• Question: what did you get for your GCSEs to become a scientist?

    Asked by ayahferri to Rachel, Susan, Simon on 11 Nov 2013. This question was also asked by aishadebest, snotspice.
    • Photo: Rachel Dakin

      Rachel Dakin answered on 11 Nov 2013:

      Now that was quite a long time ago, but I took a double award science and got A’s. I also got an A in english and an A* in maths.
      Science is obviously important if you want to study it but GCSEs in maths and english are also very important for the future – many courses will ask for your grades.

    • Photo: Susan Skelton

      Susan Skelton answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      I did the scottish version of GCSEs – called standard grades. I got top grades (grade 1) in physics, biology, maths, and english. I think they were the most important subjects for my science career. I also took french, geography, art and music.

      The most important subjects for a science career are as many sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) as possible, and maths and english.

    • Photo: Simon Langley-Evans

      Simon Langley-Evans answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      I did O’ levels because GCSEs weren’t invented when I was at school. I did what you would call triple science and got an A (biology) and two Bs (chemistry and physics).

Comments

  • Photo: Simon

    Simon commented on :

    I am so old that GCSEs didn’t exist and I did something called O levels. I studied chemistry, biology and physics which would be like triple science now. I got A for biology, B for chemistry and B for physics. I got A for English and B for maths. Then I did A levels in biology, chemistry and maths.
    Like Susan and Rachel said, these are all important for a future career in science, but these days many schools give you a lot more choice. My daughter finished her GCSEs last year and did psychology, which she will use to get into science degree courses at uni. My son starts GCSEs next year and will do IT and psychology as well as triple science. Follow what you love!