If you’re in Year 8 or 9, now’s the time to start thinking about your GCSE options.
But figuring out which subjects to take can be overwhelming – especially if you’re not sure what you want to do after your GCSEs.
Don’t worry!
Here, we’ll walk you through how to choose GCSE subjects step by step, so you can make the best choice for you and your future.
But first…
When do you choose GCSE options?
Most learners choose their GCSE options in Year 9.
However, this can vary from school to school. Some schools ask their pupils to choose their options in Year 8.
Often, this comes down to your school’s approach to studying for GCSEs.
Most schools start pupils on the GCSE curriculum in Year 10, ready to take the GCSE exams at the end of Year 11.
But some choose to start earlier, in Year 9. And some will even get their students to sit some GCSE exams a year early, in Year 10, in order to spread them out.
Ultimately, if you’re approaching Year 8 or 9, now’s the time to start thinking about what GCSE subjects you might want to take.
But only your school can give you a clear timeline on exactly when you’ll need to make your final decision.
What subjects should I take for GCSE?
Most students take between seven and 10 GCSEs.
Some are compulsory for all students in the UK, known as the core subjects. These are maths, English language and science (either double or triple award).
Others are electives that you can choose yourself.
Options include a range of humanities, social sciences, technical subjects, arts and more.
Top tip: Head over to our GCSE options list for a complete breakdown of the GCSE subjects you can choose from.
Just bear in mind that your school may also have its own rules about what subjects it requires you to take. For instance, many schools make English literature compulsory. Or they may ask you to pick a modern language or humanity as part of your selection.
Ultimately, as long as you study the core subjects and those required by your school, you can take whatever other subjects you like.
Usually, a good way to decide is to select subjects that you like, are good at and will help you reach your future goals. Which brings us onto…
How to choose your GCSE options
There’s no ‘best’ combination of GCSE subjects. Rather, the best options will vary from learner to learner, and will depend on things like your interests, aspirations and skills.
Not sure where to start when it comes to choosing your GCSE subjects?
You’re in the right place. Follow these simple steps to make sure you’re picking options you won’t regret.
1. Think about what interests you
First things first, consider what subjects you enjoy and are interested in.
GCSEs are a lot of hard work, and you’ll be studying them for at least two years.
So, you may as well choose subjects that don’t make you want to tear your hair out!
Better still, if there are subjects that you’re genuinely curious about, these will often make ideal GCSE options for you.
After all, the more interested you are in a subject, the more enjoyable you’ll find your studies, and the easier it will be to motivate yourself to do the work.
This also means you’re more likely to reach the highest grades. On which note…
2. Consider what you’re good at
Next, think about what you’re good at.
Not only will you have more chance of reaching the higher grades in these subjects, but you’re more likely to enjoy them too!
As well as considering subjects you’re currently doing well in, make sure to think about your skillset more broadly.
For instance, are you skilled at putting your ideas down on paper? Are you good at problem-solving? Do you work best independently or collaboratively?
Then, think of subjects that will allow you to use those strengths.
For instance, if you enjoy writing, a humanity that involves debating ideas in essay form could be the perfect fit – like GCSE History.
Meanwhile, if you’re good at working collaboratively, GCSE Drama could be right up your street.
3. Explore your future plans
Another important consideration is what you’d like to do after you finish your GCSEs.
For instance, are you hoping to go on to study A Levels? Is university on your wishlist? Is there a particular career you’re interested in?
If so, research what GCSEs are needed to open those doors.
As an example, if you’re hoping to become a doctor, you’ll want to make sure you take triple award science (which will give you separate GCSEs for biology, physics and chemistry) rather than double award science (which will only give you two science GCSEs).
Or, if you’d like to go into architecture, a subject like art or design and technology
could be handy, as they’ll help you to develop valuable drawing and design skills.
It’s okay if you don’t yet know what you’d like to do in the future. But in this case, you’ll want to focus on making sure you don’t close off any avenues that you might be interested in pursuing later down the line. Which brings us onto…
4. Keep your options open
If you’re not 100% sure of what path you’d like to take in the future, we’d recommend keeping your options open for as long as possible.
