Business Studies A Level

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Business Studies

A Level                                                                   Exam Board: AQA

Entrance requirements

In order to study Business at A Level, candidates should have reasonable levels of numeracy and literacy; therefore either a 7 in Business, 6 in Mathematics and 6 in English Language or Literature, or 7 in Mathematics, and 7 in English Language or Literature are need if Business was not taken as a GCSE option.

Career Opportunities

Business has immediate relevance to everyday life.  It is a practical study of the institutions and patterns of behaviour that are so important to the society in which we live.  Despite its practical nature, Business requires candidates to develop the academic skill of analysis and evaluation.  Our Business students have gained entry to a very wide range of University courses.  In the right combination of subjects, Business is well respected as a qualification for entry into Higher Education.

For those who already have careers in mind, Business with Mathematics is a useful combination for Banking, Insurance, Accountancy, etc. while Business with languages is a good start for those considering Sales and Marketing. Combined with sciences it provides a useful background for a scientific career in industry.

Structure of the course:

Lower Sixth content	Upper Sixth content
· What is business? · Managers, leadership and decision making · Decision making to improve: o   marketing performance o   operational performance o   financial performance o   human resource performance	·  Analysing the strategic position of a business ·  Choosing strategic direction ·  Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies ·  Managing strategic change

 

The Business syllabus encourages candidates to acquire a range of important and transferable skills including:

• Data and numerical skills – candidates will be expected to manipulate data in a variety of forms and to interpret their results
• Presenting arguments and making judgments and justified recommendations on the basis of the available evidence
• Recognising the nature of problems, solving problems and making decisions using appropriate business tools and methods
• Planning work, taking into account the demands of the task and the time available to complete it
• Conducting research into a specific theme in preparation for one or more tasks
• Challenging their own assumptions using evidence that has become available.

Assessment

Three papers of 2 hours each, all covering the whole of the course content and counting for 33.3% of the A Level each:

P1 (100 marks)

• 15 marks of multiple choice
• 35 marks of short answer questions
• 50 marks comprised of 2 essay questions

P2 (100 marks)

• Three data response questions

P3 (100 marks)

One case study of approx. 6 questions