Is a 40 study score good?

This raw study score will be a number between 0 and 50. A raw study score of 40 would mean that you performed better than around 91% of all students who took the same subject. A raw study score of 50 means that you performed in the top 0.3% of students enrolled in the subject.

The subjects you choose in Year 10 affect what you can do in the future. You should go for a good balance of subjects to keep your career options open. Choosing subjects that suit you and your abilities is very important.

Consider what sort of person you are

To help you decide what to study in Yr 7- Yr 10 Subjects, it's a good idea to start asking yourself what sort of person you are:

• think about what you're like at home, as well as in school – what skills you've developed outside school

• ask yourself what types of things you enjoy doing the most – for example, working things out and thinking them through, practical activities or artistic options like painting, drawing or performing music

• think about what you are most interested in: it could be languages, writing projects, helping people, being outdoors or designing things

What you want to do

If you have a particular career in mind, or you are hoping to go to university, then it is worth finding out if there are specific subjects you need to study.

Before choosing your GCSE subjects you should be aware of choosing subjects which may affect your choices at a later stage, for example, double award science is essential for careers related to medicine but it will also give you many other options.

Making choices

You'll have many options in Year 10, but there are some subjects so important that everyone has to take them. English and Maths are the subjects most often required for courses and careers. Doing as well as you possibly can in Maths and English will improve your chances of getting a job or course at a later stage.

For subjects you can choose you should:

• make sure that you have accurate and up-to-date information

• talk to those who can give you good reliable advice such as your careers teacher/adviser

• discuss the options with your family and subject teachers

There are a number of factors you should consider when you make your subject choices.

Choosing the subjects you need

If you know what career you want, choosing the right subjects can be critical. For example, if you are considering following a science pathway you will need at least double award science.

Choosing the subjects you like and are good at

Nearly everyone gets better marks in subjects they enjoy and are good at. You should take this into account, but always keep in mind your preferred course or career when you leave school.

What to avoid

You shouldn’t choose subjects for the wrong reasons, for example:

• you like the teacher – the teacher may change

• there isn’t much homework – that will change