Key Stage 4

Edexcel GCSE Business Studies IBS0

Students are taught in classes of mixed ability, with their work being assessed using GCSE Assessment Objectives that reflect the skills within the 9-1 grading system.

Key Subject Aims

GCSE Business Studies, encourages students to be inspired, moved and challenged by following a broad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study whilst gaining an insight into related sectors. It also prepares students to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices.

This GCSE specification requires students to actively engage in the study of business and economics whilst developing the individual as follows:

Effective and independent learners.
Critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
Adopt an enquiring, critical approach to distinguish facts and opinions when building arguments and to make informed judgements.
Develop and apply their knowledge, understanding and skills to contemporary issues in a range of local, national and global contexts.
Appreciate the range of perspectives of different stakeholders in relation to business and economic activities.
Consider the extent to which business and economic activity can be ethical and sustainable.

Skills

The following skills (within a business context), that students are expected to develop during the course:

Practical skills – time management, personal organisation and action planning.
Presentational skills – addressing audiences using a variety of media and forms.
Personal skills – showing evidence of progression.
Interpersonal skills – communication and group work.
Cognitive skills – reflection and review of own and others’ performances.

Content Overview

The qualification is divided into two themes:

Theme 1: Investigating Small Business

Written examination 1 hour and 30 minutes

50% of the qualification

90 marks

This unit concentrates on the key issues and skills involved in Enterprise. It provides a framework to consider the marketing, financial, human and operational issues involved in starting and running a small business.

This unit contains five topic areas.

Topic 1.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship
Topic 1.2 Spotting a business opportunity
Topic 1.3 Putting a business idea into practice
Topic 1.4 Making the business effective
Topic 1.5 Understanding external influences on business

The paper is divided into three sections consisting of of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended writing questions.

Section A: 35 marks
Section B: 30 marks
Section C: 25 marks

Questions in Sections B and C will be based on business contexts given in the paper.

Theme 2: Building a Business

Written examination 1 hour and 30 minutes

50% of the qualification

90 marks

This unit builds on Theme 1 and examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on practical methods used to build up a business, with an emphasis on aspects of marketing, customer service, financial and people management. It also considers the impact of the wider world on the success or failure of a business.

Students develop an appreciation that organisational success requires an understanding of the business as a whole-the interactions between departments and the relationship between the business and outside forces.

This unit consists of five topic areas.

Topic 2.1 Growing the business
Topic 2.2 Making marketing decisions
Topic 2.3 Making operational decisions
Topic 2.4 Making financial decisions
Topic 2.5 Making human resource decisions

The paper is divided into three sections consisting of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended writing questions.

Section A: 35 marks
Section B: 30 marks
Section C: 25 marks