A Level Business Studies

Business is front-page news. The way companies operate is under greater scrutiny than ever before and TV programmes like The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den have raised the profile of business to a new generation.The AQA specification brings the subject up-to-date, enabling students to engage with, explore and understand business behaviour and develop a critical understanding of what business is and does.

In year 1 the following topics are covered:

• What is business?

• Managers, leadership and decision making.

• Decision making to improve marketing performance.

• Decision making to improve operational performance.

• Decision making to improve financial performance.

• Decision making to improve human resource performance.

In year 2 the following additional topics are covered:

• Analysing the strategic position of a business.

• Choosing strategic direction.

• Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies.

• Managing strategic change.

Year 1: Assessment is by two one-and-a-half hour written exams at the end of the course.

Year 2: Assessed by three two-hour written exams at the end of the course.

General entry requirements of 5 GCSE grades at grade 4 or above. Plus a grade 5 in Mathematics and English Literature or Language.

Many students go on to study Business at University, specialising in a number of areas including Business and Marketing and Business and Organisational Management. The qualification will also give students a clear understanding of many concepts in the world of Business and so prepare for employment in a variety of business areas including retail, administration, banking and human resources.