Do GCSEs matter (UK)?

I'm in my final year at secondary school and I've got my GCSE exams upcoming. I've done very well in my mocks (majority 8s (equivalent to A)) and I'm very eager to learn furthermore I'm highly motivated and ambitious as I want to pursue a career in investment banking or finance. I want to know whether or not, are GCSEs important and do they matter to get into my dream career?

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Hey mate,

You won't be asked for your GCSEs when you apply for internships at university or for jobs after graduation, so they're not the be all and end all. That said, they are important for creating a strong profile for applying to university and so getting into a top target uni (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial).

While it's good that you're already thinking about your future career, you shouldn't stress about them too much. Try and aim for majority 9s with all else 8s, and aim for at least straight As at A-level (preferably with a few A*s).

Doing well in your GCSEs will also put you in stead for applying to A-level insight programmes - worthwhile looking into when you get to that stage. Good luck for the exams in May!

"Work is the curse of the drinking classes" - Oscar Wilde
 
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