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Key Stage 5 Business

Exam Board and Specification

Business follows the Edexcel specification 9BS0. More detailed information on the course content can be found in the Course Specification, pages 5 to 31. 

Course Content and Assessment

The qualification is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. Students build knowledge and understanding of core business concepts in Themes 1 and 2 at AS-level, and then build on this and apply their knowledge to more complex concepts and models in Themes 3 and 4 at A2-level.

Students will need to apply their knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current economic events and policies. 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.

Topics/Skills Taught

Year 12

Theme 1: Marketing and People

Students will develop an understanding of:

  • meeting customer needs

  • the market

  • marketing mix and strategy

  • managing people

  • entrepreneurs and leaders.

Theme 2: Managing business activities

Students will develop an understanding of:

  • raising finance

  • financial planning

  • managing finance

  • resource management

  • external influences.

Year 13

Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy

This theme develops the concepts introduced in Theme 2 and focuses on business economics

Students will develop an understanding of:

  • business objectives and strategy

  • business growth

  • decision making techniques

  • influences on business decisions

  • assessing competitiveness

  • managing change

Theme 4: A global business

This theme develops the macroeconomic concepts introduced in Theme 1.

Students will develop an understanding of:

  • globalisation

  • global markets and business expansion

  • global marketing

  • global industries and companies (multinational corporations).

Assessment

Final assessment is at the end of Year 13 consisting of three written exams.

  • Paper 1: Marketing, people and global businesses

  • Paper 2: Business activities, decisions and strategy

  • Paper 3: Investigating business in a competitive environment (includes pre-released material)

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

  • Lunchtime drop in sessions

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