Gcse choices - food tech or spanish?

I have to choose my GCSEs soon and so far I've decided on:
Maths
Double Science
Double Science
Eng lit
Eng lang
History
Geography
French

for my 9th option I can't decide if I should take Food or Spanish. Some people say Food is looked down on by universities, because they think it's just a bit of cookery. I'm ok at Spanish and I'm sure I could get an A if I worked at it, but I would enjoy Food a lot more. Also, my school only lets you do 9 GCSEs and I'm worried that most universities expect most people who go to private schools to have 10 GCSEs, and if I do Food and only have 8 academic subjects they would be surprised. What does everyone think?

Reply 1

saiyamanadingdongbanana

isabella19

I have to choose my GCSEs soon and so far I've decided on:
Maths
Double Science
Double Science
Eng lit
Eng lang
History
Geography
French

for my 9th option I can't decide if I should take Food or Spanish. Some people say Food is looked down on by universities, because they think it's just a bit of cookery. I'm ok at Spanish and I'm sure I could get an A if I worked at it, but I would enjoy Food a lot more. Also, my school only lets you do 9 GCSEs and I'm worried that most universities expect most people who go to private schools to have 10 GCSEs, and if I do Food and only have 8 academic subjects they would be surprised. What does everyone think?

My opinion would be to take Spanish, because it shows you can handle more than 2 other languages- there is more need for people who can interpret different languages. Us english are egocentric, so by learning 2, you will gain an advantage over a lot of people. Imagine your dream job, but in spain! personally, i'd love to to that :biggrin:

. In regards to Food Tech, i must say it doesnt really challenge you academically, rather it is like a general skill, one which would be vital in the food industry, duh :biggrin:

. Its creative, and a fun alternative to an academic subject.

Also, entry to university isnt solely based on GCSE results (if it were, i'd be done for :rolleyes:

). Think of GCSE's like a stepping stone, enabling you to reach a higher level of education. University entry is usually primarilaly focused on your A level grades, with GCSE's used if alternative data is needed.

Also like to mention that its probably true that people from public schools will be favoured over private and grammar schools, because 2 people performing equally in different types of schools could be argued that the public school person has worked harder etc.

Spanish

if you are an academic, spanish.

although, i go to a boys school, and have pretty much no idea what food tech entails.

but if we are going to look into the long term, a language will always be preferred over something like food tech, and if you're only taking 9, it shouldn't be that hard to do well in all of them.

Reply 4

footballhead

4

GCSEs dont really affect uni entry at all, unless you mess up big time, so dont make your choice soley on that basis.

Spanish is definetly 'more respectable' and probably more useful seeing as you're learning a new language, whereas i dont you'd learn much useful cooking in food tech

I reckon spanish but its you whose gonna be stuck studying it for 2 years....

Reply 5

isabella19

OP

10

ok thanks, I could also take philsophy and ethics but then I would be doing three humanties, would that be a bad idea?

Reply 6

stratomaster

Well all your other options are the best GCSE's really, so i'd just say choose which one you want to do the most here. It doesn't really matter so much at GCSE that one of your subjects may not be as "academic" so just choose your favourite and the one which your going to enjoy the most, you'll have more chance of getting a high grade that way too...

Reply 7

Twaffy

1

isabella19

I have to choose my GCSEs soon and so far I've decided on:
Maths
Double Science
Double Science
Eng lit
Eng lang
History
Geography
French

for my 9th option I can't decide if I should take Food or Spanish. Some people say Food is looked down on by universities, because they think it's just a bit of cookery. I'm ok at Spanish and I'm sure I could get an A if I worked at it, but I would enjoy Food a lot more. Also, my school only lets you do 9 GCSEs and I'm worried that most universities expect most people who go to private schools to have 10 GCSEs, and if I do Food and only have 8 academic subjects they would be surprised. What does everyone think?

I thought the sciences, english lit and lang and maths were compulsory.....
Personally i would choose for the one who prefer but i can't talk i took german and french lol

Reply 8

kellywood_5

17

GCSEs don't really matter that much in terms of university entry, and it certainly won't go against you to have one non-academic subject. A lot of people only take 9 as well and it was your school's decision, so they can't really blame you for it. I think it's grammar rather than private schools where most students sit 11/12/13 GCSEs.

Personally I hated food tech, but that was only because my teacher was crap and none of my friends took it, so I'll try not to let my own hatred of the subject bias my post lol :p:

I'd still say Spanish is better in terms of reputation and usefulness, as food tech is something you could very easily do on your own as a hobby. However, it might be good for you to have one creative subject, and if you'll enjoy it more, you'll be more lilely to get a good grade.

As for philosophy and ethics, the humanities are very good subjects, so doing 3 of them definitely wouldn't do you any harm. Again, just do the subjects you like best at this stage.

Reply 9

magiccarpet

2

uni's generally dont care what gcse's u have. my mate got 11A*s including food and got a cambs interview.

i say take spanish, but it doesnt really matter. spanish is more useful. take the one you'll get a good grade in. dont worry about FT being a crap subject- just look at how many people took Art or music! maybe FT would be a nice break from your other subjects

grammar in languages gets hard at GCSE

Reply 10

CharleeB

1

go with whatever you enjoy the most! its not going to make a difference to your uni applications and you should take something you actually like, or you're going to be miserable for the next 2 years. food tech has a lot more coursework than spanish, if that makes a difference?

Reply 11

No Future

17

I did Spanish rather than food tech, textiles etc because I felt it was a more academic subject, and that is what I wanted. I am very glad I did not do a subject like food tech as the coursework is a nightmare, as people who do it complain so often. Spanish is not hugely difficult if you work at it, just make sure you learn vocab when you're meant to. It's very widely spoken, which is a huge plus. South America, parts of the USA, Europe etc. Apparently as it is fairly similar to Italian and Portuguese, you could make yourself understood by speakers of those languages too.

Reply 12

White_redrose

1

If you would enjoy food tech a lot more, go for that definitely. I did food tech at GCSE and wasn't discriminated against for it by any university! (including Cam!) The coursework was pretty heavy - 40 A3 pages (I still have it somewhere, can't bring myself to throw it out lol) but it is spread out over a long period of time...so as long as you keep on top of it and don't leave it late you'll be fine. I also found the subject a bit of a break from my other heavy-learning subjects, you might want that too. (We also made nothing but cakes that year, so that might have something to do with it...I remember them well!)

Reply 13

rachelrainbow32

2

i dont think what subject you take will matter very much but two languages will give you an advantage, i thought that it was encouraged to take a design and technology subject, it was compulsary at my school, so as food counts as one it may be encouraged, food also may give you a break from all your academic subjects however it does have lots of coursework so if you are not prepared to spend hours colouring in pages then it may be better to do spanish

Reply 14

LongGone

18

I serioulsy doubt unis will care about your subject choices at GCSE. A Level maybe, but not GCSE. Do which one you enjoy most, or even which one you think you'd get a better grade in!

The coursework for techonolgy subjects is hardwork though. I only did shortcourse textiles, and it took me ages

Reply 15

catherinesadams

SPANISH must more useful in later life , think of da hols, and also employeers in da future like 2 languages cos it shows strength wid communication

Reply 16

Wilko_777

10

Do Food Tech.

It is quite easy. My coursework was quite crap, and i didn't even want to take the subject, but i still got 78/95 in my Coursework.

Gcse choices - food tech or spanish?

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