Business Studies A-Level

What board do we use?

AQA, AS (7131) and A-level (7132).

The new AS and A-level in Business are now stand-alone qualifications, therefore marks gained at AS do not contribute to the final grade at A-level.

What is Business?

Business offers students the opportunity to study different types of businesses in different industries. It looks at why they exist, how they are set up and how they are run.

Which subjects combine well with Business?

Business combines with any other arts or science subjects but in particular, Mathematics, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology complement the subject well.

What can Business lead to?

A good grade in Business at A-Level can enable you to go on to study at any university or go into the world of work.

In particular, it helps students to:

• develop a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value
• be aware that business behaviour can be studied from the perspectives of a range of stakeholders
• acquire a range of skills including decision-making and problem-solving
• be aware of the current structure of business and business practice.
• develop their ability to acquire a range of important and transferable skills including data skills, presenting arguments, making judgments and conducting research. This course has no coursework or controlled assessment.

Although not an entry requirement, this course is particularly suitable for students who have studied GCSE Business Studies as this specification builds on the concepts and skills they have already learned.

Business Studies A-Level Course Structure

What’s assessed at A-Level?

1.   What is business?
2.   Managers, leadership and decision making
3.   Decision-making to improve marketing performance
4.   Decision-making to improve operational performance
5.   Decision-making to improve financial performance
6.   Decision-making to improve human resource performance
7.   Analysing the strategic position of a business
8.   Choosing the strategic direction
9.   Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
10.   Managing strategic change

How is the subject assessed?

AS assessment (Subject content 1-6 above only)

Paper 1 and Paper 2:

•     Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
•     80 marks in total
•     Each paper is worth 50% of AS

Paper 1 Exam content –

Three compulsory sections:

•     Section A has 10 multiple choice questions (MCQs) worth 10 marks.
•     Section B has short answer questions worth approximately 20 marks.
•     Section C has two data response stimuli with questions worth approximately 25 marks.

Paper 2 Exam content –

One compulsory case study consisting of approximately seven questions.

A-Level assessment (All subject content 1-10 above is assessed)

Papers 1-3:

•     Written exams: 2 hours each
•     100 marks in total for each one
•     33.3% of A-level for each paper

Paper 1 Exam content –

Three compulsory sections:

•     Section A has 15 multiple choice questions (MCQs) worth 15 marks.
•     Section B has short answer questions worth approximately 35 marks.
•     Sections C and D have two essay questions (choice of one from two and one from two) worth 25 marks each.

Paper 2 Exam content –

Three data response compulsory questions worth approximately 33 marks each and made up of three or four part questions.

Paper 3 Exam content –

One compulsory case study followed by approximately six questions.

If you’d like to study Business Studies A Level here at David Game College Liverpool, please complete the enquiry form below or email for more information.