If you’re a student in the United Kingdom or Wales looking to earn some extra credit by taking on another subject, this list of the easiest GCSE subjects to pass may just be the one for you.
The General Certificate of Secondary Education, usually initialized as GCSE, is the salient academic qualification of the above mentioned regions and was introduced in 1986 as a replacement for the former O Level and CSE examinations. An umbrella of subjects is offered to students, ranging from Construction to Classical Civilization, and their knowledge is tested at the end of year 11, typically at the age of 16. The GCSE provides a convenient avenue for pupils to transition to a higher level education in the form of A Levels or the IB diploma. College follows thereafter, and if you seek ease in that as well, you’d do well to check out our article on the Easiest College Majors That Will Earn Your Money Back.
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The GCSE grading system was consistent across all the subjects, but radical educational reform introduced by the government accorded a number of sweeping changes, the most prominent of which is the change from awarding grades (A* to U) to numbers (9 to 1) instead. The only reason that this threatens a fair evaluation of students’ abilities in various disciplines is due to the fact that it will be implemented in steps, so for a couple of years pupils’ results will contain a myriad of letters and numbers. This is further complicated by the lack of direct correlation between the two awarding criteria. Moreover, if you receive a grade lower than a C or a 4, it is compulsory for you to sit for a retake.
The public is yet to see how far the new changes will penetrate the current system, and whether a positive renovation will result, but nonetheless it is inevitable that most students will continue to take these mainstream examinations as part of their academic journey. For the benefit of these very students we lay out a compilation of the easiest subjects they can take. To assemble this list, we consulted the national examination figures. We averaged the pass rate (A* to C) over the past three years and ranked the subjects accordingly. We did not consider compulsory sciences or advanced subjects such as additional mathematics; we also did not take into account those in which the total number of entered students was less than ten thousand. Let’s begin with ou list of the easiest GCSE subjects to pass!
10. Religious Studies
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 71.8
A comprehensive and rigorous course, Religious Studies, number 10 on our list of easiest GCSE subjects to pass, provides an overview of most major world religions: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism. It succinctly covers the paramount beliefs and practices for each religion as well as sheds some light on issues pertaining to it, the lifestyles of its followers and the compatibility of the faith with mainstream scientific ideas.
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9. Spanish
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 72.1
Next on our list of the 10 easiest GCSE subjects to pass is Spanish, the language spoken by a whopping 420 million people all over the world, native speakers constituting 350 million of that number alone. A GCSE course in Spanish ought to cement its basic semantic rules in your mind and enable you to speak the language well.
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8. Drama
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 73.2
From the history of theatre to the essentials of a play, this subject, that’s ranked 8th o nour list of easiest GCSE subjects to pass, covers it all. For all the aspiring actors and actresses out there, this one is absolutely essential, and will not only grant you a trouble-free grade but will also teach you everything you need to know about a good performance.
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7. German
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 74.2
This examination will ensure your fluency in German by touching upon reading, writing and grammar skills, but fortunately, as the high percentage of “pass” grades indicate, it is easy credit should you wish to opt for it.
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6. Welsh (2nd Language)
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 75.3
Although the subject of Welsh itself yields excellent grades to students on average, pupils taking the second language examination are more successful and are much more in number. This examination similarly brushes over the essentials of Welsh linguistics, but affords ease in that it merely attempts to aid basic communication in the language.
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5. English Literature
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 75.7
The English Literature paper is uniquely designed to allow students an enormous variance in the text they choose to study and attempt; from Shakespearean plays to twentieth-century prose, pupils are plied with freedom in choice and are provided adequate time to pen down essays on their chosen questions. Perhaps that is why the pass rate is so exceptional.
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4. Music
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 75.8
For the musically attuned, this is no less than an essential subject – it delves deep into music theory, styles, composition and technology. Moreover, it also pays homage to the famed aficionados of music such as Beethoven and Mozart.
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3. Art and Design
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 76.2
The number three on our list of easiest GCSE subjects to pass is course that adopts a hands-on approach when it comes to art: essential skills are taught and knowledge of a variety of artistic methods is given to students to better hone their artistic ability. It’s instructive and relaxing!
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2. Classical Subjects
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 88.4
Surprisingly, classics demonstrates a high success rate, in spite of the fact that it appears to be highly intimidating and abstruse. Dealing with Latin, ancient Greek and relevant history, it encompasses everything that you would expect from the subject, without, as the high percentage reveals, the expected difficulty.
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1. Other Modern Languages
Average % of students obtaining A* to C: 88.7
Funnily enough, two of the languages, namely German and Spanish, that we included in this list of the 10 easiest GCSE subjects to pass have wormed their way into it once again as part of this diverse and exhaustive subject. This subject also deals with a number of other languages, treating each in a unique way. As challenging as it may sound, it’s completely doable – the percentage is a testament to that!
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