"It's easy to make good decisions when there are no bad options." -Robert Half
When it comes to education and choosing courses at a primary school or secondary school level, there are seriously no wrong choices that will gravely affect schoolchildren since every topic, and academic discipline leads down a path of discovery that is unique and rewarding.
There are course options that are more tailored to those with a scientific incline, whereas there are others for students who prefer the arts and languages. But, truthfully, the sky is the limit, which is especially true during high school when more GCSE courses are available to pupils in their final Key Stages.
Nonetheless, it's worth stating that certain GCSE topics are more popular, more difficult, and easier than others. Such as? We'll answer all your questions about GCSE courses to take in today's article.
The Entire List of All GCSE Subjects Offered by UK-based Exam Boards
Before discussing which GCSE subjects are most popular, most difficult, and most easy, it might be good to check out all of the different subjects offered during the GCSEs at examination boards throughout the UK. So, are you ready for a long list?
Without delaying the matter any further, the following is a list of all the GCSE subjects that are studied by secondary school students in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales:
- Art and Design,
- Biology,
- Business,
- Chemistry,
- Combined Science,
- Computer Science,
- Design and Technology,
- Digital Technology,
- Drama,
- English Literature,
- French,
- Geography,
- German,
- History,
- Home Economics: Food and Nutrition,
- Hospitality,
- ICT,
- Irish- Learners,
- Journalism,
- Learning for Life and Work,
- Maths,
- Maths Numeracy,
- Media Studies,
- Modern Foreign Languages,
- Moving Image Arts,
- Music,
- Physical Education,
- Physics,
- Religious Studies,
- Science,
- Spanish,
- Welsh Second Language.
The previous GCSE courses are the ones that are offered to students as of 2021 at all the major examination boards in the UK. However, it's worth stating that some topics such as Welsh or Irish are only offered at one exam board, such as CCEA and WJEC.
Also, many of the course options mentioned above feature smaller programmes of study that can be learned. For instance, the GCSE course of Art & Design has subtopics such as Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, and Photography that can be studied depending on the exam board and the available teachers.
Almost every year, there are changes to existing GCSE subjects to make them more understandable, and there are also new topics that arise and become favourites of the students. Such as? In the following subheading, let's look at the most popular GCSE subjects.
The Most Popular GCSE Subjects
Popularity is defined as being the most sought-after and intriguing specimen or thing out there. So there are popular boys & girls; there is popular culture, popular movies and TV shows, and, by our article today, there are popular GCSE topics.
While it is true that the "popularity" of a certain topic of study greatly depends on its demand and availability, also, based on the personalities and interests of students in a certain area or city, there are some academic disciplines that will be more interesting than others.
Nonetheless, based on trustworthy data, generally, some GCSE subjects are more in-demand than others, and they are mentioned in the list below:
- Religious Studies: since they have been introduced in the past two decades, educators have seen a spike of interest in the GCSE subject of Religious Studies.
- Foreign Languages: primarily because secondary school students in the UK recognise that a foreign language is mandatory in today's global village. There has been a constant increase in popularity in GCSE French and Spanish.
- Geography: another non-compulsory topic that students in the UK have been flocking to is Geography. This shouldn't surprise us too much since geography is an intriguing topic with many layers to uncover.
It's worth stating that the "popular" topics mentioned in the list above are non-compulsory. The mandatory subjects are undoubtedly the most popular; however, that's because students need to choose them to graduate and receive their high-school leaving diploma.
The Most Difficult GCSE Topics
Now that we've considered the most popular topics at a GCSE level, it's essential to mention the most difficult subjects. For students who want to go through secondary school without any complicated courses, a list of most difficult GCSE topics is a godsend since they know what to avoid. Unfortunately, however, we're sorry to say, but some of the most mind-numbing courses are mandatory and necessary to receive a high school leaving diploma!
Without further ado, the following features the most difficult GCSE courses from easiest to hardest:
- GCSE English Language,
- Modern Foreign Languages GCSE,
- GCSE History,
- GCSE Biology,
- GCSE Computer Science,
- GCSE Maths,
- GCSE Chemistry,
- GCSE English Literature,
- GCSE Physics,
- GCSE Further Maths.
When it comes down to the most dishearteningly difficult GCSE subject, it's Further Maths without a doubt since the content is mind-boggling and doesn't follow any of the information considered in GCSE Maths. However, it's important to state that the top-three most difficult GCSE subjects are non-essential, which means that they can be avoided!
Of the mandatory courses, GCSE Maths is the most complex and has the lowest success rate; nevertheless, most pupils pass the GCSE Maths examination and graduate.
The Easiest GCSE Topics to Consider
While there are difficult subjects that make studying the GCSEs a stressful experience, some easy courses bring joy to the high school experience. In addition, having a mix of both easy and difficult GCSE subjects helps all have a realistic view of the GCSEs as a whole.
Without further ado, the following are the top ten easiest courses to examine during the GCSEs:
- GCSE Food Technology:
- GCSE Drama
- GCSE Film Studies
- GCSE Religious Studies,
- GCSE Physical Education,
- GCSE Music,
- GCSE Geography,
- GCSE Design & Technology,
- GCSE Catering,
- GCSE Business Studies.
The previously mentioned courses are listed from easiest to easy, with Food Technology in the top spot being the most simple.
Also, all of the easiest topics to consider are non-essential, making sense since pupils can select them as enjoyable courses to distract them from scary subjects such as Maths.
But, why is Food Technology the easiest? ThinkStudent claims it is the most straightforward because it is a popular topic for students who don't know which GCSE topic to select. Nonetheless, for individuals who actually dedicate themselves to the subject of Food Technology, amazing results can be noticed.
Knowing the easiest GCSE subjects help students to make an educated decision that mixes both business and pleasure. Nonetheless, how does a person select a GCSE subject? Are there any tips and tricks to consider? Let's look at the following subheading.
How to Choose GCSE Subjects: Tips & Tricks
To successfully make good decisions during their formative years at secondary school and at university, students need to seek the advice of more experienced ones. Why's that? Because ones who are more skilled have gone through the motions and know what needs to be done to succeed.
Their experience is worth its weight in gold.
So, when selecting GCSE topics to study during essential parts of secondary school, some tips and tricks make the experience less stressful and much more manageable. The list below highlights brilliant advice on how to choose GCSE subjects:
- Know What's Compulsory: before choosing any non-essential topics, it's of the utmost importance to know which courses are compulsory and which ones aren't. Why's that? This allows you to more carefully select fun courses and know how to prioritise your time.
- Make Your Own Choices: you've probably heard plenty of suggestions from your academic advisors, teachers, and friends about what you should study. However, remember that the final choice is ultimately yours, and you should do what you want because you'll be the one going through exams and making final choices.
- Think About Your Career Aspirations: before selecting your non-essential GCSE topics, you might want to think about how they will contribute or enhance your overall understanding of subjects you wish to study at a university level. It's never too late to start preparing for your future career. So, if you're studying medicine, you might want to choose as many science-based topics as possible.
While we could go on and on mentioning more tips and tricks, the three previously mentioned ones will set you off in the right direction.
In conclusion, by heeding the advice and information in today's article, you'll be able to select GCSE topics more accordingly and have success with your high school studies.
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