Software applications play a vital role in business. They add value by increasing efficiency and they can reduce the amount of time tasks take and improve record keeping. They can also enhance the ways in which businesses communicate with their stakeholders. In this unit, students learn about relevant functions in software applications and develop their skills in using them in business contexts. When using software applications, students should be aware of standard ways of working and best practice approaches. Pre-release data files will be available on our website before the examination. These will be in formats compatible with Microsoft Office (version 10 and above, and Microsoft Office 365). If centres are not using this software, they should ensure that they convert the files into the appropriate format. Centres should seek guidance from us on this process. 

Assessment: External computer-based examination (2 hours) Students complete tasks using a range of software applications.

Weighting:40%