71% A*-B (2023)

A-Level Business is a popular and dynamic course for a modern world, aimed at students who want to learn something new and diverse. You will develop an understanding of the integrated nature of Business and an ability to apply your understanding to the real world.

The department consistently gains excellent grades with many students choosing to continue the subject at University. A significantly high percentage of business students go on to study degrees in Business and Management related areas every year.

In Business you will develop an understanding of the ways in which a business operates in its external environment, and how the environment provides opportunities and imposes constraints on the business.

You will develop knowledge of the inter-relationships between the functional areas of a business namely Marketing, Finance, Operations and Human Resources and acquire the key skills of how to structure analytical and evaluative comments to reach a reasoned conclusion. These higher order skills of analysis and evaluation are transferable to other subject areas in humanities and the social sciences.

Course Content and Methodology

The course is delivered in many ways, ranging from debate, group presentations, and case study material. The course will focus on many different types of business in both the public and private sectors, of different size and stature. In the second year of the course, you build on the knowledge already developed with a greater emphasis on the strategic decisions made by a business. The department uses a wide variety of resources alongside respected text books and we will encourage you to develop your own knowledge of business affairs through the use of newspapers, magazines and websites.

Assessment

Exam Board: Edexcel

Assessment is examination only in all units. All three exams will be taken at the end of the two years:

Paper 1 has three sections, multiple choice, short answer questions and a final essay question.

Paper 2 has three data response style questions.

Paper 3 is based on a case study All papers are 2 hours. Maximum mark 100. The essential difference between the three papers is the style of assessment.

Course Requirements

Business at GCSE is not essential but the A-Level will require numerical data to be interpreted along with the need to write well-reasoned recommendations. There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, but it is recommended that learners have a grade 6 or above in English and Maths GCSE. Students must also be able to work well to deadlines and be willing to dedicate extensive amounts of time to completing work during study periods.

All successful business students have shown an interest in the world of business and current affairs.

Facilities