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What are GCSEs?
GCSEs (not to be confused with IGCSEs) are qualifications that each student in the UK studies to achieve at the end of their compulsory education.
If lessons are the rehearsal, then think of GCSE exams as the performance (with the big-name theatre critics in the audience).
A GCSE grade is given to each subject. They are calculated based upon written exams, practical exams and coursework.
For example:
An Art GCSE grade may be based upon coursework and a practical exam.
A Maths GCSE consists of written exams exclusively to produce an overall grade.
Our GoStudent GCSE tutors are experienced in helping students throughout their GCSEs across all subjects.
What is the purpose of GCSEs?
GCSEs are a fair way to examine all students in the same school year throughout the country according to identical criteria. The goal is to measure the academic ability of students based on an unbiased result.
In addition to school and individual study, private GCSE tutors like ours can help students to excel on exam day.
How important are GCSEs?
GCSEs are a universally recognised qualification in the UK. Whether a student plans to work after Secondary School or pursue further study, both employers and colleges will refer to any GCSE qualifications as a major determining factor as to whether a person can proceed in their chosen direction.
Specific GCSE grades may be required when applying for further education. This includes applications for college, sixth form, and university or when applying for a job.
Did you know that some university courses request minimum GCSE grades to have been met in core subjects to apply for their course?
For example:
To apply to study Medicine at Cardiff University an applicant must have eight GCSEs at grade 6 including Biology, Chemistry and Maths.
To apply to study at Cambridge University, the entry requirements specify that “most students who apply have at least four or five 7/8/9s at GCSE”
To apply to study Architecture at Edinburgh University an applicant must have English at 4 and Mathematics at 7 plus evidence of artistic ability at GCSE.
Of course, GCSEs are not a matter of life and death, but to 16 year-olds all over the country, they can feel like a very big deal. Every day at school is geared towards those GCSE final exams and there can be a lot of pressure and expectation. We know that it may sound overwhelming, but with lots of practice and guidance with GCSE tutoring, your child can achieve the grades that they need.
Why do we still use GCSEs?
We still use GCSEs because they are deemed the fairest way to represent a person’s academic achievement while at school. They also paint a picture of a student’s strongest and weakest subjects.
At what age do you take GCSEs?
Students take their GCSE exams around age 16, in the last months of the academic year at school, although preparation begins long before.
The GCSE syllabus is usually taught to students between the ages of 14-16 years old at school.
There is now more weight than ever being placed on final exams (instead of coursework), so students must be well equipped to perform on the day. Many of our students have a designated GCSE tutor to help with studying for their GCSE exams. It’s best to start GCSE tutoring early so that your child can get help with both the GCSE coursework and not just the final GCSE exam - this will give your child the maximum opportunity to get good grades.
Some students may be fast-tracked towards taking some GCSE exams a year earlier if they are identified as being of exceptional ability by their school. This enables the student to have time to study for more GCSE subjects overall.
But keep in mind that with GCSE grades, quality is better than quantity.
Can you take GCSEs at any age?
There are no age limits on when you can take GCSEs.
Many adults have to take their GCSEs again in adulthood because they neglected the importance of GCSEs as a teenager. Now, faced with a barrier to their dream career they revisit GCSEs in later life, studying for them properly for the first time in adulthood.
Adults often take evening classes at Adult Education Centres to study GCSEs, get a private GCSE tutor or may be able to try to teach themselves the syllabus before sitting the exam.
What is the GCSE grading system?
GCSEs made headline news in the UK when they changed their grading system for England in 2017. The change led many students to wonder 'What would happen to GCSE results?'
In short, letters were replaced with numbers – Grade 9️ became the new A* - the highest mark.
Grade 4️ is a standard pass, with Grade 5️ being recognised as a strong pass.
Grade 1️ is the lowest possible mark.
GoStudent GCSE tutors understand exactly what teenagers facing GCSE exams are up against. You can equip your child to ensure that they reach their full potential by the time their GCSE exams arrive. Book your free trial lesson with one of our specialist GCSE tutors and let us encourage your child to achieve their GCSE aspirations.
Are GCSEs worth UCAS points?
You may have heard about acquiring UCAS points for applying to university in the UK. While this is true, GCSEs themselves are not worth any UCAS points.
However, GCSE grades will feature as a very important aspect of any university course application, so they are a key part of applying to university. UCAS points are calculated using grades from A-Levels, IB exams or other Post-16 qualifications.
Which GCSEs are compulsory?
The core subjects are compulsory for GCSEs; in short, that’s Maths , English and Science . These are also the subjects that we see the highest demand for in GCSE tutoring.
