Subject file

What's involved?

• Reading a range of different texts.
• Writing for different purposes and audiences, both formally and creatively.
• Speaking and listening, for example in discussions and presentations; expressing your views; and presenting arguments.

What qualifications can I get?

Entry Level English or GCSE English, English literature.

Career suggestions:

Information scientist, journalist, librarian, market research executive, public relations officer, publishing editor, school teacher, solicitor, technical author.

All students have to study ICT, but it is not a compulsory examination subject.

What's involved?

• How information and communication systems work, store information and help people to solve problems. You also learn about new advancements in technology and the various ways in which you can use ICT.
• The IT Diploma integrates the themes of business, people and technology, and brings up-to-date learning on technology in a business context. It offers the opportunity to gain professional level IT skills.

What qualifications can I get?

Entry Level ICT, GCSE ICT, applied double GCSE ICT or Diploma in Information Technology.

Career suggestions:

Computer operator, computer programmer, network manager, systems analyst, technical support person, web designer/developer.

What's involved?

• Numbers, algebra, measurement, shapes and space.
• You will also learn about handling money, statistics, how to use numerical information and how to solve real-life problems.

What qualifications can I get?

Entry Level mathematics or GCSE mathematics.

Career suggestions:

Bank/building society customer adviser, civil engineer, financial adviser/planner, private practice accountant.

Other compulsory subjects:

Some schools have other compulsory subjects. Check what they are in your school. Everyone has to study careers education, citizenship, physical education (PE), religious studies, sex and relationship education, and work-related learning (learning within the curriculum and outside about the world of work), but you may not have to take exams in these subjects.

What's involved?

• Looking at how the world and the universe are constructed.
• Science includes biology (human and plant processes, energy and nutrients), chemistry (atomic structures and compounds), and physics (forces, electricity, weather, the solar system and the universe) - these can be studied separately or in combination.

What qualifications can I get?

Additional science, additional applied science, environmental and land-based science, biology, chemistry, physics, applied science (double award).

Career suggestions:

Architect, beauty therapist, biochemist, building control surveyor, chemist, conservation officer/restorer, dietitian, forensic scientist, healthcare assistant, marine biologist, meteorologist, pharmacist, research scientist, school teacher, veterinary nurse.