• Question: What subjects did you all choose at GCSE and why

    Asked by to Aled, Ellie, Fiona, Kev, Willem on 13 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Eleanor Parker

      Eleanor Parker answered on 13 Mar 2014:

      Hi unknown007,
      At my school we were required to take English language, English literature, Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, RS, IT and DT and a language. We were then allowed to pick 2 more subjects. I did French as my language and chose Spanish and PE as my optional subjects. I chose Spanish because I loved learning about Spain and Spanish culture, and because I like being able to speak different languages. I chose PE because it covered lots of things I was interested in like psychology, physiology and biomechanics and I love sport!

    • Photo: Fiona Heesen

      Fiona Heesen answered on 14 Mar 2014:

      Hi unknown007,

      I grew up in Canada and we do not really have the same system as GCSEs – when I was in high school we did 8 subjects a year for four years prior to starting University – my first year (when you are around 13 or 14) we were required to take English, Maths, French, Religion, General Science (which included biology, chemistry, physics) and PE and you can pick two more: I did History and Computer Applications. In your third year you begin to have more options, and I chose to take Law, Biology, Physical Geography, History and French. (Religion, English and Maths were still required). Although it appears to be fewer subjects than your GCSEs, we got to cover quite a range of things! As Canada is a bilingual country, French is good to learn and I liked being able to do some science alongside other art subjects!

    • Photo: Kevin Arbuckle

      Kevin Arbuckle answered on 14 Mar 2014:

      I went to school in Scotland so we have a slightly different system than GCSEs too. But for our equivalent exams (‘standard grades’) English, maths, and a language (I did German) were compulsory. I then chose to do chemistry, physics, music, geography, and admin (kind of like IT). Interestingly I didn’t do biology at this level but I did take that at Higher level (equivalent to A levels).

      I’ve always been of the mindset that there’s only one reason to choose to do anything – because you enjoy it or find it interesting. This is why I choose the sciences and music that I took, although for some other subjects (like German or admin) it was only because I either had to take them or because I had to choose another subject and none in that group interested me more.

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