A Level Business Studies

Now available as a 12 month FAST TRACK course at no extra cost!! Just select the option at the bottom of this page.

Guaranteed exam place: venues in Bristol, Harrogate, Birmingham & London.

Specification
AQA GCE Business Studies (1131)

Course Overview
¦Develop a wide range of important problem-solving and decision-making business skills
¦Explore many of the legal and financial aspects of starting and developing a business
¦Understanding of the internal business structures of various organisational types and the ability to co-ordinate efficient functioning in the contemporary and modern business world.
¦Knowledge of the external business environment and the various economic factors that can underly the functioning of businesses.
¦The various prominent forces that can affect the business performance and enact changes and how to deal with these elements of change when they do arise.
¦Importance of stakeholders in the business including customers, creditors, shareholders, employees and how they can affect the course of direction of the business.
¦Acquiring and developing core transferable skills in business.
¦Development of responsible business management capabilities including planning, organising and problem-solving.

Testing Centres
http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php

Course Content
Unit 1 Business Planning and Financing
Topic 1: Business Start-up Guide 

Topic 2: How to Finance Small Businesses

Unit 2 Concepts of Business Management
Topic 1: Financial management, measures and performance techniques.

Topic 2: Importance of Human Resources and how it affects the Business

Topic 3: How to Achieve Efficient Operations Management

Topic 4: How Marketing A Business Affects its Competitiveness in a dynamic business world.

Assessment description:
The AS assessment consists of two examinations as follows:

AS Unit 1 (BUSS1): Planning and Financing a Business
1 hr 15 minutes examination. Short answer questions and extended responses based on a mini case study for 60 marks, 40% of AS total marks.  20% of A Level total marks

AS Unit 2 (BUSS2): Managing a Business
1 hr 30 minutes examination. Compulsory, multi-part data response questions for 80 marks, 60% of AS total marks. 30% of A Level total marks

Content of the course
Unit 3 Strategies for success
Topic 1: Functional Objectives and Strategies.

Topic 2: Financial Strategies and Accounts of larger businesses

Topic 3: Development of Marketing Strategies for larger businesses.

Topic 4: Operational Strategies for Success in the particular market for the business.

Topic 5: Human Resource Strategies for Effective People Management  

Unit 4 The Business Environment and Managing Change
Topic 1: Corporate Aims and Objectives and how it determines strategy formation.

Topic 2: Assessing changes to the Business Environment and identifying Business opportunities and threats.

Topic 3: Change Management   

Assessment description:
The A2 assessment consists of two examinations as follows:
A2 Unit 3 (BUSS3): Strategies for success
1 hr 45 minutes examination. This is based on questions which would require extended answers from an unseen case study that draws upon knowledge gained from AS units. 80 marks. 50 per cent of A2 total marks. 25% of A Level.

AS Unit 4 (BUSS4): The business environment and managing change
1 hr 45 minutes examination. This is based on pre-released research tasks that lead to the first section of a two section examination. The second section will consist of a choice of essays. All questions will be essay style and synoptic therefore drawing on knowledge from all four units. 80 marks, 50 per cent of A2 total marks. 25% of A Level.

Please check your specification as details may be subject to change by the awarding body.

Study Time
To complete a full A level it will take in the region of 200 study hours.

Pre-requisites
To take an A Level you should have a GCSE grade C or above, or the equivalent and preferably in your chosen subject.

Support
You will have access to tutor via email who will mark your work and guide you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.

Examination Centres
The examination board can provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate.

Suggested reading
AQA Business Studies for AS by Marcouse, I, Gillespie, A, Surridge, M, Brewer, M, Watson, N, Birchall, N and Hammond, A, Hodder Education, 2008 (ISBN 9780340958643)

AQA Business Studies for A2 by Marcouse, I et al, Hodder Education, ISBN 9780340973578 (to be published April 2009)

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do your courses meet the latest syllabus changes?
A. yes, all our course materials meet any changes and will be updated free of charge if further changes are made.

Q. Why do I have to find a centre myself?
A. We have students all over the UK and Europe and it is impossible for us to arrange dates and times for individual students.

Q. What if I cannot find an examination centre in my home town?
A. If you wish to gain the qualification then be prepared to travel it is worth it!

Q. How much are exam fees?
A. These vary from centre to centre so please check with your local centre.

Q. Are the courses paper based or on-line?
A. All our courses are paper based and come in attractive sturdy folders.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. Tutors are all working Teachers or Lecturers so contact is by email only.

Q. Why can I not take my exams when I have completed the course and why do I have to wait?
A. Exams are taken at the same times as schools and colleges and are not flexible.

Q. I want to take my exams but there are only a few months to study, is this possible?
A. Depending on the time of year, it is sometimes impossible to complete your studies in a short space of time as your work has to be marked and checked. More importantly the examination boards have cut off times which are not flexible. See our web site for further information.

Q. Will I receive UCAS points on completion of this course?
A. Yes all of our A Levels carry UCAS points. The number of points awarded will depend on the grade you achieve.