Key Stage 4

GCSE Business

  • Exam Board: AQA
  • Exam Specification

There are two exams at the end of the course

Paper 1: Influences of operations and HRM on business activity
1 hour 45 minutes
90 marks
50% of GCSE

Section A has multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 20 marks

Section B has one case study with questions worth approx 34 marks

Section C has one case study with questions worth approx 36 marks

Paper 2: Influences of marketing and finance on business activity
1 hour 45 minutes
90 marks
50% of GCSE

Section A has multiple choice questions and short answer questions worth 20 marks.

Section B has one case study with questions worth approx 34 marks.

Section C has one case study with questions worth approx 36 marks.

  • Code: 8132

The topics you will study include:

  • Business in the real world
  • Influences on business
  • Business operation
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing
  • Finance

The aim of the course is to help pupils:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of business concepts and issues.
  • Apply knowledge and understanding of business concepts and issues to a variety of contexts.
  • Analyse and evaluate business information and issues to demonstrate understanding of business activity, make judgements and draw conclusions.

Level 1 / 2 Certificate in Retail Business

  • Exam Board: WJEC

Exam Specification:

The course is made of five units:

Unit 1: Customer Experience (coursework)

Learners consider all aspects of the customer experience, whether in stores or online, so considering two different types of retail channel.

This unit is assessed with an internal coursework

Unit 2: Retail Business

Learners gain knowledge of different types of retailers operating in different sub-sectors and channels.

This unit is assessed with a 75 minute exam

Total of 60 marks

Short and extended answer questions abased on a case study

Unit 3: Retail Operations

Learners gain an understanding of how retail businesses operate, regardless of the retail channel through which they operate

This unit is assessed with an internal coursework

Unit 4: Promotion for Retail Business

Learners acquire knowledge of marketing and promotion as applied to both online retailers and stores, considering the relationship between the two channels.

This unit is an externally assessed task

It is a 6 hour timed, supervised assessment in exam conditions

Unit 6: Selling Retail Products

The sale of products is critical to the success of any retail business, regardless of retail channel or sub-sector.

This unit is assessed with an internal coursework

  • Code: 600/8330/X

Key Stage 5

A-Level Business

  • AQA

Exam Specification

There are three exams at the end of the course

Paper 1

2 hours
100 marks in total
33.3% of A-Level

Section A has 15 multiple choice questions (MCQs) worth 15 marks.

Section B has short answer questions worth 35 marks.

Sections C and D have two essay questions (choice of one from two and one from two) worth 25 marks each.

Paper 2

2 hours
100 marks in total
33.3% of A-Level

Three data response compulsory questions worth approximately 33 marks each and made up of three or four part questions

Paper 3

2 hours
100 marks in total
33.3% of A-Level

One compulsory case study followed by approximately six questions

  • Code: 7132

The topics you will look at will include:

  1. What is business?
  2. Managers, leadership and decision making
  3. Decision making to improve marketing performance
  4. Decision making to improve operational performance
  5. Decision making to improve financial performance
  6. Decision making to improve human resource performance
  7. Analysing the strategic position of a business
  8. Choosing a strategic direction
  9. Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
  10. Managing strategic change

The course takes a holistic approach to the subject, demonstrating the interrelated nature of business using business models, theories and techniques to support analysis of contemporary business issues and situations to provide a dynamic specification.

The course content is designed to engage students through topics and issues that are relevant in today’s society – they will study key contemporary developments such as digital technology and business ethics, and globalisation is covered throughout the topics.

The aim of the course is to help pupils:

  • Develop an enthusiasm for studying business
  • Gain holistic understanding of business in a range of contexts
  • Develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants
  • Understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives
  • Generate enterprising and creative approaches to business opportunities, problems and issues
  • Be aware of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and individuals
  • Acquire a range of relevant business and generic skills, including decision making, problem solving, the challenging of assumptions and critical analysis
  • Apply numerical skills in a range of business contexts.

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