ADVICE POST #2: Choosing your GCSEs (Part 2)

    Before Christmas we (10A) offered our advice on choosing GCSE options including the  subjects of Art, Photography, Textiles, PE, Drama and Food in this blog post. This week we will be taking a closer look at Business Studies, Geography, History and Double and Triple Award Science. We hope that we will provide you with an honest, student's view on the different subjects that will aid you in making this important decision.

ADVICE GIVER: Daisy Partington

SUBJECT: Business Studies

    I chose this subject because you can use it in almost every career that you want to get into. It is very interesting and helpful; I do not regret taking it. I get about 2 homeworks a week but they are only half an hour so it is not too bad and it’s mainly what we did in the class. The classes are quite small so you have lots of class discussions. Most of the work is quite a lot of common knowledge but just in more depth. At the end of the course you do a multiple choice (they are harder than you would expect) exam and a written exam. Year 10 is spent preparing for the multiple choice exam.

ADVICE GIVER: Serina Tatham

SUBJECT: History

    I chose to take history as it is one of my favourite subjects. The good thing with this subject is that you don’t need to have any specific qualities, like for art or textiles. Many people say that if you take history you do a lot of essay writing, and you do. This is a good thing, however, as it gets you prepared for the actual GCSE. You will be set essay homework in one lesson and a smaller homework in the other.

    In the lessons we go through a PowerPoint and highlight sheets about the specific topic that we’re studying. We then make some notes from our text books and do some practice exam type questions. Yes, there is loads of writing in this subject so if you are not keen on writing or if you are a really slow writer, then unless this is one of your favourite subjects like with me, then I would rethink this choice. Like with all your option choices, you need to be passionate about the subject, as after all you will be continuing the subject for at least two years!

    All the exam questions you do in the lessons and for homework and all of the tests you do in year 10 and the beginning of year 11 build up to the GCSE at the end of the year. This consists of an A (3 marks), B (4), C (8) and D (10) question. The A question is putting dates in the right order and the others are essays. The length of these depends on the amount of marks that you will get overall. This is why you get so much work in the build up to the end of year 11, as it makes the GCSE exam easy – well as easy as it can be for a GCSE.

 ADVICE GIVERS: Xian Pelaez and Chloe Farmiloe
SUBJECT: Geography

    If you enjoy geography and are thinking about taking it for GCSE, we suggest you do, although you are given quite a lot of homework, we have learnt a lot of interesting and helpful information so far this year. We have learnt about population, migration and rivers so far. As well as doing many worksheets, taking notes and learning visually we watch many videos in the lessons which enables us to learn in a more exciting way.

ADVICE GIVER: Serina Tatham

SUBJECT: Double and Triple Award Science

    If you are trying to decide on whether you want to take double or triple award then you need to contemplate your future. If you are in the bottom sets then you will automatically do double award unless you ask to do otherwise. If you are in the set above that then you will automatically do triple unless your teachers advise you to do double or if you choose to do double award science. All of the other sets do triple award science inevitably. If you are contemplating on whether or not to do double or triple award science, you need to think about what you want to be when you’re older. If your future job includes science, then you will have to do triple award (eg. a vet or a doctor/nurse). If you don’t want a future in science then you should be fine, but don’t think that double award science is an easy option. You use a different exam board than the other award but you do a GCSE at the end of year 10 and year 11 instead of more at the end of year 11.

    We hope that the advice we have given you in this post, and in the last, has helped you gain a better understanding of what the GCSE options involve. Take time in making this decision as it will affect your opportunities at A-Level and beyond. Most importantly, pick what you enjoy - because, most of the time, the subjects you enjoy are the subjects you will work most hard for and therefore get the best grades in. Good luck in making your decision, and feel free to come and talk to us Year 10s about it if you want more help!

Contributed by 10A and collated by Serina Tatham, 10A's blog representative

Illustrations contributed by the very talented Annabel Brooks, 10A (Year 10 Art Scholar)

If you would like to contribute a post or illustrations, or have feedback about this post or others, please talk to your form blog representative.

ADVICE POST #1: Choosing your GCSEs

    Picking your GCSE options can be a daunting and difficult process. As Year 10s, we have relatively recently been through that experience and have now completed nearly one term of GCSEs. Therefore, we are in a good position to offer advice to current Year 9s about how to make this decision and to inform you about our experience of each GCSE subject so far.

    In this post, we take a closer look at Art, Photography, Textiles, PE, Drama and Food. Another post will be published later on this week that looks at the other possible GCSE options.

 ADVICE GIVER: Annabel Brooks, Year 10 Art Scholar

SUBJECT: Art

    As many may know, Art is a very time consuming subject as there is a lot of preparation work for each final piece and making the deadlines can often be challenging.

    However I don’t regret taking it one bit - even though my art homework takes the longest to complete, it is the homework I most look forward to doing. We get set a piece of work on one of the double lessons which is due in the same time in the following week. The type of homework you get set includes finishing a painting, doing a drawing, an essay or completing some development pages.

    I tend to do my art on the weekend so that I know I will have enough time because I am generally very busy. I’d strongly advise you to stay on top of your work because otherwise it piles up, making it more difficult to complete. Also, the more you get done in the lesson, the less work you’ll have for homework because most of the work set is finishing off classwork.

