To study this course you should have an interest in business studies or want to set up and run your own business. You do not need to have studied GCSE business studies to take this course.

During the course you will develop transferable skills that will support your study in other subject areas and in further education such as conducting research, carrying out calculations, interpreting and analysing data, applying knowledge to unfamiliar situations, developing arguments, making and justifying business decisions, identifying problems and proposing solutions. We aim to keep the subject content as real as possible which means keeping up to date with what is happening in business/news. This also includes study visits during the block week to add with understanding of A2 content.

The AS units focus on small to medium-sized businesses operating within national, as opposed to international markets

Unit 1 – Planning and Financing a Business

In this unit you will learn about the issues involved in a business start-up, such as research and planning, as well as the factors that determine success.

You will be expected to carry out research individually on an appropriate local business that will help you develop your understanding by applying theory to the real world of business.

Unit 2 – Managing a Business

In this unit you will focus on how established businesses might improve their effectiveness by making tactical decisions at a functional level. You will develop skills in interpreting data measuring the effectiveness of a business on areas including: profitability, labour turnover and market share.

The A2 units build on the AS units by considering more complex business scenarios and focusing on strategy as opposed to tactics.

Unit 3 – Strategies for Success

In this unit you will focus on larger businesses which may be trading in international markets, and how managers measure the performance of business. This unit considers functional strategies that larger businesses adopt to achieve their objectives.

Unit 4 – The Business Environment and Managing Change.

In this unit you will draw upon all other areas of the course to consider the relationship between businesses and external factors. It will assess how external factors can act as catalysts for change in a range of businesses. This unit also examines the ways in which businesses can manage change successfully when responding to external stimuli.

Assessment details

Unit 1	1hr 15min written exam	40% of AS 20% of A2
Short answer questions & extended responses based on a mini case study
Unit 2	1 hour 30min written exam	60% of AS 30% of A2
Compulsory, multi-part data response questions

Assessment details

Unit 3	1hr 45min written exam	Externally assessed	25% of A2
Questions requiring extended answers based on an unseen case drawing upon knowledge from AS
Unit 4	1hr 45 min written exam		25% of A2
Part A: Based on pre-release research tasks. Part B: A choice of essays. All questions will be essay style and drawn upon knowledge from all 4 units.

Progression

A-Level business studies qualifies for UCAS points so if you complete it successfully you could move on to study for a degree or a BTEC National course in related subjects such as business, finance, administration, HR management, events management, marketing or accounting to name but a few. This course will also benefit you should you want to enter straight into work after leaving school as you would have a better understanding of the business environment, likewise the skills and knowledge would benefit anyone wanting to be an entrepreneur. A survey carried out by Higher Education Careers Service Unit found that based on 2009 graduates Business and Marketing graduates had a higher post-graduation employment rate of 72%.

Exam board

AQA