Are GCSEs Important?

As an online college, we are frequently asked by our students whether GCSEs are important. The simple answer to this is yes, believe it or not. Although they may seem like just another formality of school and something to get out of the way, you would be surprised how many times you will find you really do need to hold GCSEs to get on in life.

We’re going to take a closer look at the qualifications as a whole. Looking at why you need them, which subjects are most useful and how you can retake them if you need to.

What do you need GCSEs for?

For everything from employment to studying at higher levels, GCSEs are a requirement for most. For example, holding a GCSE in Maths and English will demonstrate to a potential employer that you are capable of carrying out basic arithmetic and of being able to use the English language without issue to communicate with others either vocally or in text.

When looking to go to university, more often than not, to be accepted onto a degree course there will be a requirement for you to hold not only A-Levels in the relevant topics, but also GCSEs in the core subjects.

For example, if you wanted to study Medicine at university, you would be required to hold the following subjects:

And what’s more, you would need to hold a grade 5 (previously known as a grade C) or higher in the subjects to be accepted. So as you can see, holding the qualifications really is important.

Which Subjects do you need the most?

The GCSEs that are most important are often referred to as core subjects and these include Mathematics, English and the sciences. If you hold a qualification in each of these topics, then you will be free to do pretty much anything you want in your next step, whether it’s educational or career based.

It’s important to remember though, the more qualifications you hold, the better your CV and work ethic will look. So try not to limit yourself to just the core subjects if you can.

When can you Study GCSEs?

Thankfully, with the developments of online learning, it’s possible for students to study GCSEs whenever they want to. The only restriction is on when the examinations for the subjects can be taken. The exam period for the qualifications is restricted to the the summer exam season, which is usually around May/June time.

Can you Retake GCSEs?

Yes, absolutely! If you didn’t get the grades you wanted or needed, then you can retake your GCSEs as a Private Candidate. The process is very easy and you can enrol and start studying within in minutes. Thanks to online learning, you can begin your learning in minutes. Then all you need to focus on is your exams.

It’s worth noting as well that there is no age limit on retaking GCSEs. So even if you’re long out of school, but need better grades, you can do it.