Every GCSE student in England studies English Language, English Literature, Maths and Science as compulsory subjects, alongside non-examined requirements like PE. Beyond that core, a government-encouraged combination called the EBacc adds a Humanities subject and a language — not compulsory everywhere, but promoted strongly by many schools — with the rest of the subject list genuinely open to choice.

Understanding what's fixed and what's flexible makes the Year 9 options process much easier to navigate, because it narrows down exactly how much real choice your child actually has.

The compulsory core

At essentially every school in England, these are taken by every student:

Alongside these examined subjects, schools are generally required to provide:

  • Physical Education (PE) — not usually examined as a GCSE for most students, but a required part of the curriculum through to Year 11.
  • Some form of Religious Education (RE) — schools are generally required to offer RE, though it isn't always delivered as an examined GCSE; many schools run a shorter, non-examined course instead.
  • PSHE / Citizenship-type provision — again, typically non-examined, covering personal, social and health education.

The EBacc: encouraged, not compulsory

You may see the term EBacc (English Baccalaureate) in a school's options materials. It isn't a qualification in itself — it's a specific combination of GCSE subjects that the government tracks as a school performance measure, made up of:

  • English (Language and Literature)
  • Maths
  • Science (double or triple)
  • A Humanities subject — History or Geography
  • A Modern Foreign Language

Because it's used in school performance data, many schools actively encourage students to include a Humanities subject and a language in their options specifically to complete the EBacc combination — but a student who chooses, say, two creative subjects instead of a language is not doing anything "not allowed"; they're simply not completing that particular measure. It's worth understanding this distinction so an options conversation about a language or Humanities subject doesn't feel more mandatory than it actually is.

What's genuinely open choice

Once the compulsory core (and any EBacc-related encouragement) is accounted for, the remaining option slots — typically two to four, depending on the school — are genuinely open. Common subjects in this category include:

  • Humanities: History, Geography, Religious Studies (as an examined GCSE)
  • Languages: French, Spanish, German, Mandarin and others depending on the school
  • Creative and technical subjects: Art, Design & Technology, Music, Drama, Food Technology
  • Computing and business: Computer Science, Business Studies
  • Social sciences: Psychology, Sociology (offered by some schools)

Our guides to History vs Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, and creative and technical options go into these choices in more depth.

The practical takeaway

Roughly half of a typical student's GCSE subject count is fixed before options season even begins. That's worth knowing going into the Year 9 options process — it means the real decisions your child is making are concentrated in a smaller number of genuinely open slots, which makes the whole process feel more manageable than a long subject list might suggest.

FAQ

Which GCSEs are compulsory for every student?

English Language, English Literature, Maths, and Science are compulsory at almost every school, alongside non-examined requirements like PE and, in many schools, some form of Religious Education. The exact detail can vary by school, so it's worth checking your own school's policy.

What is the EBacc and is it compulsory?

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is a specific combination of GCSE subjects — English, Maths, Science, a Humanities subject (History or Geography) and a Modern Foreign Language — that the government encourages schools to promote as a measure of a broad, academic subject mix. It isn't a separate qualification and isn't compulsory in the way core subjects are, though some schools build their options structure around encouraging it.

Is Religious Education compulsory at GCSE?

Schools in England are generally required to provide Religious Education up to Year 11, but that doesn't always mean it has to be taken as an examined GCSE — many schools deliver it as a shorter, non-examined course instead. Check your specific school's approach.

Duke Harewood built aitutors.me for his own KS3 daughter — a tutor that covers the core subjects every GCSE student needs, built to explain the "why", not just drill the answer. Published 11 September 2026.