Business A Level (Exexcel)
Course Information (Edexcel syllabus)
Course Specification: 9BSO
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Business is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers.
Students are introduced to business in Themes 1 and 2 through building knowledge of core business concepts and applying them to business contexts to develop a broad understanding of how businesses work. Breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, with applications to a wider range of contexts and more complex business information, are developed in Themes 3 and 4, requiring students to take a more strategic view of business opportunities and issues.
Students are encouraged to use an enquiring, critical and thoughtful approach to the study of business, to understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives and to challenge assumptions.
Course Requirements
5 GCSEs graded 9 – 5 including Maths at grade 5.
Grade 6 in English required.
Year 1 Study
Theme 1 Marketing and People
Theme 2 Managing Business Activity
Year 2 Study
Theme 3 Business Decisions and Strategy
Theme 4 Global Business
Assessment Information
Students will be writing an externally set exam at the end of the two year programme for A-level. This will include Paper 1 (Marketing, People and the Global Business-Theme 1 & 4) - 35% of the total qualification
Paper 2 (Business Activities, Decisions and strategy-Theme 2 & 3) - 35% of the total qualification
Paper 3 (Investigating Business in a competitive Environment- assess content across the four themes) - 30% of the total qualification.
Teaching and Learning Styles
There will be variety of teaching and learning styles such as group discussion, case study analysis, independent & group research, presentation, role play, mini projects, independent learning, class discussion with varied class and exam practice activities, student-led teaching and out-of-school learning activities. Students are also given homework as a form of extended learning to strengthen their understanding of a taught topic and also encourage independent learning.
Independent Study
Students will be required to take responsibility for their independent learning, which will take many forms such as research; private study, completion of homework and extra study time to extend their learning, which requires good time management.