What Are All The GCSE Subjects? (& Which Ones Should You Choose?)
When you take up GCSE, you have to decide which subject you need to choose. This qualification will help you to decide which A-level you must take up and help you to get into the university you want to go to. However, when you are in year 11 it becomes important to choose the right GCSEs as well and thus you must know all the GCSE subjects.
Quick Takeaways
- There are a total of 60 different GCSE subjects that are available and out of them, each school offers 20 subjects to their students.
- The compulsory subjects that you will have to take are maths, English, science, etc.
- Along with that, you must choose the subject based on your personal capabilities. Suppose you are good at music, try taking up GCSE music.
However, you must read till the end so that you do not miss any of the important facts related to what are all the GCSEs that you have taken up.
What are all GCSEs that you can take up?
Generally, there is a total of 60 subjects that you can take during the GCSEs. Though you must remember that every school has its own choice and they will offer you only 20 subjects out of 60. The most common subjects that you must have heard about are maths and science. However, the following table shows you a variety of other subjects that are gently offered during your GCSEs-
| S.no. | A | B |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Compulsory Subjects | Maths |
| 2. | Compulsary Subjects | English |
| 3. | Modern Languages | Science (double and triple) |
| 4. | Compulsory Subjects | Computing |
| 5. | Foundational Subjects | Physical Education |
| 6. | Foundational Subjects | Citizenship |
| 7. | Modern Languages | Spanish |
| 8. | Modern Languages | French |
| 9. | Statistics | German |
| 10. | Technical Subjects | Staistics |
| 11. | Technical Subjects | Computer science |
| 12. | Technical Subjects | Electronics |
| 13. | Technical Subjects | Food Technology |
| 14. | Art Subjects | Dance |
| 15. | Art Subjects | Drama |
| 16. | Art Subjects | Music |
| 17. | Art Subjects | Fim Studies |
| 18. | Humanities | History |
| 19. | Humanities | Geography |
| 20. | Humanities | Economics |
How many GCSEs do you take?
As you know about various commonly offered subjects for GCSEs, it is time to find out how many GCSEs you generally need to take up. Usually, you are required to take up 9 GCSEs at a single time. However, depending upon the school you may need to take more than 9 GCSEs. Many schools also allow their students to take up 16 GCSEs. Though you must also remember that there are some compulsory subjects that you need to take up during GCSE. Let us find out which are the compulsory subjects that you need to take at GCSE.
What are the compulsory subjects that you need to take up at GCSE?
Following are the compulsory subjects that you will need to take up during the GCSE and thus you must know the number of GCSEs that you will get them–
1. Maths
It is one of the compulsory subjects that you need to take during your GCSEs. This subject is compulsory because it is considered by many universities and most employers will look at this while selecting their candidates. If you fail this subject, you may have to resit for it till you get a passing grade, which shows GCSEs are hard in nature.
2. English language
This subject shows your ability to communicate in the English language. Just like maths, it is compulsory to pass this subject otherwise you may have to reset for this subject.
3. Science
It is important to take either double science or triple science during your GCSE. Though, unlike maths and English, you don’t have to get past grades in the subject. Science shows the hard level in the GCSEs.
4. Welsh
It comes under language GCSE and is only compulsory for you if you are living in Wales. This is a compulsory subject because it is the official language of Wales after English.
Though these 4 subjects are compulsory to study, it is important to remember that different schools have their own necessary subjects to take up during GCSEs.
What is the best GCSE to choose?
Once you have chosen the mandatory subjects, you will still have to choose other GCSE subjects. It is important to choose the right GCSE based on your own capabilities. However, we have mentioned the top 5 GCSEs that you can take along with compulsory GCSEs-
1. Modern foreign languages
This is one such subject that is kept mandatory by many different schools. Taking of modern foreign language will help you to make your CV look good and will increase your chance of getting into the University.
2. History
This is a humanity subject and it helps you to remember various important dates and those that were held in past. This is the perfect choice for you if you are good at writing and handle the pressure of writing long essays for the exam.
3. Geography
This is a game for human beings as it is a subject in which you will be getting a tape understanding of geographical areas. Intercept you get to study physics as well as human geography. It will help you to study about urban, cultural, and economical aspects of the whole world.
4. Arts
If you have a good creativity level and our good and doing art and craft then taking up art at GCSE may be a good choice. In this subject, you will have to make a portfolio of all the designs that you have produced during your coursework.
5. Music
If you would create and love to perform music then this subject is for you. You will have to study various instruments and techniques of music. This subject will help you to know the technical aspects of the music industry and help you to know how to perform on the stage.
Conclusion
GCSEs are the qualifications that help you in taking up A-levels and are also important while getting admission to the university. Thus it is important to know what are the different GCSEs subjects that you can take. There are various GCSE subjects like arts, humanities, maths, English, etc. You need to take up 9 GCSEs, in which you will need to take maths, English, and science as compulsory subjects. However, if you live in wales, you may have to choose the welsh language as a compulsory subject.
