Business A Level

Previous experience of Business Studies or Economics is not essential. It is anticipated that those entering the course will have achieved at least grade Bs for Maths and English at GCSE. 

A good Business Studies student will develop a wide range of skills during the Course. These include: 

• a knowledge and understanding of the way businesses are organised internally, and the local, national and international environment within which they operate;
• a direct experience and observation of the working world through visits and individual research;
• literacy and numeracy skills through analysing business situations and problems;
• a knowledge and competence in the use of language, concepts, conventions, techniques and decision making procedures in business behaviour;
  the skills of research, selection, use of data, decision making and presentation;
• an understanding of the importance of seeing business problems through different perspectives, working with others and contributing to the work of teams

The Course is modular, and is made up of six Units. Three Units will be taken for the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Award, and the remaining three Units will be taken in the Upper Sixth for the Advanced (A2) Award. 

Business Studies lies on the boundaries of the arts and sciences. Clearly, the subject uses the scientific method of analysing problems. Indeed, this point is strongly emphasised in the syllabus. However, students also need to be able to articulate their ideas in a clear and concise form. Hence there is also considerable emphasis on writing skills. This means that the type of student who will feel comfortable with the subject could come from either a science or an arts background. It is not uncommon to have students combining the subject with Mathematics and Physics, or two languages, or with History or Geography. 

As for any A Level subject, the student contemplating Business Studies must have an interest in the subject, and a desire to know what makes business tick. Students who have a mediocre academic record and are searching for a “new subject” where they can be successful sometimes find Business Studies a poor choice. This subject requires academic rigour and good study habits.