GCSE options / is Business Studies viewed as a 'soft' / easy subject or well respected these days?

Dd was forced into taking it in a way, a teacher knocked her confidence in science so she decided not to do triple and opted for double science. There was only cooking , DT, art and IT she could take for 10th subject. Was gutted as she couldn't take a 2nd language with double science as she had always wanted.
Sorry but 'soft option for lower set kids' made me fume. She worked hard and got 9A* and 1A at GCSE. Admittedly, dd didn't want to take it and had no real interest in it, but there were a lot of intelligent people that took it because they were interested in it. The 'it's for thick kids' is very wrong and a horrible assumption in itself.

Business studies is very definitely a soft subject. At both GCSE and A level.

I don't really see the point of GCSE Business Studies.

massa I think GCSEs in say Business Studies and Law are different to others in that in order to learn anything of any value about these areas you need to have a fairly good grasp of first principals.

They don't build step by step like other subjects eg French.

Geography and or History will be a lot more useful and open a lot more doors

Disagree with comments here. No subject is considered soft at GCSE only A level.

You could say the same about most GCSEs though Word. I'm not picking an argument btw, just pondering.

I agree with TheFirst. He appears academically able, so he ought to try to get the EBacc - get History or Geography in there.
For the ninth subject it doesn't really matter: if he enjoys BS and is more likely to bag a good grade in it, then go for it.

I think part of it is that to understand much of any real use about how businesses work, you need grounding in economics and the law.

At GCSE it's just not possible to make any proper headway into these things, so, by necessity, the GCSE is perfunctory.

A bit like GCSE law. Almost dangerous to know a bit IYSWIM.

My son has just started his gcse business and it's not a soft option. I did business studies in first year at university and he's already done more in marketing than I did. I also am pleased with how much theory and practice are linked. However the main point is that he enjoys it. If you like something it makes revision slightly less tedious.

Out of interest, why is it considered soft?

Yes it is considered a soft subject.

However, one soft subject is not fatal amongst 9 other rigorous subjects.

boysandme what are the alternative choices for your DS?
I would think that if it were a choice between BS and for example PE or theatre studies or ICT and your DS had more inclination towards the former then that would provide him with useful skills. If he is highly academic and could do another humanity or MFL etc with reasonable enthusiasm then he should do. I don't think economics at GCSE as an academic subject is particularly useful. Most take it up at A level.

When DD was applying to 6th form indies all of them asked how many A* she had, not one asked what subjects she took.

GCSEs really aren't important. Doing subjects you enjoy is the best way forward as the child is more likely to do well if they enjoy the subject.

Having said the above, I don't have History or Geography GCSE and it has never been a problem.

1. Slot one: Triple science if he wants to do this.
2. Slot two: a MFL
3. Slot three: History or Geography
4. Slot four: whatever he wants. Business studies is fine as a ninth GCSE.

I did business Studies at GCSE and A-level and it been the most consistently useful-in-real-life subject I have studied. From consumer law to employment law, basic accounting, budgets, understanding of various business models, marketing techniques, etc - it has proved handy in every job I've ever had and I think many elements of it should be a compulsory part of the curriculum.

My DD1 took 2 subjects at Gcse which were not facilitating - music and art (and she only took 9 proper Gcses). She is now in year 13 and has 4/5 uni offers (so far) for a Stem course at good universities. She did not take a humanity. It really does not matter at Gcse as long as the basic academic Gcses are taken (2 English, maths, triple science).

With the uncertainty over A levels and the possibility of no AS depending on school's policy, I think unis will have to start looking at GCSEs again.

agree with blue thingy

choose a subject he will get an A in

No subjects are soft at GCSE, let them do what they enjoy. Unis only look at A levels.

If your son is doing well in a school that has a sixth form then I don't think GCSE choices are all that important. A level choices are more potentially restricting.

Business Studies teacher here! It is viewed as a soft subject by those who just see studies in the title! even Eton offer it at A level.

It is a subject that gives students an insight into the real world and takes what is actually happening and the impacts of the real world into account ; therefore from anyone from supermarket self fillers up to managing directors will experience what is learnt in the subject. Students do enjoy it because they can see it is real and not just things out of a text book.

The skills required in order to gain a good grade in GCSE are very high level; students need to be able to analyse, evaluate, have excellent essay skills and mathematical ability (not just with formula but also reading and using data) in order to access any grade higher than a D.

To the poster who said about the BTEC being scary; I would say that the new spec is harder than GCSE (it was never the easy option that people thought anyway) so much that I switched a group from the BTEC to the Applied GCSE.

To the poster who discusses facilitating subjects - facilitating is focus on A Level and even the guide suggests only 2 are required (and Business A Level is mentioned in a number of suggestions for degree choices!)

I have had previous students at GCSE, BTEC (level 2 and 3) and A level gain entry to Oxbridge and top unis (RG and non RG) so to answer the question - it is not a soft subject!