GCSE 'Pathways'/Options HALP MEE!!

[CHA!NGANG]

I did that. TBH I spent 1 year on coursework, and got 91% in it, and it was only 25% of the overall mark. That was a big let-down as, I would have thought it would be at least 40%.

[ToxicPaddy]

We had to do English, Maths, Science, Short course RE (not paper), PE (not paper) and PSHE (not paper).

We then picked 4 subjects we wanted to, they gave us recommendations on the variety of subjects we should pick but they didn't actually say we had to pick one of this and one of that, any four we wanted except for Drama no one could do that this year.

I picked History, Business studies, Geography and French and for reserve subject it was long course religion. I think I picked good ones

[Xarea]

That looks quite good. What sort of things do you have to do for coursework? Is it interesting to do in lessons?

The GCSE/Coursework split is 50% each way, so it's pretty fun. The coursework is different every year, this year I had to:

• Shoot my own trailer
• Wrote an essay about representation of females on mainstream TV
• Explore and write an essay about Wallace and Gromit

And also I submitted all the work I had done on ClubHabbo for my Practical Production (otherwise you'd have to create a whole magazine and write about it).

[JackBuddy]

Graphics is good, keep it. Media studies however... despite being fun, it isn't recognised as a 'good' GCSE to have and isn't respected by colleges and unis.

[Immenseman]

Media studies attracted the 'idiots' at my school, might not be the same as yours. Like others have said people don't even really see it as a GCSE. I picked French, Geography, History and Art.

Although I found french very easy in the lower years at secondary school it's not as good as a GCSE. Too much effort with the oral and coursework. If you're a really determined person and don't mind putting the work in then it can be fun. However, I find it very boring and wouldn't pick it if I was to pick again.

History is great, yeah there is a hell of a lot of coursework but it's relatively easy to do if you do the work in lessons and browse the net. I got an A in all the mocks and and A in all my coursework. I would certainly recommend this, great subject.

Geography, mhmmm. I enjoyed it this year but not in year 10. Some lessons are just so bloody boring learning about weather and what causes it. The good thing is there is only one bit of coursework but you need a good 50-60 pages in that one bit to achieve the higher grades. It's a well structured course. I have already got 50% of my final grade. I go into the final exam needing 52% out of the entire marks to get an A. Again it's good if you put the work in.

Art is crap in my opinion. Although I only picked it because I had to seeing as we're a media arts school. Some people say it's one of the easiest GCSE's to pass but I don't think it is. You need to do a lot of work to get a C grade. Hardly even worth the effort. Although saying that I believe the grade depends on how much work you do regardless of how good you are at art. Very independant GCSE, if you do a performing arts i'd do Drama or music if you can play an instrument relatively well.

[JackBuddy]

Media studies attracted the 'idiots' at my school, might not be the same as yours. Like others have said people don't even really see it as a GCSE. I picked French, Geography, History and Art.

Although I found french very easy in the lower years at secondary school it's not as good as a GCSE. Too much effort with the oral and coursework. If you're a really determined person and don't mind putting the work in then it can be fun. However, I find it very boring and wouldn't pick it if I was to pick again.

History is great, yeah there is a hell of a lot of coursework but it's relatively easy to do if you do the work in lessons and browse the net. I got an A in all the mocks and and A in all my coursework. I would certainly recommend this, great subject.

Geography, mhmmm. I enjoyed it this year but not in year 10. Some lessons are just so bloody boring learning about weather and what causes it. The good thing is there is only one bit of coursework but you need a good 50-60 pages in that one bit to achieve the higher grades. It's a well structured course. I have already got 50% of my final grade. I go into the final exam needing 52% out of the entire marks to get an A. Again it's good if you put the work in.

Art is crap in my opinion. Although I only picked it because I had to seeing as we're a media arts school. Some people say it's one of the easiest GCSE's to pass but I don't think it is. You need to do a lot of work to get a C grade. Hardly even worth the effort. Although saying that I believe the grade depends on how much work you do regardless of how good you are at art. Very independant GCSE, if you do a performing arts i'd do Drama or music if you can play an instrument relatively well.

I chose graphics, geography, french and double science (because we couldn't do that automatically -.-)
Despite it being hard, french is a good GCSE to have and is much more helpful than media studies when applying to colleges etc. I highly recommend you doing graphics and geography. (I enjoyed both of them)

[PriceTags]

I've decided to carry on with Spanish next year to improve my grade, because I've thought that a C in Spanish might not get me anywhere. Then in Year 11 I can do a short course in French or German.

Is Media not a good one to go for, then? I've been trying not to pick because my friends are/aren't doing it, but I do know that a couple of my friends are fancying it, and I really don't want to go any of it completely alone. Most of my friends are doing history, too, and we had it all explained to us that a humanity and a language are good to get into Uni and stuff.

The full list of what we can have is:

Geography
History
French
German
Spanish
Music
Business Studies
Media Studies
BTEC Sport
Art
Expressive Arts
Food Technology
NVQ Food
Leisure and Tourism

[JackBuddy]

You can do media, but I wouldn't advise it. Even if you did choose the sam subjects as your friends it doesn't guarantee you will be in the same class. I was in classes alone, but I just spoke to new people and eventually became their friend. Just do what you want to do or you might regret it by the time you go to college.

[prada]

i picked my recently and choooooose
BTEC ICT (we HAD to pick a btec, bare sucks.)
History
Textiles

When i leave school i wanna be like a PA in the fashion industry.... hence why i took textiles!

Good luck with whatever you pick and sorry I cant help you.. dont have much experience in them yet!

[JackBuddy]

i picked my recently and choooooose
BTEC ICT (we HAD to pick a btec, bare sucks.)
History
Textiles

When i leave school i wanna be like a PA in the fashion industry.... hence why i took textiles!

Good luck with whatever you pick and sorry I cant help you.. dont have much experience in them yet!

ah my sister is kinda doing that... at london college of fashion