A2 Business Studies
Teachers in charge of Subject
Mr A Staff
astaff@commonweal.co.uk
Overview
This course will enable you to see business from several points of view, such as those of the owners, managers, customers and employees. You will learn about the problems and decisions facing large and small businesses and gain practical skills in making a success of businesses. You will gain an understanding of business issues and theories where they will be able to apply the theory they have learnt in lessons to real life cases and news articles.
Studying Business at A Level gives you an insightful understanding of current issues affecting our Economy and allows you to keep up to date with new developments in the Business world. The course not only allows you to develop with academic skills but it also provides you with practical understanding of the real world, which is extremely important particularly within this Economic period.
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Course Title
A2 Business Studies
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Exam Board and Specification No.
Edexcel Business Studies 9BS0
What do I need to have studied/have knowledge of?
If you have studied Business Studies or related subjects at GCSE you will find the course a natural progression however must ensure you are aware of the increased demands and work load at A Level. It is however not essential that you have studied any Business related courses previously at GCSE or equivalent. Students who have had no experience of Business before have the same opportunities to succeed and be successful in the course.
Both Business Studies and Economics have significant financial and mathematical elements. As with all A Level subjects there will be the expectation of you to complete essay based questions and extended writing pieces for exam style questions therefore a good English GCSE is also essential.
What will I learn on this course?
The qualification is built around a core unit with an enterprise theme, to enable you to think of a new business idea and how you might research and develop it. It will allow you to think about how you’re learning applies to your own business idea.
The qualification will introduce you to international business, equipping you either to work in or to manage a business in an international context. Those of you who also study another language will find this particularly interesting as there are extensive opportunities to study International Business at University.
An Advanced GCE in Economics and Business with its economics content will give you enhanced career choice and progression opportunities. This course will provide you with an extensive knowledge of the current Economic climate and allow you to make decision of the causes and effectiveness of government policy.
The specification may be co-taught by two or more teachers.
Guidance will be given within the specification on possible ways of teaching topic areas.
A variety of assessment techniques will be used – supported multiple-choice questions, data-response questions, case studies and a decision-making report.
What key skills will I develop?
From the start of the course you will be encouraged to develop your independent learning skills; you will be expected to complete homework tasks and wider reading each week. You will also be encouraged to use feedback from marked pieces to make improvements in your work.
There will be a number of opportunities to work as part of a team when either developing new business ideas or making recommendations for a current business situation. It is very important that you can work with a variety of different people and effectively complete tasks that are set. Within group activities you will also need to be assigned different roles which will allow the development of leadership and management skills.
Business Studies is an academic subject and will help develop your skills if you are planning on going to university or other higher education, these will include time management skills and developing a complex chain of argument making analytical and evaluative judgments.
One of the main factors that attract many students to study the course is the fact that along with an academic focus students are able to gain practical and real life experiences of the business world which is excellent preparation for their future careers.
So whether you’re a keen entrepreneur or someone who wants to work for a large corporation Business Studies A Level is the perfect stepping stone to help you achieve your career goals.
How will I be assessed?
The course is a linear where you have three exams at the end of year 13 however there is an option to only study at AS where you will have 2 exams at the end of year 12.
The modules include:
- Theme 1 Marketing and People
- Theme 2 Managing business activities
- Theme 3 Business decisions and strategy
- Theme 4 Global Business
There is no coursework or set assignments over the two years however due to the nature of the exams essay based questions will be set on a regular basis to help students develop their extended writing skills including analytical and evaluative judgments.
What could this course lead to?
Business Studies A Level is an excellent stepping-stone towards the real business world; it will provide students with real life understanding of business situations that they can transfer into their own careers. Many students that take A level Business often continue this at university. There is an extensive range of courses where you can either study specific business related courses such as Business and Marketing or you can combine it with another subject such as Business Studies and Sports Management.
A Level Business Studies provides a starting point for students who decide to start their careers after A Levels whether that will involve an apprenticeship, working for a company or setting up your own business idea.
Even if you decide you do not want to continue studying Business after A Level you have been equipped and have a detailed understanding of what to expect in the world of work and will be able to make appropriate decisions.
Additional events, trips or enrichment activities
There will be opportunities to go on appropriate Business trips, take part in Business workshops, listen to business leaders and take part in Young Enterprise which is also run in the lower school.
Trips and visits will be confirmed and information will come out about these as organised.
Are there any additional costs for this course?
Depending on the trips that are arranged there may be a small cost for this however should not be over £20 a time.
You may also want to purchase revision guides and extended reading material that will be discussed before beginning the course.