The best way to do this is to pick a broad mix of subjects, so you’re not specialising too soon.
For instance, alongside the core subjects, you could select a humanity, an art, a technical subject and a modern language.
Of course, there’s no need to pick from a category if you really dislike it and you know you’re not going to want to pursue it in the future.
But by picking a diverse range of subjects, you’ll be building skills in lots of different areas, meaning you won’t be narrowing down your options too much after you finish your GCSEs.
5. Research GCSE subjects you’re interested in
Once you have a list of possible subjects in mind, it’s time to do a deep dive into each to learn some more about them.
You might be able to attend a GCSE choices fair at school, or your teachers may distribute some brochures giving you more information.
However, we’d also recommend looking at the specifications for your potential GCSEs on the exam board’s website (ask your school which exam board they use for those subjects).
The specification will give you a clear idea of what content the course will cover, as well as how the course is structured and assessed. For instance, is there coursework or practical work involved?
It’s a great way to understand exactly what a GCSE option entails – as well as whether you’ll like it and whether it suits your strengths, weaknesses and learning style.
6. Get expert advice
Your GCSE subjects are your decision, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get any advice from the experts around you.
If your school has a career advisor, they can be a great resource to help you understand which GCSE options could help you get where you want to be in the future.
Likewise, both teachers and private tutors are a fountain of wisdom when it comes to learning more about specific subjects.
Not only can they share details about what specific GCSE subjects involve, but they can also help you to understand whether you have the skills needed to do well in them.
If you’re worried about whether you’d be able to keep up in a given subject, talk to your teacher or tutor and get their advice and guidance. They’ll be able to give you an honest answer and could even recommend resources that can help you get prepared for the big step up to GCSE.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
7. Ask friends and family for their experiences
On a similar note, older students or even family members who did GCSEs back in the day will all have their own experiences that you can draw on.
So, ask them for their stories and what they did to get where they are now.
Personal experiences can help you to gain a better understanding of what studying a specific subject is like – and you can also get inspired by a family member’s journey to where they are now.
But at the same time, don’t forget that every learner is different. Just because someone you know enjoyed a subject or found it hard, that doesn’t mean you will too.
Your GCSE subjects are YOUR choice and yours alone.
Don’t get pressured into picking options to please someone else. And don’t just go along with what your friends are choosing so you can sit together! This is your future we’re talking about.
Find a tutor to help you choose your GCSE subjects
When it comes to choosing your GCSE subjects, there’s no need to struggle alone.
Our handpicked tutors can help to guide you through the decision-making process and advise you on the best way forward.
Plus, they can be the perfect cross between a teacher and a mentor as you start your GCSE studies – topping up your classroom knowledge, boosting your understanding and improving your confidence at every turn.
In fact, 90% of Tutorful students improve by at least one grade!
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
How do you pick your GCSE subjects?
Follow these steps to pick your GCSE subjects with confidence:
- Choose subjects you enjoy
- Choose subjects you’re good at
- Find out what subjects are needed to reach your future education and career goals
- Check out the specifications for your preferred subjects so you know what they involve
- Ask career advisors, tutors, teachers and older students for advice and guidance
- If you’re unsure, pick a broad range of subjects to keep your options open
What’s the easiest GCSE subject?
The easiest GCSE subject will be different for every learner, depending on their strengths, weaknesses and learning style.
However, GCSE Modern Hebrew had the highest pass rate in 2024, with 97.9% of students achieving a grade 4 or higher (according to AQA).
Which is the hardest GCSE subject?
The hardest GCSE subject will vary from learner to learner.
However, the GCSE subject with the lowest pass rate in 2024 was GCSE Engineering. According to AQA, the pass rate was just 55%.
What are the most useful GCSE subjects?
English, maths and science are generally seen as the most useful GCSE subjects – which is why these are the core subjects that are mandatory for all learners.
In fact, if you don’t get at least a grade 4 in English or maths, the government will require you to retake these subjects – unless you turn 18 beforehand.
