Easiest GCSE Subjects To Pass & Best Practices To Get A 9
January 18, 2024 | 1 year | Hacks & Tips
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In the British educational system, GCSEs set the end of high school and the beginning of one’s professional career. Up to that moment, students are taught certain subjects that they must pass to move from one year to another. However, at this point, pupils have their first chance to decide what they want to study and start to shape their professional future.
In this instance, students take Maths and English, which are the Core subjects that all students must study, and they get to pick the other eight subjects, approximately. Nevertheless, having to choose among the +80 subjects available can be difficult, and many students prefer taking the easiest ones to smooth the path ahead.
Let’s analyse which are the easiest subjects on offer, and what exactly makes them easier.
What is the most passed GCSE subject (according to the 2024 results)?
| Subject | Overall Pass Rate | Percentage Achieving an 9 (%) |
| Modern Hebrew | 97.9% | 42% |
| Polish | 95.8% | 48.7% |
| Chinese (Spoken Mandarin) | 92.3% | 33.1% |
| Italian | 92% | 38.3% |
| Chemistry | 90.5% | 14% |
| Physics | 90.1% | 13.3% |
| Biology | 89.1% | 12.5% |
| Urdu | 85.3% | 12.7% |
| German | 78.1% | 10.5% |
| Religious Studies | 75.9% | 9% |
Why are these subjects considered easier?
Students usually share their thoughts about subjects on forums and blogs, but their opinions are extremely varied, due to the sheer number of subjects available. Of course, nobody has taken all of them and, thus, can’t have an objective and comprehensive view on this matter.
Fortunately, the UK Department of Education not only regulates examination boards but also collects data from them. Based on the gathered data, they can spot trends and analyse metrics, which allows them to identify the easiest and most difficult GCSE subjects.
To establish the easiest and most difficult subjects, the Department of Education analyses:
- Pass Rate: The percentage of students who pass a given subject is a direct indicator of how easy that subject is considered to be. The higher the pass rate, the easier it is reckoned to be.
- Student’s skills: Based on students’ comments on forums and other parameters taken into account by exam boards, examinations are significantly less challenging when they assess knowledge acquired during secondary education, such as essay composition. Additionally, when the topics included are interconnected this further facilitates the examination process.
Aside from the difficulty of every subject, we highly recommend pondering how these choices will play out in your future. If you already have a plan in mind, the best is to research the requirements to enter your desired university or job and select your GCSEs in alignment with those aspirations.
Choosing GCSE subjects that provide you with the skills necessary to perform well in certain jobs is highly valued by employers, either as a young adult looking for their first job or as a mature student who wants to resit GCSEs for better working opportunities.
What are the easiest GCSEs to do in one year?
The truth is that there is no specific GCSE that is easier to do in one year than others. Instead, what matters the most, is your study strategy.
At CloudLearn, we have calculated the ideal study time that you should dedicate to each of your GCSEs in order to succeed, That is 120 total study hours per subject. Covering the entire syllabus and revising for that time will guarantee you pass your GCSEs. Just calculate and distribute those hours in one year and you will be able to pass your GCSEs with flying colours. If you are looking to get all 9s (or close) take a look at the following tips!
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How to get all 9 in GCSEs? 5 Tips to make GCSEs easier and ace the exams
Aside from choosing subjects with a high pass rate, there are also a few strategies that can help in making GCSEs easier.
Combining subjects with similar content
A very good approach is to select similar subjects. This way, you will be able to interconnect the topics you need to study and increase your chances of achieving good results. A good combination could be Biology, Chemistry and Physics, all Science-related. However, aim at finding the right balance. You don’t want to choose subjects which are redundant, such as Maths and Further Maths, as some universities may frown upon this.
Taking GCSEs privately
The traditional way to study for GCSEs is at school in group classes. However studying online can be a much better option for many, as it provides more flexibility.
It also allows students to study at their own pace, and from anywhere, and even fast-track courses, reducing the regular two-year study time to just a few months.
This can be done at private colleges, online academies or through homeschooling. Here we’ve elaborated a guide on how to take GCSE privately.
1:1 Tutoring
Studying on one’s own can sound challenging, as you need to be responsible and consistent with studying. However, experienced online colleges, such as CloudLearn, include 1:1 tutoring with an appointed tutor who can guide you along the process, explain topics in-depth and present studying techniques to ensure success.
FAQs
What subject is the easiest in GCSE?
According to AQA’s result statistics over the years, the easiest subject in GCSE is Modern Hebrew, as it has the highest pass rate among all other subjects (97.9% in 2024). However, it is also true that difficulty is a very subjective variable, as students may find some subjects harder than others based on a number of factors.
Are GCSEs harder or easier now?
GCSEs are carefully crafted to be fair and equally difficult throughout the years. It is true, however, that students from 2020 to 2022 had it easier, as exigencies were lowered during and after the pandemic, but requirements have now returned to pre-pandemic times.
What are the most valued GCSE subjects?
The most valued GCSEs are Maths and English, as these are mandatory subjects based on the regulations set by the Ministry of Education. For this reason, they are an entry requirement to most (if not all) university courses. Aside from those, universities will analyse your GCSEs in context with your A-levels and other factors in your profile and also how related they are to the course you are aspiring to study. In conclusion, the most valued GCSEs will change depending on each student and their career prospects.
Exam board selection: Which exam board is the easiest for GCSEs?
Although the same subjects are offered by different examination boards, all of these are regulated by Ofqual, belonging to the UK’s Department of Education. This ensures that there are no significant differences between the options available, making all of them equally difficult.
