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Business Studies is available as an Applied GCE and standard GCE A level.

GCE Business Studies - AQA Examining Board

Advanced Subsidiary

 Unit 1
Planning and Financing a Business

• Starting a Business
• Financial Planning

Written Paper: 1 hour 15 minutes
40% of total AS marks
20% of total A Level marks
60 marks

Short answer questions and extended responses based on a mini case study.

 Unit 2
Managing a Business

• Finance
• People in Business
• Operations Management
• Marketing and Competition

Written Paper: 1 hour 30 minutes
60% of total AS marks
30% of the total A Level marks
80 marks

Compulsory, multi-part data response questions.


Advanced Level

Unit 3
Strategies for Success

• Functional Objective and Strategies
• Financial Strategies and Accounts
• Marketing Strategies
• Operations Strategies
• Human Resource Strategies

Written Paper: 1 hour 45 minutes
25% of total A Level marks
80 marks

Questions requiring extended answers drawing upon AS materials. The focus will be on measuring business performance and assessing appropriate functional strategies to achieve success.

Unseen case study with a range of
numerical data.

Unit 4
The Business Environment and Managing Change

• Corporate Aims and Objectives
• Assessing Changes in the Business
• Managing Change

Written Paper: 1 hour 45 minutes
25% of total A Level marks
80 marks

A two part paper:
Section A will contain questions based upon prior research.
Section B will be a choice of essay titles from which the candidate will select one.

This will be a synoptic paper and draw on all the specification.

Applied Business - AQA Examining Board

Advanced Subsidiary (AS)

Unit 1

Investigating Business

Coursework                   70 marks

Unit 2

People in Business

Coursework                  70 marks

Unit 3

Financial Planning and Monitoring

External Exam              60 marks

Advanced Level. (A2) Compulsory Unit

Unit 8

Business Planning

Coursework                   70 marks

Plus two units from the following including at least one External Exam.  (Business Studies Department will decide on units offered.)

Unit 9

Marketing Strategy

Coursework                  70 marks

Unit 10

Promotional Activities

Coursework                   70 marks

Unit 11

The Marketing Environment

External Exam              80 marks

Unit 12

Managing People

External Exam              80 marks

Unit 13

Managing Information

Coursework                   70 marks

Unit 14

Managing Change

Coursework                   70 marks

Unit 15

Financial Accounting for Managers

External Exam              80 marks

Unit 16

Managing Resources

Coursework                   70 marks

Option 1   Coursework           67.7%             Option 2   Coursework         50%
      External Exams   33.3%                                External Exams   50%