A Level Business Studies

Kings Ely sixth form

Academic

Business Studies 

Business Studies provides an ideal route into many courses offered at university, from Accounting and Finance, through to Entrepreneurship and Marketing.

 

The course fosters critical thinking and analytical skills, and equips students with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of the real world.

Business studies provides insights into the various elements that make up the business environment, including economic, legal, social, and technological factors. Understanding this environment is crucial for making informed business decisions.

For those interested in starting their own business, studying business provides a foundation in entrepreneurship, and can open doors to a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors, including finance, marketing, human resources, operations, and more. 

The business world is dynamic and constantly evolving. Studying business equips students with the skills to adapt to changing environments, innovate, and stay competitive in the job market.

Prerequisite

It is important to note that Business Studies requires a combination of Maths and English skills and significant weakness in either of these subjects will make it difficult for the student to succeed at A Level.

A minimum grade 6 in both Maths and English is required or a grade 6 in GCSE Business Studies.
Topic Overview

 

Theme 1: Marketing and people

Students will develop an understanding of:

  • Meeting customer needs.
  • The market.
  • Marketing mix and strategy.
  • Managing people.
  • Entrepreneurs and leaders.


Theme 2: Managing business activities

Students will develop an understanding of:

  • Raising finance.
  • Financial planning.
  • Managing finance.
  • Resource management.
  • External influences.


Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy

This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 2. Students will develop an understanding of:

  • Business objectives and strategy.
  • Business growth.
  • Decision-making techniques.
  • Influences on business decisions.
  • Assessing competitiveness.
  • Managing change.


Theme 4: Global business

This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 1. Students will develop an understanding of:

  • Globalisation.
  • Global markets and business expansion.
  • Global marketing.
  • Global industries and companies (multinational corporations).

 
Assessment

 

The A Level is assessed by three two hour written exams at the end of the course.

Paper 1: Marketing, people and global businesses

Questions will be drawn from Themes 1 and 4, and from local, national and global contexts. 

Written exam: 2 hours. 100 marks in total. 35% of A Level

The paper comprises two sections:

  • • Students answer all questions from both sections.
  • • Sections A and B each comprise one data response question  broken down into a number of parts, including one extended open-response question.

Paper 2: Business activities, decisions and strategy

Questions will be drawn from Themes 2 and 3, and from local, national and global contexts.

Written exam: 2 hours. 100 marks in total. 35% of A Level

The paper comprises two sections:

  • Students answer all questions from both sections.
  • Sections A and B each comprise one data response question  broken down into a number of parts, including one extended open-response question. 

Paper 3: Investigating business in a competitive environment

Paper 3 will assess content across all four themes. Questions will be drawn from local, national and global contexts based on a pre-released context issued in November prior to the exam 

Written exam: 2 hours. 100 marks in total. 30% of A Level

The paper comprises two sections:

  • Students answer all questions from both sections.
  • Sections A and B each comprise one data response question  broken down into a number of parts, including one extended open-response question. 

Testing quantitative skills

A Level assesses quantitative skills, making up a minimum of 10% of the overall marks. The skills tested include the following:

  • QS 1 - Calculate, use and understand ratios, averages and fractions
  • QS 2 - Calculate, use and understand percentages and percentage changes
  • QS 3 - Construct and interpret a range of standard graphical forms
  • QS 4 - Interpret index numbers
  • QS 5 - Calculate cost, revenue, profit and break-even
  • QS 6 - Calculate investment appraisal outcomes and interpret results
  • QS 7 - Interpret values of price and income elasticity of demand
  • QS 8 - Use and interpret quantitative and non-quantitative information in order to make decisions
  • QS 9 - Interpret, apply and analyse information in written, graphical and numerical forms

Business Studies A Level Exam Specification
Meet the HEAD OF BUSINESS STUDIES 

Jayshan Naidu

EMAIL JAYSHAN NAIDU

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