GCSE Business or Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing?

Deborah Malpas, Subject Advisor for Business and Economics

Business departments may be faced with a choice between offering GCSE Business or a vocational qualification such as our Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing. 

If you’re in a large centre with a big department and plenty of enthusiastic students, then offering both qualifications might be entirely practical. If, on the other hand, you’re a one-man band with perhaps just one class of KS4 business students each year, then you (or your senior leadership team) will need to make a decision. 

There isn’t a one size fits all best option. Choosing which qualification to offer will differ between centres depending on your circumstances. This blog post aims to highlight some of the main similarities and differences that can help you decide which qualification is best for you, your students and your centre.

Similarities between GCSE Business (J204) and the new Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing (J837)

• Performance tables: All our GCSEs and Cambridge Nationals are on the key stage 4 performance tables for England.
  
• Qualification size: Each Cambridge National is equivalent in size to one GCSE.
• Resources and support: Both qualifications have professional development courses available plus an endorsed textbook. They are also both supported with OCR planning, teaching and assessment resources such as schemes of work, teaching activities and access to ExamBuilder.
• Progression: Both qualifications provide an excellent foundation for progression to A Levels, Cambridge Technicals and other Level 3 vocational qualifications, as well as apprenticeships.

Differences between GCSE Business (J204) and Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing (J837)

• Specification content and skills: For details of the differences, take a look at our specifications:
  • GCSE Business provides a well-rounded introduction to business. The specification is divided into topics, each covering key concepts of business. The main topic areas are: business activity, marketing, people, operations, finance and influences on business.
  • Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing focuses on developing the practical skills and applied knowledge students will need in the business and enterprise sector. Students put their learning into practice and develop valuable transferable skills, which are beneficial if they’re considering starting up their own enterprise/business.
• Methods of assessment: GCSE Business is assessed via two equally weighted exams (1 hour and 30 minutes each). Enterprise and Marketing has three units: one exam (40% of the total marks for the qualification) plus two internally-assessed units (each contributing 30% of the total marks for the qualification).
• Timing of assessments: GCSE Business is a linear qualification with both exams taken at the end of the course. Cambridge Nationals are modular. Enterprise and Marketing has three units (one exam and two internally assessed units) and two assessment windows: January and June. The exam must be taken as terminal assessment i.e. at the end of the students’ course of study.
• Grading: The grading is different but with equivalent standards. It is illustrated in an infographic on page 8 of our Cambridge Nationals Explained brochure. While there are nine pass grades at GCSE, Cambridge Nationals offer the following:
  • Level 2 – Distinction* (*2), Distinction (D2), Merit (M2), Pass (P2)
  • Level 1 – Distinction (D1), Merit (M1), Pass (P1) and Unclassified.

Whilst there are many similarities between the two qualifications, ultimately the specific needs of your centre, your staff, and your students may all affect your decision as to which qualification is the right one for you.

Note: First teaching of the redeveloped Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing (J837) was from September 2022 and it is included on the 2024 performance tables. The final assessment series for the legacy Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing (J819) was June 2023 with a resit only series available for the examined units in January 2024.

You may also like to read our previous Cambridge National Enterprise and Marketing: feedback from R068 Baslow Bags moderation blog post.

Stay connected

If you have other ideas and thoughts about how to choose one option over the other, or whether to offer both, please share in the comments box below. Alternatively, email us at business@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or tweet us at @OCR_BusEcon. You can also sign up for email updates to receive information about resources and support.

You can also sign up for email updates to receive information about resources and support.

If you are considering teaching either of these qualifications, use our online form to let us know, so that we can help you with more information.

About the author

Debbie joined OCR in August 2014. She worked on the redevelopment of our GCSE Business (J204) and the Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing. She also supports teachers through the development of a variety of resources, the CPD programme and subject communications.

Before joining OCR, Debbie spent over 20 years in teaching and leadership roles. She worked in secondary schools, a sixth form college and international school in Shropshire and Cambridge. Debbie holds a degree in Business Operations and a PGCE in Secondary Economics and Business from the University of Warwick. In her spare time, Debbie likes to visit family in the Midlands and also writes for Cambridge University Press.