    When I heard about Art from previous GCSE students, I was put off by their complaints of the amount of time they have to spend on it. But I can honestly say, it is not as hard as it sounds - just make sure that you use your time wisely and even attend lunchtime or afterschool Art Club for extra help. But if Art is one of your strengths, do not be put off by the workload because it is manageable. My main advice would be to choose your subjects based on what you enjoy.

 

ADVICE GIVER: Georgia-Grace Samuels

SUBJECT: Photography

    I chose Photography because I wanted to learn a new skill. I recommend taking this subject  because it is really fun and is quite different from other GCSEs. The equipment you need is a camera, a laptop and a sketchbook. Although it is hard work, the sense of achievement you get when completing a project or assignment is well worth it.

ADVICE GIVER: Eloise Clarke

SUBJECT: Textiles

     I chose to do textiles at GCSE because I enjoy starting and completing projects (especially creative ones in a subject that I enjoy doing).  I also like textiles because at the end of a project you have learnt new things, gained skills and have something you have made yourself, which gives you a real sense of achievement.

   As well as making two items using the sewing machine, you must also build up a portfolio throughout the year and complete theory work. This theory side of textiles is also interesting and useful with the practical side of the subject. A typical lesson usually involves doing some work on your portfolio, but mainly learning theory and making items.

    In terms of homework, you get set work on your portfolios such as creating mood boards, drawing designs and thinking of ideas for your project. Some theory work is also set as well as practical work, such as some sewing or ironing parts of your design. Like Art, Textiles can become rather time consuming. However, if you enjoy doing it then the workload seems less and you feel that it's a good use of your time. It's always exciting to see your ideas and designs turn into something you have created.

ADVICE GIVER: Anya Jackson

SUBJECT: PE

    I chose this subject because I really enjoy taking part in the lessons and I have an interest in PE. I would definitely choose PE if you are sporty as you get graded on four sports - so if you're good then you can get very high marks. We have a double physical lesson and a double theory lesson each week. The sport we do in the physical lesson changes depending on what sport we are being graded on at that point in the year.

    The theory lesson is very structured. We fill in a new booklet every week which also includes our homework. We get set homework every week, the amount of which varies. The work is very interesting, but only if you're interested in sport. I am really enjoying PE and the workload is very manageable.

ADVICE GIVER: Meghan Ingham

SUBJECT: Drama

    I chose drama as I had really enjoyed it over the previous years and wanted to go deeper into the subject and learn more about acting and theatre in general. I also believed that I could get a respectable mark at the end of the two  years which I would be happy with, which was another factor in choosing my options.

    Drama is very entertaining and the lessons are extremely enjoyable. There is a very small and manageable amount of weekly homework, which is mainly preparation for the next lesson. There is more homework in the holidays when you have to write short essays about the work you have done in the lessons. This takes a fair amount of time but you are given a generous amount of time in which to complete it.

    I would really recommend taking drama as it is such a helpful subject for things such as public speaking, and it is so enjoyable to take part in.

ADVICE GIVER: Daniella Copeland

SUBJECT: Food

    I chose this subject because I enjoy cooking and was interested in learning about the nutrition in food. The only thing is you can get quite a lot of work and homework but as long as you don't leave it until last minute then it is easily managed. All of the practicals are great fun and it is great to be able to choose what you cook.

Make sure to check back later in the new year to 

find out more about some of the other GCSE options!

Contributed by 10A and collated by Serina Tatham, 10A's blog representative

Illustrations contributed by the VERY talented Taylor Gillin, 12L

If you would like to contribute a post or illustrations, please talk to your form blog representative. 

A Masterclass from the Ladies' World Champion

    On the 15th November, twenty-one girls from across all years of the school went to Holyport Real Tennis Club to learn about real tennis. Clare Vigrass (the Ladies' World Champion) told us how the sport started and a bit about how Henry VIII adapted the game which he played at Hampton Court. It is believed that his second wife Anne Boleyn was watching a game of real tennis when she was arrested and that Henry was playing tennis when news was brought to him of her execution.  

The equipment used in real tennis varies from that of normal tennis. 

    After this introduction, it was time for us to have a go ourselves. Clare began by teaching us how to hold the racket and she demonstrated simple forehand and backhand shots. She managed to make it look much easier than it actually was! The racket head was much smaller than that of a normal tennis racket, and the ball was different - it never bounced as high as you were expecting it to. She also taught us how to serve which is very different to the serve we were all expecting. Instead of hitting it across the court into the opposition service box, you had to hit the ball high onto one of the terraces (which looked like a roof), and then it had to land into a yellow box marked on the court. We got to play matches against each other and some prizes were awarded to the winners at the end. We really enjoyed learning about the sport and having a go ourselves, and would happily attempt to play again!

Ladies' World Champion, Clare Vigrass, showing the girls how it's done.

Written by Kate Turnball, Liv Skinner and Greta Spitzer Year 12

If you would like to contribute a post, talk to your form blog representative who will be able to notify and approve your post idea with the central team. Check out the blog's first post for more info.