A Level Business Studies
Overview:
A Level Business Studies provides a good grounding for business related courses at University and careers in Business Management.
It also supports a wide range of other university courses, from Art to Science, which increasingly incorporate elements of business management. In the modern world, every career choice requires some understanding of business and the global business environment.
The subject encourages the practical application of business theories by discovering challenges confronted by organisations and the strategies they use to survive and thrive in a dynamic business
environment. Importantly, it also develops the transferable, academic skills required by higher education through using appropriate business tools and methods.
I really look forward to my Business lessons. It’s so interesting and different to anything I’ve learnt before. My favourite part of Business is learning about products and the markets they operate in."
Course Structure and Content:
Marketing and people, managing business activity, business decisions and strategy, global business.
- 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.
- Theme 3 - Business Decisions and Strategy Business objectives and strategy; Business growth; Decision-making techniques; Assessing competitiveness; Managing change.
- Theme 4 - Global Business Globalisation; Global markets and business expansion; Global marketing; Global industries and companies (multinationals)
Click here to download a course flyer
Assessment:
The subject is assessed at the end of the two year course through 3 exam papers. Questions range from very short responses to 20 mark essay questions, testing 4 assessment criteria.
At the end of the Lower 6th, students sit an exam on all of the Lower Sixth content. This does not count towards the final grade, but assesses the content at this half-way point before progression to the Upper 6th.
The final assessments at the end of the Upper Sixth are as below:
- Paper 1 - 35% 2 hour paper Marketing, people and global businesses (Theme 1 & 4).
- Paper 2 - 35% 2 hour paper Business activities, decisions and strategy (Theme 2 & 3).
- Paper 3 - 30% 2 hour paper Investigating business in a competitive environment (All themes).
Homework:
Homework is set regularly, and in most instances a week will be given to complete tasks. These tasks will mainly centre on past paper questions and reflect the range of assessment methods used in the final exam. Alongside homework there will be revision tasks, research tasks and the expectation that the students read more widely about the subject.
Examination Board:
The course followed is the Pearson Edexcel A Level in Business (9BS0)
Students are encouraged to use an enquiring, critical and thoughtful approach to the study of business, to understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives and to challenge assumptions.
Edexel A Level Business Studies (external link)
Future Career Opportunities:
The course is ideal preparation for someone who is keen to go into Business or the City after university. Career opportunities would include Accounting and Finance, Management, Retail and Sales, Consultancy and Marketing and Advertising.
Useful Links and Information:
Tutor2U - www.tutor2u.net/business (external link)
Business in the news - www.bbc.co.uk/business (external link)