Course
Business Studies
Exam Board
AQA
For more information contact Head of Department:
Mrs K Winwood - kwinwood@stedmunds.org
Brief introduction to subject:
Students will be required to produce one good quality essay or equivalent per week and keep folders organised and to independently review lesson materials. In addition to this we expect students to read newspapers and dip into resources such as the Economist or Business Review magazines.Ā
Year 12 Business Focuses on the management of the functional areas of a business.
Students will examine the specific activities of the different functional areas of a business, including the management of finances, Marketing, Human Resources and Operations. Learners will explore the concepts of management and entrepreneurialism and consider how they can be applied to a range of small to medium size enterprises.
Year 13 Business includes the content of Year 12 Business, but builds on this to explore the role of strategic leadership and decision making within firms, examining how this impact on the day to day management of organisations. The second year of the course focuses on:
The analytical techniques that can be used to make strategic decisions and different methods of managing change. Learners will consider how the role of a leader differs from that of a manager and how leaders can impact on the effectiveness of an organisation.
What our students say
"Itās interesting." "Itās relevant." "Itās challenging."
Course Requirements
English - Grade 5
Maths - Grade 5
Business Studies - Grade 6
Assessment
You will need to learn theory and apply this theory to real life scenarios. In addition you will have to show your ability to analyse the information that you have presented. To secure the highest marks you will also be required to evaluate the information that you provide.
Paper 1 - 33.3% - Fifteen multiple choice questions and short answer questions in two compulsory sections. Two essays with choice of one from two
Paper 2 - 33.3% - Three multi-part data response compulsory questions.
Paper 3 - 33.3% - .Six compulsory questions based on one case study.
The Year 12 course covers the followingĀ topics:
- What is a Business
- Managers and Decision making
- Marketing
- Operational Performance
- Financial Performance
- Human Resource Performance
These topics are covered in both examinations.
The year 13 course covers the six topics listed above and also includes the following additional subjects:
- Analysing the strategic position of a business
- Choosing a strategic direction
- Strategic methods
- Strategic change
All ten topics are covered in all three of the exams for this course.
Most business students continue on to further study in a related discipline. Most previous A Level business students have gone on to read business and/or finance at university.Ā Some students use this qualification to progress on to a law degree.
Alternatively, it is possible to progress directly from a level three business qualification directly onto a higher apprenticeship in a range of areas such as Accountancy, Customer Service, Management and Marketing.
