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GCSEs, (I)GCSEs & BTECs
from BSB GCSE Prospectus
by Thebsbblog
What are GCSE and (I)GCSE Courses?
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is the secondary education qualification of choice for almost all schools and students in the UK. Each qualification is in a particular subject, and a student will take a number of them as their record of achievement throughout secondary school at the age of 16. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education ((I)GCSE) is equivalent to a GCSE, but is slightly more internationally minded and is very popular with schools outside of the UK. Whichever one you end up doing, you can be sure that they are, essentially, the same.
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For all the GCSE courses, extra fees payable are for entry to the exams. For BTEC courses, a regstration fees is payable at the start of the course.
What are BTEC Courses?
The Business and Technology Education Council was created in 1984, and offers further education qualifications at a number of levels. They are different to GCSEs as they are more coursework orientated and focus on ‘real-world’, practical experience of a subject rather than theory. That said, most BTECs are moving towards a combined coursework-and-exam framework.
At BSB we offer BTEC Sport and BTEC IT Level 2 to pupils in years 10 and 11.
So Which Options Should I Take?
The answer to this question is very personal, but some general guidelines may help you:
• Try to choose subjects that interest you and that you have been good at;
• Remember that you can take a blend of GCSEs and BTECs if you wish;
• Discuss your choices with lots of people, but remember that this is your education and you should be the primary decision maker;
• If you do not like the examination experience, consider BTECs as a viable option that will not prevent you from accessing a great course at a great university;
• Above all else, talk with your teachers, your Head of Year and if necessary, the university counsellor. They are the professionals in the field, and not only do they know best, they genuinely have your best interests at heart too.
