TIE HoyIGCSE subject choices: start with your school and goals
Check your school, exam board and goals. Prepare the questions you need to ask before choosing subjects.
What should I get from the school first?
Get this cohort’s compulsory and optional subjects, with combination limits.
ELIS Murcia describes compulsory and optional courses in Years 10–11.
Compare its curriculum with the Pearson catalogue; a listed qualification is not automatically taught at your school.
How do I turn goals into useful questions?
Put interests, current learning and possible next-stage subjects on one sheet.
Ask about teaching language, assessment, entry requirements and progression conditions.
Compare choices using confirmed school information rather than copying a mentor’s subject list.
What to do
Prepare questions before agreeing a combination with the school.
Bring
- Current school options document
- Your interests and recent work
- Candidate subjects/codes
- Questions for the teacher
Steps
- List school compulsory/optional subjects, board and subject codes.
- Write subjects you enjoy, feel prepared for and want to explore.
- Ask about clashes, assessment, teaching language, entry requirements and later-course conditions.
- Record reasons and unresolved questions; ask the school to confirm a workable combination.
Basis
Schools determine actual courses and combinations; the board catalogue identifies qualifications. The checklist separates interests from conditions that the school must confirm.
More questions
Must I choose the same subject as a friend?
Check your school’s combination limits and your own goals. Your friend’s reasons start a discussion; they do not set your requirements.