Choosing your GCSE's

Hello guys, it's Emma and today I have a topic most teenagers go through in their life : GCSE's. At the moment, I'm going through the process of choosing my options, and I have a few tips to make it a little easier for you along the way.

One thing to ask yourself whilst going through this process is what you want to do with your life. For me, I would like something to do with photography or music. Then, once you've figured out this, try to base your options around this. At my school, we can choose to do Core & Additional Science or Triple Science. I chose Core & Additional, because it gives me more options from block 3 (We have 3 blocks, first is the sciences I just mentioned, second is all Humanities and Languages, third is all the other subjects like Art & Design, Child Development, etc.). If you can't figure what you want to do when your older, that is perfectly fine. Choose the subjects you love as it will be easier for you to concentrate and get a better grade.

You also have the chance to do the English Baccalaureate. This is a selection of subjects you take as your GCSE's together and will better your chance at getting into college / university. Personally, I think this is pointless but if you don't know what to do for your options then this would probably be good for you. However, you have to be confident and secure a C grade or above in all the subjects. Subjects for the English Baccalaureate are :

• English
• Mathematics
• Geography / History
• Triple Science / Core & Additional Science / Computer Science
• French / Spanish / German.

Do not let anyone pressure you into choosing something you don't want to do. This is one thing I was told repeatedly throughout this process, and you will to. If you don't like a subject - say French or German, don't let your mum or dad or nan push you to do it. At the end of the day, unless your planning to travel the world or move around, you wont ever use a second or third language anyway. Also, try not to choose a subject because you like the teacher or your friend's choosing it. Chances are, you wont have the same teacher and you wont be in the same class as your friend.

There are subjects that are core and you can't get out of doing them. For me at my school, as far as I know we have to do Maths, Learning for Life, English Literature and English Speaking. They almost made RPE (Religion, Philosophy &  Ethics) a core subject, and not a lot of people were pleased about it.

I hope this helped anyone going through this process. I have a friend with a blog who wrote a similar post, her name is hollybeautyxox.

I love you, Emma xx

And for anyone wondering, these are what I chose :
Core & Additional Science, History, Art & Design, Music and Music.