* Student's ability and ambition: A highly capable student might choose to take many GCSEs, aiming for a wide range of subjects or higher grades. A student with different strengths might focus on fewer subjects to achieve strong grades in those areas.
* Future educational plans: University applications often require certain GCSEs, and some courses benefit from having a particular combination of subjects at GCSE. Apprenticeships and other vocational pathways have differing requirements.
* School policy: Some schools have a minimum or recommended number of GCSEs their students take.
* Student's workload capacity: Taking many GCSEs requires significant commitment and good time management skills. It's important to avoid burnout.
Typically, students in England take between 5 and 10 GCSEs. However, taking more or fewer is entirely possible and appropriate depending on individual circumstances. The most important thing is to choose subjects that are both challenging and enjoyable and that align with the student's future goals.