History GCSE or Geography GCSE?

This is my first post and I desperately need answers and opinions on this!

I'm in year 9 and we're choosing our GCSEs choices this week. I need to know whether history and geography is better for me because I just can't decide!
My history teacher likes me in the class and I do try in the class but it's a lot to take in and remember! I do enjoy it most of the time but I'm not sure if the GCSE will become way too overwhelming and hard because I'm not really one of the top students in history.

My geography teacher does not like me at all because we didn't get to a good start. Therefore this year, I did not focus at all in geography so I missed quite a bit. However in geography from other years, I've fairly enjoyed it a lot and the content seems easy to me. People say that t geography GCSE is easy as well and fun, so if it is, I'd take it on.

Please tell me your opinions!

Reply 1

Babyangelana

14

I'm not really sure about how geography is but i am in year 11 currently and i chose history, and i can honestly say i regret doing so. In history there is so much content to learn and you have to apply them to exam questions - which include 10 marks, 13 marks etc. I loved History in year 7-9, but idk it just wasnt the same when i got to the GCSE History. It became repetitive and boring (My own opinion other people may think otherwise). However, this may not be the case for you. Talk to your History teacher about what topics you study in GCSE history, and if you like the sound of it and if you like source questions and have somewhat good analytical skills then history is the one for you! :smile:

Reply 2

Zaz05

5

I'm in year 11 and have taken history and geography for GCSEs. However I completely regret taking geography, if you are not as good as it in year 9, I don't suggest to take it, it's really hard and some topics in the syllabus are so boring. Whereas in History it's much easier to learn the content because I find it more interesting. I believe it's much easier to get the A* in history than in geography. Everyone in my class gets no less than a B in history mocks, but in geography only very few people achieve the A/A*

Reply 3

elizabetheb

6

I'm in year 11 and I took history, not geography, and I'm really glad I did- a lot of my friends don't enjoy geography anymore. Personally, I love history, but there is a lot of content, and I have no idea what the new course is like- I'd look at the specification for both courses and see which one you like more.

Reply 4

Missdimples

17

I'm in year 11, and I take geography.

You do know that, you could have any geography teacher right? It doesn't mean you get the teacher who doesn't seem to like you. Yet this can depend and vary at times.

Well geography is a subject that you need too remember a lot of stuff. Case studies in particular. You do go on a trip (I don't want this to encourage you to pick it), but you go based on your controlled assessment. Was not really as fun. But geography is a pretty alright subject, my target grade is an A, so yeah. There is pressure-but that's the same for all subjects.

Hope that help a bit? X

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 5

Aldo786

5

i took both history and geography and i must say that geography is far better than history. History has way too much content.

Reply 6

niamhgreen11

3

I'm in y11 and do both. Personally I prefer geography because I think it's interesting and if you understand it then the exams are easy. I don't enjoy history that much because it's just so much the learn, remembering all the dates and names of people. My school does really boring topics as well, medicine through time and the American west. I think you should do sone more research and go with the one you feel you'd enjoy more and be more confident in :smile:

Reply 7

Babyangelana

14

Original post by Aldo786

i took both history and geography and i must say that geography is far better than history. History has way too much content.

i agree

Reply 8

babymelissaa

OP

4

Original post by Babyangelana

I'm not really sure about how geography is but i am in year 11 currently and i chose history, and i can honestly say i regret doing so. In history there is so much content to learn and you have to apply them to exam questions - which include 10 marks, 13 marks etc. I loved History in year 7-9, but idk it just wasnt the same when i got to the GCSE History. It became repetitive and boring (My own opinion other people may think otherwise). However, this may not be the case for you. Talk to your History teacher about what topics you study in GCSE history, and if you like the sound of it and if you like source questions and have somewhat good analytical skills then history is the one for you! :smile:

Thank you so much I found this really helpful x

Reply 9

babymelissaa

OP

4

Original post by Zaz05

I'm in year 11 and have taken history and geography for GCSEs. However I completely regret taking geography, if you are not as good as it in year 9, I don't suggest to take it, it's really hard and some topics in the syllabus are so boring. Whereas in History it's much easier to learn the content because I find it more interesting. I believe it's much easier to get the A* in history than in geography. Everyone in my class gets no less than a B in history mocks, but in geography only very few people achieve the A/A*

