Tangent 21 - Giving up a GCSE subject...

Posted by
lizzieslayer

Posted on
19:24
Aug 27 2002

Giving up a GCSE subject...

OK so I'm only doing 9 as it is. We were advised not to take 10. But I can't STAND history. I used to really enjoy it but I watch the clock, dread the lessons, I even cried after my exam in it. I barely stringed together a D in the exam. I can't take the work load and I find it so boring.

I don't know what to do... Mum is going to kill me coz I'll only be doing 8 and its 'not good enough'...
I've been through quite a lot in my life and I started to get more happier but recently I've been getting a bit depressed and crying a lot. I'm just goin in to year 11 and I've already had several nightmares concerning gcse's

. I have a councellor but she's conveinetly on holiday!

Its something I want to do but my family won't support me.

And I'm pretty sure the school won't let me give it up.
Any advice on what I should or how I should approach my mum about this?

(Edited by lizzieslayer 27/08/2002 19:26)

9 Replies and 1030 Views in Total.

DJ Billy You can't really dust for vomit.

Have you spoken to anybody at the school about this?

I know when I was at school I found probably the biggest factor in how much I enjoyed a subject was how good the teacher was. Maybe if you explained your problem to someone at the school they could see if you could swap into a different class with a different teacher?

Posted: 19:42 Aug 27 2002

KieranFrost "In my house, anyone who uses one word when they could have used ten, simply isn't trying hard enough." Bartlet

Ah, memories of GCSE history

Well, there's definatly no problem taking 8 GCSE's, especially with AS now. So what if you have 8 A's instead of 9, uni or jobs wouldn't care. I'd say, only keep history if

a) you have no other 'factual' subject, just so you have the spread
b) you like the topics covered next year
c) someone puts a gun to your head

Classical Civilisation is a far better choice

But definatly don't cry about it, trust me, once you're doing A Level GCSE's seem SSSSOOOOOOOOOO far away. Chat to your mum and screw the rest!

Stay chipper

Posted: 19:43 Aug 27 2002

lizzieslayer Look for the girl with the broken smile. Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

by KieranFrost

a) you have no other 'factual' subject, just so you have the spread
b) you like the topics covered next year
c) someone puts a gun to your head

Well I do have another 'factual' subject (another humanity). I'm doing geography too...

And I hate what subject we're doing next, the Cold War. I thought we were doing World War Two

Posted: 19:52 Aug 27 2002

Rae Your imitation of my walk, and the perfect way you talk. It's just a couple of the million things, that i love about you.

GCSE history is one of the most boring subjects i've ever taken. Until i got into year 10 i loved History. Now i hate my teacher and spend the lessons thinking about other stuff. Hmm watching the clock in history, sounds familar...except we don't actaully have a clock in that room, and so the only way i know the lesson is up is because there's a heater that clicks off exactly 14 minutes before the lesson ends

Tip: try not to get mad, or shout, parents never take you seriously if you start yelling. (or at least mine don't) Point out how it's making you feel and that if you give it up, it may make your grades improve in other subjects because you'll have more time. Once your mum on your side, you'll have more of a chance of getting the school to let you drop it.

Posted: 19:52 Aug 27 2002

Ferretgirl Make something idiot-proof and they will make a better idiot

I'm glad i'm not doing history!

At the end of the day, it's your decision and as Keeny's pointed out they're not the end of the world and aren't as bad as A-levels (well according to my family)

If your going onto to do A-levels then most places won't really look at GCSE's and just concentrate on A-level marks and if you don't wanna do it for A-level then it's not a big concern.

However, having nine is useful. It's usually the standard amount, and you could be setting yourself up as a disadvantage.

Really sit down with both school and your parents and weihgh up the pro's and con's and tell them exactly how you feel and good luck hun

Posted: 21:22 Aug 27 2002

head2head 'Rene Descartes was a drunken fart, I drink, therefore I am. '

I'm going with the general opinion here. I think you should definitely talk about what you are planning to do...Rae gave excellent advice in that when you sit down with your parents, avoid shouting or getting angry. That will do nothing to help you...believe me, I know !

Sit down, discuss the pro's and cons, and see what happenss from there, Granted, you don't want to be wasting your time on a GCSE that you aren't doing well in or enjoying, but at the same time, you don't want to be putting yourself at a disadvantage by only doing 8.

Good Luck mate - if you need me for anything, you know where I am

Hugs

(Edited by head2head 27/08/2002 22:16)

Posted: 22:15 Aug 27 2002

Yally Don't kill anyone until we get back to you!

I ended up with just eight and a half when I was planning on doing ten and a half. I couldn't do spanish, because I didn't take french a year early and the school persuaded me to drop english lit. because I had no coursework for it. I feel really sucky having less than 9 when I should have more than 10, but I was ill so much over the past few years, there was nothing I could do about it. I'd stick with history if I were you. Maybe you could get a tutor or something? Anyway, like everyone says, talk to the school and your parents about it, they'll sort something out for you

Posted: 10:43 Aug 28 2002

Eve "There's no secret handshake. There's an IQ prerequisite, but there's no secret handshake"

As long as you have the marks to get on to the college courses you want I dont think it matters how many subjects you have. I really enjoyed GCSE history, we did the American west and medicine through time so it was quite good, AS level history however....

it was the worst subject ever!

Just have a chat to your mum and explain to her and see if you can have a meeting with your head of year and your history teacher or something!

Dont stress about it, it really isn't the end of the world!

Posted: 14:00 Aug 28 2002

lizzieslayer Look for the girl with the broken smile. Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

Just to let everyone who replied to my thread know: talked to mum, after an awful week and i'm giving it up... My councellor is going in for a meeting with the school aswell

Thanks to all who replied to the thread.

Posted: 20:36 Sep 02 2002

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