Business studies or Computer science GCSE?

[Caramelty]

Dd is great at everything, and has this magical talent of being better at subjects she doesn’t try hard at.

She has been completely ignoring CS all year as she isn’t interested in the GCSE. Her teacher has asked her to change her mind because a) she got the second best test score in her top set class end of year assessment and b) she got a gold in the Bebras challenge without trying at all and said “it’s the easiest test ive done in a long time”.

She isn’t interested in either business studies or CS but she has to take an option at GCSE and chose business studies because “it looks really easy.”

Possible heading for a degree Educational Psychology and wants a career in teaching / school leadership.

What would be more useful - CS or business studies, or are both a bit pointless for her?

Whichever she will do better in or enjoy more. What would she look to teach?

Are those the only options? Does nothing else interest her - MFL, history, creative subject like drama, music, tech?

Science teacher. She is also doing Art (school has the triple science people doing 10 GCSE’s which she has no choice in.

Art is a big workload which is why we thought a dossy subject like Business Studies would be good. I think she’s hoping it will be a bit like watching Dragons Den or the Apprentice!

Ps business studies was seen as a soft option when I was at school (gcse in common sense, my dad called it). I am hoping it hasn’t become difficult int the last 30 years!

Check the curriculum for the exam board that her school uses to see what’s actually covered

No GCSE subject is dossy tbh.

If she might teach science, CS might be a more useful addition than business (no studies). But really it’s what she prefers. My ds took CS and found it dull tbh. But maybe business would be too.

Did you take GCSE Business Studies OP? If you did, you could download the syllabus for the current GCSE Business and compare it with the GCSE that you studied to see if it's harder.
I would say that you a future leadership / management role studying Business would be more useful than Computer Science. But you can catch up with either subject at a later date.
Are there any other suitable options? GCSE Pyschology may be good, but not many schools offer it.

Does she spend much time using Python?

You see, with Computer Science, it’s not just about memorising facts — the practical side is just as important. That’s often where students struggle. There’s quite a lot of time-consuming work to do on the computer, which is why CS is considered a challenging subject, especially at GCSE and even more so at A level.

Bear in mind that Bebras challenge is not the same as GCSE scope
Bebras problem-solving competition that focuses on computational thinking.

But No programming or coding is required.

Bebras is about puzzles, logic whereas at CS is algorithms, programming, binary strings. Bebras scope is shallow but clever. If a kid has high IQ she will be great at it without much preparation. GCSE at CS is deep and cumulative. Only high IQ, good memory will not be sufficient. A lot of practice is needed in programming

I would say that you a future leadership / management role studying Business would be more useful than Computer Science.

It is really odd to speak about leadership or management role at a GCSE age. Honestly, even people graduating with MBA have no guarantee that they will be leaders or in management.