English is separated into a Literature GCSE and a Language GCSE.
Science can also be separated into three separate GCSEs (Biology, Physics, Chemistry) or into two Science GCSEs called a ‘combined’ Science GCSE.
Your child's school will be able to tell you which exact GCSEs in the core subjects your child will take so that you can prepare early.
Keep in mind that some schools make other subjects in addition to Maths, English and Science compulsory.
After the compulsory subjects, there are the following options to consider:
Category of GCSE options
Options
(Different schools offer different GCSE options, these are some examples)
Language
Usually French, German or Spanish.
Humanities
History, Geography or Religious Studies
Art
Music, Art, Media, Drama
Technical
Food Technology, Design and Technology, Computer Science.
Some schools enforce that a student should pick a minimum of one option from each category.
PE is still compulsory as a lesson until the end of Year 11 but it’s optional to take it as a GCSE.
When can I choose GCSE options?
Schools offer the majority of students to pick their options in Year 9. There should be an information event at school to help parents and students choose the best options.
All schools have timetable limitations, however, and there is not unlimited flexibility for a student to study any combination of options. For example, History may be scheduled at the same time as Food Technology, meaning that a student cannot study both at GCSE.
What GCSEs are needed to be a ____ ?
If your child already has a career goal in mind then it’s great to work backwards from there. Asking oneself ‘What subjects would compliment that career?’ For example, if somebody wanted to become a teacher, in addition to the core subjects, a student could take a subject that they might want to specialise in teaching.
Generally speaking, as long as a person has the core GCSEs at a good grade, no career should be off-limits because an optional GCSE was not chosen.
If your child does not have a set career goal in mind, then we would encourage any student to choose optional subjects that they enjoy and believe that they could get a good grade in.
If your child would like to think about what career might suit them, take a look at the Wheel of Strengths which can suggest possible job roles based on skills, interests and personality traits.
Can GCSEs be re-marked?
If your child is on the cusp of getting the grade that they hoped for, or the result simply does not seem fair (perhaps there was an error in marking), you can contact the place where the exams were taken – more often than not this is your child’s school.
The paper in question can be sent back to the exam board for appeal. Please remember that after an appeal grades can go up, down or stay the same.
Many students appeal exam results when they are one or two marks away from the next grade up, which can be especially heartbreaking.
The right study plan beforehand and a good understanding of the marking scheme for each exam can help ensure that students' exam results are as they hoped for and totally avoid this situation. If your child has achieved marks close to the grade line in their mock exams it could be time to up the ante and get them some help with a GCSE tutor. An experienced tutor can judge the strengths and weaknesses of your child and plan to work on the most important aspects of the course before taking the real exam.
Can GCSEs be retaken?
It’s always better to get it right the first time (our GCSE tutors can help with that) but sometimes things happen, and results day can be a little bit of a disappointment.
Your child’s school will have information on retakes, which often take place at school. Students are usually expected to pay a fee to the school for retakes.
Keep in mind that some very competitive university courses may not accept applicants who have GCSE retakes in a subject important to the course.
GCSE tutoring with GoStudent
Even if your child has not picked their options yet, you know that they will be taking English, Maths and Science as part of their compulsory GCSEs. If your child needs some support to push them into the highest grade bracket possible, then contact GoStudent for a free trial lesson to see how we can help maximise their grade.
Our GCSE tutors assist students in developing a systematic approach to learning. Unlike in a group setting, your child will be able to progress at their own pace while receiving individualised feedback from a qualified tutor. This type of feedback is critical for teenagers because it can have a positive impact on their performance.
It is also important to note that having private GCSE tutoring is not limited to students who are having difficulty in the classroom.
More gifted children who find themselves bored in class while their classmates catch up can benefit from a personal GCSE tutor who can tailor the lesson to their specific needs and interests, regardless of which school or GCSE curriculum they are following.
GCSE tutors from a variety of backgrounds give GCSE English classes with GoStudent, ranging from graduates with years of experience in a particular field to undergraduate and graduate students who are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge.
However, in order to ensure the quality of the GCSE tuition, each GCSE tutor must pass a rigorous subject-based test before being considered for a position.
Aside from that, every GoStudent tutor in the UK has undergone a complete ID and enhanced DBS check, meaning you can relax knowing that your child is in good hands. In order to match students with the most appropriate GCSE tutor, our friendly and talented customer service team pays careful consideration and consideration to any specific needs and requirements that you may have.
The subject knowledge and passion of our GCSE tutors allows even the most difficult topics to be turned into fun experiences for students!