Business Studies AS/A Level

Business Studies is a multi-dimensional subject that will offer you a high degree of versatility in career choice, from general management and administration opportunities to marketing, financial services and personnel work. It also provides an ideal foundation for those aiming to study a business related degree or any other subject at university.

Business plays a crucial role in our economy and society. It provides us with wealth and affects our quality of life. Innovation and the efficient management of resources such as people and finance are crucial for success as illustrated in popular television programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den. On this course we hope to provide students with similar skills to enable them to be successful within the business environment.

The course is divided up into the following:

AS Unit 1:
Starting a Business & Financial Planning: Examined by a 1 hour 15 minute paper which is 40% of the total AS mark.

AS Unit 2:
Managing a Business: People, Finance, Operations Management, Marketing and Competition; examined by a 1 hour 30 minute data response paper which is 60% of the AS mark.

A2 Unit 3:
Strategies for Success: Which develops students’ understanding of AS concepts and focuses on measuring business performance and assessing possible strategies. Examined by a 1 hour 45 minute case study paper, which is 50% of the A2.

A2 Unit 4:
The Business Environment: examined by a 1 hour 45 minute exam that involves the completion of two essays. This accounts for 50% of the A2.

Students develop their skills in class through group work, class discussion of stimulus material, individual work on case studies, videos and role plays are used where appropriate. Students are also encouraged to extend their learning through watching appropriate television programmes and using relevant business internet sites.

The department tries to arrange visits to businesses and student conferences. These are optional; however they provide students with an ideal opportunity to broaden their understanding of the A Level.