shape their own educational journey.\u00a0 Up until this point few decisions have had to be made \u2013 the main one, of course, being which secondary school to go to in the first place.<\/p>\n

Now though, students have a chance to decide precisely what they will be studying \u2013 outside of the core subjects of English, Maths and the three sciences.\u00a0 Dreams of being able to drop a much hated subject have no doubt been buzzing around many people\u2019s minds since the start of Year 7, but it\u2019s unlikely any other thoughts have come into being.<\/p>\n

Given that GCSE studies start in year 10, many students will be forced to make a decision on their GCSE options in year 9. However, some schools require decisions to be made in Year 8, which means it is never too early to start thinking about which path you may go down.\u00a0 Here are our top tips on choosing the right subjects for you.<\/p>\n

\u00a0#1 What career options appeal to you?<\/h3>\n

Years ago, people entered a career and pretty much stuck to it until they retired at a sensible age.\u00a0 Now though, many people are finding they\u2019re having two, perhaps even three, meaningful and valuable careers over the course of their working lives.\u00a0 This means that nothing is ever set in stone \u2013 and whilst decisions you make now for your GCSEs will have some impact on your ultimate career path, they\u2019re not going to be the be all or end all.<\/p>\n

That said, by the time you\u2019re 13 years of age, you may have some inkling of the areas that interest you the most.\u00a0 Are you likely to want to work in medicine?\u00a0 This may be as a doctor, nurse, midwife, pharmacist or chiropractor.\u00a0 You don\u2019t need to have all, or even many, of the details ironed out at this stage. Yet, knowing that medicine, in general, is an area you may want to investigate further, means you should be setting your attention on more science-based GCSEs.<\/p>\n

#2 Get advice<\/h3>\n

Speaking to your teachers, parents and other trusted individuals is a good idea. However, remember their advice is just that.\u00a0 Teachers are a great point of reference because they know how much additional work is required at GCSE level compared to what you have been doing to date.<\/p>\n

If, for example, you are interested in pursuing a medicine based career, for example, as a vet, your teacher will be able to be honest with you about any areas you may need to improve on to secure the necessary grades.\u00a0 In some cases, they may recommend you hire a GCSE Biology Tutor<\/a> or physics tutor<\/a> to provide you with some additional support throughout your studies.<\/p>\n

\"GCSE<\/p>\n

#3 Stick to your strengths<\/h3>\n

Remember those dreams about dropping the subjects you hate?\u00a0 Well, they\u2019re about to come true \u2013 to a certain extent.<\/p>\n

Here at Tutorspot we\u2019d never advocate you drop a subject just because you hate it. The reality is, a hated subject is often the result of lack of enjoyment \u2013 usually because a student is struggling to engage with the content.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not possible for you to improve in this area, but it may require some additional support.<\/p>\n

However, there will be some subjects you naturally excel at or genuinely enjoy.\u00a0 If, for example, French does not appeal, then the chances are it\u2019s not a GCSE that\u2019s going to impact your future college or career options.\u00a0 Dropping that so you can take History, a notoriously widely accepted and valued GCSE subject, makes sense.<\/p>\n

The reality is, you want to secure as many good grades at GCSE as possible to keep your options open at A Level.\u00a0 Studying subjects which you enjoy and have an affinity for just makes sense.<\/p>\n

#4 Tackle your weaknesses<\/h3>\n

No matter what your future career choices might be, or how much they change between now and choosing your A Levels, the reality is you\u2019re still going to want to pass subjects such as English, Maths and the sciences.\u00a0 This may mean seeking additional support in order to do so.<\/p>\n

Working with a specific online maths tutor<\/a>, GCSE Chemistry tutor<\/a> or GCSE Physics tutor<\/a> is a great way to help you whilst you\u2019re studying for your GCSEs. \u00a0Not only will they ensure that you are able to keep on top of your day to day studies, but they can provide you with support when it comes to coursework, and tips on how best to revise.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s never too early to start working with Chemistry tutors<\/a>, physics and maths tutors<\/a>, a biology tutor<\/a>, a general science tutor<\/a> or any subject tutor<\/a> for that matter.\u00a0 No matter what year group you\u2019re in, working with a private online tutor<\/a> will allow you to improve your understanding, confidence and ultimately your performance in any given subject area. In turn, this may mean you\u2019re able to better progress through your class sets, meaning you have access to more in-depth teaching in school directly.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

#5 Don\u2019t be swayed by personal preferences<\/h3>\n

So far we\u2019ve looked at reasons why you should take a particular subject at GCSE (i.e. natural strength, interest, value or career path), but what about reasons why you shouldn\u2019t?<\/p>\n

Two of the main reasons you should never use to influence your choice of subject are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Friends are studying that subject<\/li>\n
  2. You like the teacher<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Your friends may be choosing that subject because it is relevant for their chosen career path, or because they genuinely enjoy the topic.\u00a0 Taking Geography just because your best mate is doing it, but actually, you\u2019d personally enjoy Business Studies more is a really bad decision.\u00a0 You\u2019re in a class to study, so does it really matter whether your best mate is in the same class as your or not?<\/p>\n

    Equally, it\u2019s great that you enjoy the teaching style of a particular teacher, but it\u2019s important to remember they\u2019re individuals with lives of their own \u2013 which means, at any given moment, they may take a job elsewhere.\u00a0 Can you imagine signing up to take Spanish just because you love Mrs Ottley, to discover she\u2019s retiring at the end of Year 10?<\/p>\n

    \"Student<\/p>\n

    If you require further advice for when it comes to picking your GCSE options, send us an email today – info@tutorspot.co.uk or text or call on 07480637128 and a member of our team will be happy to help.<\/p>\n

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    Choosing which GCSE\u2019s to study will be the first chance many students have had to shape their own educational journey.\u00a0 Up until this point few decisions have had to be made \u2013 the main one, of course, being which secondary school to go to in the first place. Now though, students have a chance to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1549,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nTips for picking GCSE options - never too early to start thinking about it - Tutorspot<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tutorspot.co.uk\/blog\/tips-for-picking-gcse-options-never-too-early-to-start-thinking-about-it\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tips for picking GCSE options - never too early to start thinking about it - Tutorspot\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Choosing which GCSE\u2019s to study will be the first chance many students have had to shape their own educational journey.\u00a0 Up until this point few decisions have had to be made \u2013 the main one, of course, being which secondary school to go to in the first place. 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