Business

WJEC Eduqas

WHY SHOULD I STUDY A LEVEL BUSINESS?

This course aims to make you think critically about the world of business. It covers ideas drawn from various disciplines, including economics, accounting, law, government and politics, sociology and psychology.

It focuses on small to medium sized businesses operating within national and international markets and includes the teaching and learning of transferable skills such as calculations, interpreting and analysing data, applying knowledge to unfamiliar situations, developing arguments and making judgements and decisions.

COURSE CONTENT (EDUQAS)

Over the two years you will cover the following three areas:

Component 1: 

Business Opportunities and Functions
Focusing on new business start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the content in this section is based on the concept of starting a plan and new business. You will learn about other types of business organisations, the markets they operate in and their various stakeholders. The course also covers business functions for all types of business organisations, ranging from recently formed small businesses to well established multinational companies. These functions include marketing, finance, people in organisations (human resources) and operations management. 

Component 2: 

Business Analysis and Strategy
You will learn to understand, construct and analyse a range of decision-making models and investment appraisal methods used by businesses to decide on their strategy. You will develop analytical skills to investigate business opportunities and problems in a number of different contexts and evaluate a range of quantitative and qualitative data to suggest possible strategic responses from businesses. This element is very numerical.

Component 3: 

Business in a Changing World
Component 3 focuses on how businesses adapt to succeed in a dynamic external environment. The business world never stands still and there are continuous opportunities and threats to businesses of all sizes. You will learn that businesses operate in a global marketplace and that they need to consider a wide range of external factors that affect their day-to-day activities, decision-making and strategy. You are required to integrate the knowledge, understanding and skills developed in all three components.

PROGRESSION ONTO YEAR 2

Progression to the second year of the A Level depends on satisfactory progress in the first year, including achieving at least an E grade in the Year One formal assessment and maintaining good attendance and commitment.

FINAL ASSESSMENT AT END OF YEAR 2

There are three written papers at the end of the A Level year:

Component 1:
Business Opportunities and Functions 2 hours 15 minutes – 1/3 of qualification

Component 2:
Business Analysis and Strategy 2 hours 15 minute – 1/3 of qualification

Component 3:
Business in a Changing World 2 hours 15 minutes – 1/3 of qualification

MINIMUM ENTRY CRITERIA 

Standard College entry requirements (see page 16 of the prospectus) and a minimum of:

Please note that it is not possible to study A Level Business alongside A Level Economics in your first year.  Students who wish to keep the option of studying both A Level Business and A Level Economics should choose A Level Economics within their first year A Level programme as they will then have the option of adding an accelerated A Level Business course to their second year.

 

Subjects that complement Business

Core Mathematics (Mathematical Studies) is a very useful complementary course for this subject and is recommended as a further (4th) course choice for students who are not taking A Level Mathematics or A Level Statistics options. See the Core Mathematics subject page for further details (page 78).

WHAT CAN I DO AFTER STUDYING A LEVEL BUSINESS?

Business encourages students to develop a wide range of skills, which are useful for employment in a wide range of fields. Students can use this qualification in order to progress onto university courses, higher apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships.