Hardest GCSE Subjects – And How to Tackle Them

Are you struggling to choose your GCSE options? Are you not sure which ones might be right for you? Maybe you have questions like, ‘What if it’s too hard?’ or ‘What’s an easy GCSE?’ Perhaps you’ve already started your GCSEs and want some reassurance that you’ve chosen the right ones.

In this article, we will give you all the facts about the best GCSEs to achieve a grade 9 and how to tackle the hardest GCSE subjects 

What Are The Hardest GCSE Subjects?

The Hardest GCSEs

There is no ‘hard’ GCSE. The data here makes it seem as if combined science would be the hardest GCSE, as so few students achieve a grade 9, and that the single sciences are the easiest because these courses have the highest percentage of students achieving a grade 9. You need to delve deeper into this data and consider other factors, such as the type of students taking these courses, as many schools will only allow the top-performing students to study the single sciences, and so the data will be skewed. For courses such as English and maths, we may see a better reflection of the data because students of all abilities are required to study English and maths GCSEs (in the UK). Hard GCSEs depend on many factors, such as your own personal skill set and strengths, your interests and your learning styles. 

How to Tackle English GCSE

In English Literature and English Language, there is less information to revise as these GCSEs focus on developing your reading, writing and analytical skills. Timed exam practice can really help you develop the important exam skills you need to show your understanding of different texts and writers' methods. Try creating essay plans or writing timed paragraphs as part of your revision, or check out our model essays for inspiration and use our Smart Mark tool to mark your own exam answers.

How to Tackle Maths GCSE

Our Maths Lead has these tips to help you tackle Maths GCSE. It is important to practice each skill individually until you don’t get a question wrong, rather than practicing until you get one right. Another idea is to pick out key words/numbers from the question and translate them into maths symbols and operations. And finally remember that the question gives you everything you need, so make sure you are using all of the information, such as using the number of marks as a rough guide for how many steps will be needed in the solution. 

How to Tackle Science GCSEs

The sciences are made up of biology, chemistry and physics. These can either be studied as separate GCSEs or taken as combined GCSEs (also known as double science). To tackle any of the sciences, you need to repeat your learning regularly. This means regularly revising as you go along. Why? There is just so much to learn in the sciences (that’s why you have so many lessons each week!) from practicals to all keywords, to processes, to equations and more. By regularly revisiting your learning, you will embed all this knowledge and make it stick! Our GCSE Sciences revision notes and exam questions are designed with that in mind.  

How to Tackle the Social Sciences GCSEs

Sociology and Psychology are essay-based subjects. This means you need to practice writing at length in time conditions effectively and efficiently. Ensure you know how to include the three assessment objectives (AO1, AO2 and AO3) in your extended writing and how to work out which one is being assessed in an exam question. 

How to Tackle Food Preparation & Nutrition GCSE

Food Preparation & Nutrition GCSE is 50% coursework-based. This means you need to apply large chunks of your learning to an independent project. So get good at time management and meeting deadlines. This course also involves cooking, so be sure to enjoy being creative and skilled in the kitchen and confident in preparing a range of food. We have covered all the key skills needed in this GCSE to ensure you have all the information needed to put into practice within your schools or colleges.

How to Tackle Business Studies GCSE

In GCSE Business Studies, there are different ways to tackle this subject. Our Business Studies Lead has these top tips: Master the basics first, which means starting with fundamental concepts such as revenue, costs, and profit before moving on to more complex topics like financial statements. A strong grasp of the basics will make it easier to handle the broader syllabus. Secondly, be sure to use real-world examples by relating what you learn to real-life business scenarios. This approach will make abstract concepts more understandable and help you see the practical side of the theories.

How to Tackle PE GCSE

To tackle GCSE PE, you need physical skills such as agility, balance and coordination, as 30% of this course assesses practical skills. Having an interest in sports in general is recommended, as well as biology and the human body. Don’t be fooled into thinking there is no science in GCSE PE; you will be assessed on this too. 

Factors Affecting Difficulty

There is no single ‘hard GCSE’. There are so many factors to take into consideration, such as the control schools have over which students they allow to take a subject, the learning style of students taking each subject, and whether a subject is exam- or coursework-based.

Workload

It is important to consider how much work is involved in a GCSE subject when choosing your options. Find out if the course has any coursework as part of the assessment, or if a practical assessment is involved. Some subjects have only one or two hours of lessons a week, while others may have up to ten. Also, consider the amount of home learning that may be expected of you. These factors should be taken into account when choosing your GCSE subjects. 

Exam Format

The format of the exam will vary from subject to subject. Some subjects, such as maths GCSE, have three separate exam papers and exam sittings, whereas others may only have one paper. The length of the exam will differ for each subject: a science exam is typically 75 minutes, whereas an art GCSE may involve a whole day in exam conditions. Think about how you fair under exam conditions and consider this when picking the GCSE subjects you want to study. 

Practical Learning

Assessment can come in different forms, such as a practical or written assessment. Practical assessments are required in GCSEs such as Food Preparation & Nutrition and PE. The sciences have a set of required practicals that all students are expected to carry out, although assessment of these practicals is through terminal exams. Other subjects are 100% written assessment through exams, such as maths and English literature. When choosing your GCSE subjects, it is important to think about whether a practical assessment is suited to your learning styles and skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Choosing Harder GCSEs Look Impressive for University Applications?

Taking particular GCSEs will not directly affect university applications. Universities will be looking at a range of factors, including your subjects taken, GCSE results, A Level (or equivalent) results, any volunteer work you have been involved in, your extracurricular activities and your unique skills and strengths. Each university and subject will have its own set of criteria, so it is worth investigating this before choosing your GCSEs (and A Levels) if you know the career path you want to take. 

Should I Avoid GCSEs That I Find Difficult?

Avoiding certain subjects that you have little or no interest in is a sensible route to take. And this interest will most likely come down to aspects of learning you find easy or challenging. All students will find aspects of any GCSE difficult and challenging; remember there are no ‘hardest’ GCSEs, so it is impossible to find a GCSE that won’t be challenging in some areas. It all comes down to your unique skills, learning styles and academic strengths. 

What Support Is There Available If I Find GCSEs Challenging?

Here at Save My Exams, we love nothing more than to support students with their learning and understanding of their GCSEs. Our teams of subject specialists prepare resources with ease of learning in mind. Outside of Save My Exams, your teachers and tutors will be the best resources to support you in your learning. Don’t be afraid to approach your teacher in a subject you’re finding difficult; they will be there to help and guide you. This may mean you need to put in some extra hours in that subject to overcome difficulties, but it will be worth it on results day!

Ace Your GCSEs with Save My Exams

Here at Save My Exams, we aim to develop high-quality, affordable revision resources. Our resources are written and created by leading specialists who know their subjects inside and out. We pride ourselves on being exam-board specific, so you can trust you are getting the right information for your course.

Explore Our GCSE Revision Resources

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References

Data and figures sourced: Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) CIC 

GCSE coursework subjects: Think Student

Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation: Ofqual