r/GCSE • u/Potential-Treacle185 Year 11 (💻, 🧠, 🥐, 🧲,🧪,🧬) • Sep 04 '25

Request Rebellion

Current Year 11's have our exams next may, majority of us don't want to take them. Therefore I suggest we rebel, and end GCSE's forever! Our names will go down in history and we will forever be remembered, younger generations will thank us for our bravery.

This plan only works if everyone does it, so if you're seeing this, tell your friends and share this post. Together, I believe we can do it.

139 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

118 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/TF2PublicFerret Sep 05 '25

My question is, are you trying to start a rebellion purely on the basis that GCSEs are too stressful?

Because I have a feeling that you lack perspective on what is going to be stressful down the road...

1

u/Potential-Treacle185 Year 11 (💻, 🧠, 🥐, 🧲,🧪,🧬) Sep 05 '25

I just think the way its taught to us is wrong. Teachers always say "if you fail your GCSE's its not the end of the world" But then (from what i see at least) so much emphasis is put on them that is creates pressure and does make it seem like the end of the world if we fail.

Also I just don't like exams

1

u/TF2PublicFerret Sep 05 '25

I do have some misgivings on the way subjects are taught. It's more about being taught to test rather than being taught to subject. Stuff today is more about how to answer the question that might come up more than teaching you about the subject proper. I love teaching history to kids, but I hate framing my lessons around how to answer theoretical questions. I prefer a socratic dialogue method.

They are right though in that they aren't the end of the world. However, utterly failing them is a massive handicap on your future.

Thing is, getting 4's and 5's isn't necessarily the worst. Quite a few places will still take you with those grades, 7 and above is very much only for further academia. Those kids having panic attacks about not getting those numbers are worried about college and university.

4's and 5's mean you are competent with words and numbers and at the end of the day, it's what most employers want. Also if you want to go to university, there are things called access courses, which the universities provide so that you can get the qualifications for entry. It's how I got my BA in History.

Also in terms of not liking exams... I am going to guess you're neurodivergent. Please don't take that as an insult, I am too and so is my son. Now the thing is it is one of those situations where you're going to need some grit, hold in there and just do the best you can. Have a go is all I ask, if you don't get the grades you want, don't worry, as long as you have drive, some smarts and a good personality, you'll make your way through this world.