Are GCSEs necessary?

Jamopy

For higher powered careers - Dr, Engineer, etc - are GCSEs vital? I'm an adult (33) who left school at 15 with no qualifications. Since then i've gained city and guilds and NVQ qualifications said to be equivalent to several A levels, and i've also completed several level 1 and level 2 courses with the Open University (i think the levels are equivalent to years spent in University but i can dig out the exact comparison if it's important).

Basically i'm working in construction at the moment but looking at retraining and need to know how important it is to have those GCSEs on my CV. Most places seem to ask for them, but i'm wondering whether the fact that i have higher level qualifications since leaving school means i can bypass having to go back and sit them (which seems to be both time consuming and expensive).

Claree__x

If you're looking at going back to uni/college most of them will consider your experiences and other qualifications, even if it does state gcse on the application. It's maybe worth sending an email to the admissions dept and they'll clarify good luck!

iSlideOnItConstance

Claree__x wrote: »

If you're looking at going back to uni/college most of them will consider your experiences and other qualifications, even if it does state gcse on the application. It's maybe worth sending an email to the admissions dept and they'll clarify good luck!

Social work/Nursing degrees require a C grade or above in english and maths, or their equivalents. You cannot get onto the course without it.

Dunroamin

There are certain careers like teaching and social work where GCSE grade C or over in English and Maths are statutory requirements, regardless of whatever qualifications you have.

What are your career plans?

ingey.uk

Claree__x wrote: »

If you're looking at going back to uni/college most of them will consider your experiences and other qualifications, even if it does state gcse on the application. It's maybe worth sending an email to the admissions dept and they'll clarify good luck!

I agree You have 18 years experience in the work place and a couple of OU Modules under your belt

Good Luck with your future studies

what are you looking to retrain as??

Claree__x

iSlideOnItConstance wrote: »

Social work/Nursing degrees require a C grade or above in english and maths, or their equivalents. You cannot get onto the course without it.

I did say most

Alikay

I'm 53 and have recently started a level 3 childcare course. One of the requirements is a GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English. Despite getting 100% in the English and Maths assessment tests (not blowing my own trumpet here - they were really very easy) because I don't have recent GCSE passes in English and Maths it turns out I have to retake them as my 1970's O levels are out of date. Very frustrating seeing as my retention of the knowledge is good.

So, yes. Maths and English GCSE's are important, and not having them (or them being more than 7 or 8 years old) could prevent you from accessing further study opportunities.

flea72

The only gcses that matter are english and maths. Yes alot of companies will look at your higher qualifications/experience but unless they relate to maths/english, they will still want to see gcse results in these subjects

I know someone who had A level statistics, but when applying for uni they needed to have at least C grade gcse maths. they wouldnt accept the A level, over the gcse

Most employers want to see gcse results as its a known standard that they can compare. Alot of employers dont know what nvq, bachaloreate, btec, etc involve, so its hard to tell what a possible employee is capable of, academically

Getting my gcse maths at the age of 39, was one of the best things i have done. It proved i wasnt the numpty school had me pegged out to be and also meant i would no longer have to be vague on my CV or at interviews, about what qualifications i actually held

As already stated, most uni courses want c+ gcses, so by going back and getting them, its meant i could now go to uni

GothicStirling

My sister recently started working as a Sales Assistant at Durham Cathedral, and part of her condition of employment was she supplied her maths and GCSE qualification, this was despite 15 years in retail/heritage, and currently being a Theology student at Durham University.

I'm going to imagine that any postgraduate studies of training/apprenticeships are going to ask to see these GCSE's. You should be able to study these as night-classes at your local school/college, or if you prefer Distance Learning look in to the National Extension College.

prowla

Maths and English make sense as minimal baselines.

notanewuser

prowla wrote: »

Maths and English make sense as minimal baselines.

They would if a C grade was proof of literacy and numeracy. It's not.