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GCSEs are taken by all children in the UK when they reach the end of their studies in Year 11, or within senior schools if your child is attending a private school. They serve as a marker for all students heading into further education, which is a good way to help your child go further with their studies. To help you understand GCSEs, this A Level College has provided us with some key pointers.
What exactly are GCSEs?
They are one of the first stages of formal education for children who will be between 15 - 16 when they take these exams. There will be a varying number of exams, depending on the subjects your child chose in year 9, but the curriculum will be covered over 2 years to help children prepare.
What are GCSEs used for?
They are ultimately used to help children progress further into their education. If your child wants to study A Levels, they will have to attain a certain number of GCSEs. They will also need to be of a good grade, with a minimum grade to reach being a C grade, or a grade 4 in the new grading system in England.
Aside from A Levels, GCSEs open up other paths. Your child may want to head to college to study a specific subject now taught in Sixth Form, or your child is keen to head into an apprenticeship or work.
What subjects will my child be studying?
A lot of subjects will be compulsory, such as English, Maths and the Sciences. But others will be completely up to your child. By Year 9 your child will have had a flavour of the many different subjects they could study at a more in depth level. This is where you can help your child pick subjects based on their interests, their workload, and what they enjoy.
