GCSE & A-Level Exam Centre
The AQA A-Level Business Studies course (7131, 7132) offers students an in-depth understanding of the world of business, including various types of businesses and how they operate, and the environment in which businesses operate. The course will equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to analyze data, think critically about issues, and make informed decisions – all skills that are needed for further study and employment.
Here is a general overview of the A-Level Business Studies course content:
What is business? This section covers the purpose of business activity, the role of business enterprise and entrepreneurship, business planning, and business ownership.
Managers, leadership, and decision making: This section covers the role and responsibilities of managers, leadership styles, decision making, and stakeholder influence.
Decision making to improve marketing performance: This part of the course looks at marketing strategy, sales forecasting, market research, marketing mix, and managing marketing.
Decision making to improve operational performance: This unit covers operational performance, operational targets, analysing operational performance, and improving operational efficiency.
Decision making to improve financial performance: This section covers financial performance, financial targets, analysing financial performance, and improving financial performance.
Decision making to improve human resource performance: This part of the course focuses on human resource performance, human resource targets, analysing human resource performance, and improving human resource performance.
Analysing the strategic position of a business: This unit covers mission, corporate objectives, business strategy, and analysing strategic options.
Choosing strategic direction: This section covers strategic direction, strategic methods, and strategic position.
Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies: This unit covers strategic methods and managing strategic change.
Managing strategic change: This unit covers managing change, managing organisational culture, managing strategic implementation, problems with strategy and why strategies fail.
Assessments for the AQA A-Level Business Studies are typically done through written exams. Here's how it is structured:
Paper 1: Business 1 (2 hours, 100 marks, 33.3% of A-Level): Covers all topics and includes multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions and two essays.
Paper 2: Business 2 (2 hours, 100 marks, 33.3% of A-Level): Covers all topics and includes three data response questions.
Paper 3: Business 3 (2 hours, 100 marks, 33.3% of A-Level): Covers all topics and includes one case study consisting of six questions.
Remember, this information is accurate as of my last update in 2021, and changes may have occurred after this date. Always verify the current curriculum and assessment details either from the official AQA website or your educational institution.
How is it assessed:
The AQA A-Level Business Studies (7131, 7132) course is assessed by three exam papers at the end of the two-year course. Here's a brief overview of each:
1. **Paper 1: Business 1**
- Length: 2 hours
- Marks: 100
- Weighting: 33.3% of A-Level
- Content: Covers all topics from the course.
- Format: Consists of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and two essays.
2. **Paper 2: Business 2**
- Length: 2 hours
- Marks: 100
- Weighting: 33.3% of A-Level
- Content: Covers all topics from the course.
- Format: Three compulsory data response questions worth approximately 33 marks each.
3. **Paper 3: Business 3**
- Length: 2 hours
- Marks: 100
- Weighting: 33.3% of A-Level
- Content: Covers all topics from the course.
- Format: One case study followed by approximately six questions.
In the case of both AS (7131) and A-level (7132), the question papers use a variety of question styles including multiple choice, short answer, essay, data response, and case studies so that students feel more confident and engage with the questions. Real-life business case studies are used throughout.
Please note that exam formats and weightings may have changed after 2021, so it's always good to check with your educational institution or the AQA for the most accurate and current details.