Thank you I think I'm edging closer to picking history than geography now x

Reply 10

PhilLDN

Im a year 13 doing history and know others who take geography.
History at GCSE is long ans is actually getting tougher with more content, geography is easier.
At a-level geography takes little effort or work to get a good grade (so i have been told) whilst history is fairly tough. Think more about your future, do you need either subject and which subject you prefer doing, what homework drags and what homework can you sit down and do. If you dont need either subject for your future geography may be easier but it comes down to which you enjoy more as this will get your attention more and you will be more motivated to do work and get a better grade.
Hope I helped

Reply 11

Mia2795

4

I am currently in year 10 and really enjoy studying history as it is probably one of the most engaging subjects. I dropped geography 1 month in as I found the syllabus uneventful. I personally think that studying a subject is easier if you get on well with your teacher as you become more motivated. Pick the subject that you enjoy the most as you will spend a lot of time in class and revising.

Reply 12

xhorseloverx

15

From what you've said I would suggest doing History! I think it's a really good academic subject and it would be great to have as a GCSE ☺️

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 13

username2740239

12

geography is easier, but more boring. history is harder, but more interesting.

Reply 14

Christopher9600

7

You really shouldn't be looking at which is easier etc. Like many high achieving history students, they will ask you to look at the bigger picture. What career do you want to have when you're older? Are you planning to attend university? I can verify that if you take A level history and succeed, you could qualify to learn law, and perhaps become a lawyer or something else such as enonomics, which helps primarily in business. Geography, in my opinion, has never been interesting, and as a young adult I never looked back and wished I chose a different gcse. Geography examiners and teachers will persuade you to take the subject by bragging about trips abroad, when in reality it is likely they will take you to the town hall to do awkward surveys or even worse, compass excersizes that are boring! (My friend chose geography). Whereas in history, trips aren't advertised or mentioned at all, as teachers often tend to make them surprises or come up with trips along the way depending on what syllabus or era you're studying. For example, you could be studying Victorian London, and they will take you to Tower Bridge. You could be learning about midevil torture devices (really interesting btw!) and they will take you to a museum that holds real life gilloutines, etc. A popular topic in history gcse nowadays is the rise of hitler and medicine over time, which is extremely easy if you're good at remembering and connecting dots to old cases and theories that are considered mundane today. Georgraphy does have its advantages, with rumoured easy exams and mocks, but won't you be more pleased with yourself if you succeed in a hard course you're interested in? I'm late and you've probably already picked, if you're active mind sharing what you've chosen?

Reply 15

ForeverYoungx

14

I’ve studied history for GCSE! I understand that it is a heavy content subject, but you’ll do fine as long as you have the interest for it! Just start making flash cards along the way and keep writing essays in timed conditions. But more importantly, choose the subject you find interesting - you’re more likely to do better in a subject that you enjoy and like.

Reply 16

beyondmythoughts

6

I took history at GCSE and yes it is a content heavy subject but I only revised 2 hours a week for history and still got an A*. History is also seen as a more academic subject compared to Geography, universities and colleges see history as a more intelligent subject, I don’t know but they do. So I guess it depends on what you want to do after GCSEs. However there is no point in taking something that you won’t enjoy as you’ll just make your life hell. Hope this helps :smile:

Reply 17

tigerlilly705

4

I do GCSE geography and I'm planning on taking it to a level so I'm a bit bias but history has more essays and geography is more. long questions. answers so if your more a science person I'd go geography if you more English I'd go history. hope this helps

Reply 18

Jeev123

8

I did history for 1 month then transferred to geography cause honestly in my opinion history just seemed a bit dead but in geigraohg you learn about the world and its really fun. As well as this as long as yiu remember alll the info and case studies really well youve literally guaranteed yourself a grade 9.

Reply 19

angell7

2

I chose geography because I was hopeless at history but I’d say go for the subject you enjoy the most and find the most interesting because you’ll be more likely to want to study for it

History GCSE or Geography GCSE?

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you