Business

Course Specification 

What will you study?

A Level Business is a dynamic subject which focuses on decision-making at a functional and strategic level.  During the course you will gain an holistic understanding of business in a range of contexts. You will develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants. You don't have to have studied GCSE Business Studies to take this A Level.

A Level Business Topics - Year 12

Theme 1: Marketing and people

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

Theme 2: Managing business activities

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

A Level Business Topics - Year 13

Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy

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

Theme 4: Global business

• Globalisation, global markets and business expansion, global marketing, global industries and companies (multinational corporations)

What skills will you develop?

In A Level Business you will acquire a range of relevant business and generic skills, including decision making, problem solving, the challenging of assumptions and critical analysis in addition to applying numerical skills in a range of business contexts.  You will develop a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they operate in and the strategic decisions needed. You will become aware that businesses operate in a dynamic environment.

How will you be assessed?

Paper 1

Marketing, people and global businesses

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

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 (20 marks).

Duration: 2 hours.

100 marks available - 35% of A Level

Paper 2

Business activities, decisions and strategy

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

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 (20 marks).

Duration: 2 hours.

100 marks available - 35% of A Level

Paper 3

Investigating business in a competitive environment

Questions will be drawn from content across all 4 themes, and from local, national and global contexts.
Questions will be based on a pre-released context document.  The context will focus on a broad context, such as an industry or market in which businesses operate.

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 (20 marks).

Duration: 2 hours.

100 marks available - 30% of A Level