GSCEs are the very important exams that year 11 student must have to do before A levels or enter college. There are 8 hard exams out of which English, Maths and Science are compulsory to take and the rest of the exams are the options that you can choose. To pass these hard and important exams you must get 56%-66% to pass but this depends on which exam that you are taking. However, there is main issue is…….

Around 66%-67% children achieve grade 4 in England. You would think that is a lot but what about the children who do not achieve grade 4? 

As rightly said by Albert Einstein- “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”.

Children who do not achieve grade 4 in exams in certain topics, does that mean that they do not have the skills and knowledge to pursue any career. Even though the Head department of Education preaches the policies around equality and inclusion despite the differences but when GSCEs are considered it runs the motto of one fit all.

Children with SEN background also required to do the same GCSE exams as others. They are given special exam arrangements such as extra time, scriber or a reader but the context of the exams are the same. Is it fair for these children to go through all the exam stress and anxiety knowing the fact that exams are not the right platform to assess their skills and knowledge.

GCSEs lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and stress. One day of examination is used as a judgement for your all years’ hard work. The outcome of GCSE results and the experience going through all the stress lead to low self esteem affecting their motivation.

Even though, the grades that you have achieved does not measured intelligence but they do reflect your performance at school. In Year 10/11 the schools only focus is about to prepare you to do your GSCEs instead of learning life skills such as cooking and other independence skills. It is good that kids can choose 8 options of GSCEs but there some choices in some subjects that are involve with life skills.

Research have shown that out of 24 nations, young adults in England (aged 16-24) rank 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy. England is behind Estonia, Australia, Poland and Slovakia in both areas. As a young person, I would like to know despite the schools are trying their utmost best to prepare the children for GCSEs, why the children are lacking in basic literacy and numeracy skills. Is it the teaching methods or the content of GCSE syllabus?

An interview with a college lecturer sheds some light on this. She stated, “they have a lot of learners coming to the college who did not achieve their GCSEs but alarming issue is that most of those children struggle with basic skills of literacy and numeracy.

Kammy( from West Bromwich Collegiate Academy)-“GSCEs are important but however I think that the GSCEs does not reflect your ability although it is there to reflect your future job but not your ability.”

However, other people might disagree –

Miss Tapa ( a teacher from West Bromwich Collegiate Academy)- “GSCEs are really important and it is important for the future and your ability you have to work with while working at a job.” 

In conclusion, I believe that the GSCEs does not reflect your ability however it very important to take your GSCEs seriously. It is not to say that GCSEs should be replaced and changed but more focus should be on individual learners’ ability and they should be judged on the skills and knowledge they excel in.

To finish this statement, there is a need to change the way the education system currently is where the focus should be on developing skilled and talented individuals.

Therefore I believe that the GSCEs does not reflect your ability but instead GSCEs put your mental health at risk and it is very important to do.