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GCSE choice time!

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  • tsabo
    tsabo Posts: 437 Forumite
    I'm not too sure about Law etc but i'd make sure she has an extra science. I'd love to have gone in to something science related but couldn't as I didn't have the GCSEs needed for it.

    Also, try not to narrow it down too much. 5 years on i've completely changed my mind twice on what I want to do!
  • She should pick subjects that she is going to enjoy learning for the next 2 years. If one of those is law, then pick law.

    Most subjects can be picked up at A Level without prior knowledge with a few exceptions, languages being one.

    At GCSE, the grades are more important than the subject areas. If she picks subjects she enjoys then she is likely to get better grades. Keep it fairly broad. I assume she will get around 3 option choices? I would say to go for a language, something "fun" like music, tech, art, IT, media, drama etc and another such as law, geog, history etc.

    Does your school offer the new Diplomas? The Business, Admin and Finance Higher Diploma might be a good choice as it looks at employment law.

    She has to think that she will be doing them for 2 years so should pick what she is going to enjoy above all - after all learning is supposed to be fun! :D
  • Person_one
    Person_one Posts: 28,884 Forumite
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    I take it she's only 13 or 14 right now? Her ambitions may well change several times before she even applies for uni. I would echo Rotherham Lass and encourage her to study the subjects she enjoys the most, whatever they are.

    If it turns out in years to come she would rather go down a different path then its never too late. I'm planning a career 180 in the next few months/years and its a lot easier to go back into education as an adult these days.
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,141 Forumite
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    GCSE law will be about what law is, how the process works etc etc. Very good grounding even if you don't go into law. If she is interested let her do it.

    As soon as you enter any profession Law will form part of the curriculum as all professions are backed by the legal process.

    IMHO it's an area which should be covered generally for all pupils.
  • emlou2009
    emlou2009 Posts: 4,016 Forumite
    If she's interested in law, a law GCSE will do her no harm at all! However, if she's looking to be a sports physiotherapist for example, then its pointless.

    But, bear in mind that a teenager of that age is going to change her mind another gazillion times about what they want to do anyway. Best to choose a well rounded set of subjects.

    When I was at school, we had 4 options and they liked us to choose 1 technology, 1 science, 1 art and 1 out of RE/history/geography. We had to take French. I think I did cookery, history, RE and double science. I just picked what I was good at to make sure I got good grades!

    Now when I write my CV, I just write "Gained 8 GCSE's all at grades A*-C, including English, Maths and Science." Employers only want to know you have a brain in the grand scheme of things!
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  • pigpen
    pigpen Posts: 41,152 Forumite
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    My sister who is a barrister did.. the compulsory ones.. english lit, english lang. Maths, a language.. french.. History, sociology, psychology, government and politics, some waste of time art subject which was compulsory and science... she got 10 A/A*'s and 1 B.. not bad for someone who had totally skipped years 8, 9, 10 and up to christmas of year 11!!

    A-level she did Law, English Lit, English Lang and Sociology at the local college.

    My son is thinking of Law at uni and is doing Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy and History.. he was advised not to bother with law as an A-level as it is rarely considered useful at uni they just look for whatever grades in 3 A-levels.. i think that depends on the uni though.. he will be going to the same uni as my sister did.. due to family/financial circumstances.

    and as a small brag.. my sister got the first 1:1 the university had had in around 6 years.. :D
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  • floss2
    floss2 Posts: 8,030 Forumite
    Can I add that my niece has graduated & is at law school and has said she wished she'd concentrated more on her maths...apparently there are a lot of calculations - presumably involving chargeable hours as she is on more than OH & me put togrether.
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite

    Does your school offer the new Diplomas? The Business, Admin and Finance Higher Diploma might be a good choice as it looks at employment law.

    :D

    This would be a very bad idea for someone wanting to do a competitive subject like Law at a good university. The new Diplomas are completely untried and may well not be as acceptable as traditional subjects at GCSE.
  • JMW77
    JMW77 Posts: 825 Forumite
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    Thankyou for your advice everyone,

    Apart from compulsory which she has too take,she has three choices ,she has chosen History, German & Music .
    I think i will try to persuade her to change to Geograhy as she enjoys that more than History but shes worried that it might effect her law career but i don't think it will,will it?
    I actually think she is unlikely to follow the Law choice anyway, and she hates History so she says.

    Great to hear everyones opinions and advice she has read all your posts and i think she realises its about what she will enjoy.
  • clairehi
    clairehi Posts: 1,352 Forumite
    Great advice from Kay Peel above.

    I think geography or history would be equally good academic subjects from a university entrance point of view so best to go with what she is best at.

    It sounds like she is going for good solid "core" subjects which should give her a good choice of A level topics. if she was planning on doing GCSEs in for example child care, media studies this would not be so helpful for someone planning to go for a competitive and very academic degree subject.
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