Business Studies

Business Studies

Exam board: AQA
Course code:
7138

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/business/a-level/business-7138

Entry requirement: Grade 6 in Business Studies or Grade 6 in English (Language or Literature) and Grade 6 in Mathematics

 

The A Level Business Studies course covers the main functional areas of a business.  The course focuses on the practical decisions and strategies that are made in each of the functional areas, in order to help develop and manage a successful business.  During the course students learn about the major internal and external influences on these strategic decisions, including the impact of globalisation, business ethics and digital technology and modern workplace practices.

Subject Content

The content for the A Level Business course is split into eleven units:

  • Business and objectives
  • Forms of business and stakeholders
  • Marketing management
  • Financial management
  • People management
  • Operations management
  • Managing business culture
  • Business and society
  • Business and the external environment
  • Strategy
  • Change

During the course students study businesses in a variety of contexts, from small local businesses to large multinational businesses. In the first year the focus is on the importance of decision making in businesses and the impact they have on competitiveness. In the second year of the course student learning focuses on creating effective strategies for larger multinational businesses.

Course Assessment

A Level Business Studies involves three 2-hour examinations at the end of the 2-year course.  The examinations contain a mixture of multiple choice questions, short answer questions, questions on stimulus material, and essay questions which require extended writing.

Higher Education and Careers

Qualifications in Business Studies may lead to careers in accountancy, advertising, banking, economics, management, industrial relations, human resources, insurance and marketing.

Business Studies can be combined with other subjects at university such as management, accounting, marketing, a foreign language, economics, law, finance and human resource management.  Many students have gone on to university, including Exeter and Cardiff, to study business either as a single subject or in combination with other subjects.  Recently some of our students have looked for alternative routes other than university.  For example, numerous students over the last few years have achieved places on apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship schemes at businesses such as JP Morgan and Deloitte.