Full name of specification
Edexcel GCSE Business 9-1
Link to Specification
Why study this course?
GCSE Business Studies is designed for students to help them learn the skills required for running a business, such as managing money, advertising and employing staff.
What can you expect from this course?
Theme 1: Investigating small business – Overview
Theme 1 concentrates on the key business concepts, issues and skills involved in starting and running a small business. It provides a framework for students to explore core concepts through the lens of an entrepreneur setting up a business.
In this theme, students will be introduced to local and national business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions.
Local contexts refer specifically to small businesses or those operating in a single UK location and national contexts relate to businesses operating in more than one location or across the UK.
Students must develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of business activity through interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates.
Students must understand how these interdependencies and relationships underpin business decisions.
Theme 2: Building a Business – Overview
Theme 2 examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase. It focuses on the key business concepts, issues and decisions used to grow a business, with emphasis on aspects of marketing, operations, finance and human resources. Theme 2 also considers the impact of the wider world on the decisions a business makes as it grows.
In this theme, students will be introduced to national and global business contexts and will develop an understanding of how these contexts impact business behaviour and decisions.
National contexts build on those in Theme 1 and relate to businesses operating in more than one location or across the UK. Global contexts relate to non-UK or transnational businesses.
Students must develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of business activity through interactions between business operations, finance, marketing and human resources, as well as the relationship between the business and the environment in which it operates.
Students must understand how these functional areas influence business activity and how interdependencies and relationships between them underpin business decisions.
How is it assessed?
The Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Business consists of two
externally-examined papers. Students must complete all assessment in May/June in Year 11.
- Theme 1: Investigating small business (*Paper code: 1BS0/01)
Written examination: 1 hour and 30 minutes 50% of the qualification 90 marks
- Theme 2: Building a business (Paper code: 1BS0/02)
Written examination: 1 hour and 30 minutes 50% of the qualification 90 marks
Assessment overview for both papers
The paper is divided into three sections:
Section A: 35 marks
Section B: 30 marks
Section C: 25 marks.
Both papers will consist of calculations, multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-writing questions. Questions in Sections B and C will be based on business contexts given in the paper. Calculators may be used in the examination.
The awarding body for this qualification is Pearson Edexcel
How will this prepare me?
Through studying GCSE Business students will be able to :
- apply knowledge and understanding to different business contexts from small enterprises to large multinationals and businesses operating in local, national and global contexts.
- develop an understanding of how these contexts impact on business behaviour
- use business terminology to identify and explain business activity
- apply business concepts to familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
- apply knowledge and understanding to business decision making, including:
- develop problem-solving and decision-making skills relevant to business
- investigate, analyse and evaluate business opportunities and issues
- make justified decisions using both qualitative and quantitative data, including its selection, interpretation, analysis and evaluation, and the application of appropriate quantitative skills
If you choose to study business there are a number of routes you can take to further you career such as: Further study at college or university, apprenticeships and entry level roles in areas such as –
- Business development
- Marketing including social media
- Finance
- HR and recruitment
Additional activities within this subject
Visiting speakers
Teachers
Sam Forrest