MY LIFE

CO-EDITOR RACHEL MITCHELL

Google Search data reveals the top 10 GCSE concerns in the UK

BY JUSTIN FOX

Looking to advance your career? If you’ve got your eyes set on a big promotion, one thing may be holding you back. While it might have been many years since you took your GCSEs exams, poor grades could be standing in the way of your career progression.

Luckily, there is a solution. Every year, adults across the country take the leap to retake their GCSEs. If you’re ready to take the next steps in your education, you’re certain to have some burning questions. Let’s take a look at the top 10 concerns (and answer them). 1. CAN EMPLOYERS CHECK GCSE RESULTS FROM 20 YEARS AGO? With a massive 450 searches a month, many Brits are desperate to know the answer to this question. The short answer is yes. HR managers and employers can verify your GCSE results from 20 years ago. They may do so by contacting your former college. There are also companies that specialise in performing background checks on applicants. Needless to say, you should never lie on your CV or mislead a potential employer. While it is quite unlikely that employers will look this information up, you should keep in mind that they can do so. As with all things in life, honesty is the best policy here. 2. HOW TO SIT GCSE EXAMS PRIVATELY Are you considering sitting your GCSE exams privately? If so, you’re not alone. This question gets 200 search results per month, meaning many Brits are looking into it. If you’re hoping to take these exams as a private candidate, doing so could be easier

than you think. The first step is to figure out which exam board each GCSE falls under. Most boards offer an in-depth guide to sitting exams as a private candidate. You should book your exam directly with the exam board, such as AQA or Edexcel. GCSE exams usually take place in May or June. When you have booked your spot, it’s time to start prepping. You can buy books on your chosen topic online and start revising. 3. HOW TO GET GCSE CERTIFICATES Have you lost your GCSE certificates? You can contact your exam board to request a replacement certificate. If the exam board is not able to give you a replacement, it will issue you a ‘certified statement of results’. Note: You will need to prove your identity and may have to pay a fee for the replacement documents. 4. WHAT ARE THE NEW GCSE GRADES? Back in 2018, the government announced a reformed grading system for GCSEs. Rather than the former A* to G system, the new GCSE grades go from a nine (the highest grade) down to a one (the lowest grade). In both cases, failed GCSEs are marked as U grades. 5. HOW TO TAKE GCSE EXAMS AT HOME Taking your GCSE exams at home is an option for any learner. Ahead of taking this step, you should make sure that you are up to speed on the curriculum. Next, as we have discussed above, you will need to book your exams as a private candidate. 6. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU MISS A GCSE EXAM DUE TO ILLNESS? Should you fall ill the day of your exam and miss it, you may be given ‘special consideration’ by the exam board. Students who have been disadvantaged due to illness or ‘unavoidable circumstances beyond their control’ are eligible for this consideration. Put simply, it means that you will still get your GCSE result. A small percentage will be added to your existing grade—from your coursework—to make up your overall grade. 7. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FAIL YOUR GCSE? Worried about failing your GCSE exam? Should you get less than a grade 4 in GCSE English or maths, you will have to retake the exam according to government guidelines. On the other hand, if you fail other GCSE exams, such as art, drama, history, or PE, you will not have to retake the exams. If you need passing grades to enter an A Level course, though, you can book a resit exam with the exam body and try again. 8. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND GCSE Functional Skills are the equivalent to GCSE qualifications. These exams were brought in back in 2007 to boost the United Kingdom’s literacy and numeracy skills. Anyone can take these exams, which are available in English, maths and ICT. While they are not identical to GCSE exams, Level 2 Functional Skills are equivalent to GCSE grades 4-9 (C-A*). 9. HOW LONG DO GCSE REMARKS TAKE? You can request a remark of your GCSE exam through the examining board. Keep in mind that this process could take up to 20 days to complete after your request. Should you opt for priority remarking, you may find that the process takes as little as 15 days. 10. HOW MANY UCAS POINTS IS A GCSE? Contrary to popular belief, GCSE grades are not worth any UCAS points. If you are hoping to apply to university, you will need to undertake some form of further education. For example, you may choose to take a course of A Levels at a local college or 6th Form.

This article was contributed by the team at CoursesOnline. Contact them to find out more about what GCSE courses are available for mature students.

It be like that sometimes

BY GLORIA DARGATZ

Do you sometimes wake up in the morning and feel like there is no real purpose to get started into your day? You don’t understand, why you should get out of bed, go to school, go to work or meet that friend because you just don’t feel like doing anything? Do you sometimes get frustrated and sad, because of “no” obvious reason? Do you sometimes feel like the world does not want you to be happy and does not give you any motivation to keep going during a certain time? DO YOU? Because I am here to tell you, that I do too. Sometimes, I wake up and I feel like life is pulling me down. Although I am so grateful for what I have been given, I feel down on some days, too. It is totally normal to wake up with no motivation and lack of happiness. It is totally normal to feel down on certain days or even for a certain period of time. We all go through times, where life does not seem to make any sense, where life seems to pull us down and does not want to understand us. We’ve all been there, some of us more, some of us less often. It is okay to feel this kind of way, it is normal. But because we all feel that way at some point(s) of our life, it is so important that we are there for those

who feel down and sad right now. That we are supporting others, listening to them and starting to treat others the way we want to be treated. We often don’t show that we are frustrated and do not feel the best when we do. We often do not tell others around us about our feelings. But because of that, that we don’t always demonstrate our inner self, it is so important that you are always there for others, no matter if they seem to be sad and not feeling their best. Because sometimes the people with the brightest smiles feel the saddest and loneliest. Sometimes you are one of them. So treat others the way you want to be treated on the days you feel down because you never know how their day is going. If you feel lonely and sad, look out for people you can talk to, search for advice and for people you can trust, go for a walk, take time for yourself and try to find something, that makes you happy. If you feel like you feel down for a longer period of time you might consider looking out for professional help, that can support you.

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE, REMEMBER THAT.