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The Official 2016 A- level Year 1 (AS) Business Studies thread

Welcome to the official thread for A level Year 1 (AS) Business Studies (first exams in 2016).

Here you can discuss anything from revision tips to exam technique advice. Anything that's going to help the first students to take these new exams.

The structure of the new AS (Year 1) qualification is as follows:

Unit 1: What is business?
- Understanding the nature and purpose of business
- Understanding different business forms
- Understanding that businesses operate within an external environment

Unit 2: Managers, leadership and decision making
- Understanding management, leadership and decision making
- Understanding management decision making
- Understanding the role and importance of stakeholders

Unit 3: Decision making to improve marketing performance
- Setting marketing objectives
- Understanding markets and customers
- Segmentation, targeting and positioning
- Using the marketing mix

Unit 4: Decision making to improve operational performance
- Setting operational objectives
- Analysing operational performance
- Increasing efficiency and productivity
- Improving quality
- Managing inventory and supply chains

Unit 5: Decision making to improve financial performance
- Setting financial objectives
- Analysing financial performance
- Sources of finance
- Improving cash flow and profits

Unit 6: Decision making to improve human resource performance
- Setting human resource objectives
- Analysing human resource performance
- Improving organisational design and human resource flow
- Improving motivation and engagement
- Improving employer- employee relations

There will be 2 exams at the end of AS- Paper 1 and Paper 2. Their structure is as follows:

Paper 1- 80 marks, 1 hr 30 mins, Thurs 19th May
Section A:
10 multiple choice questions. Total marks= 10
Section B:
Approximately 4 short answer questions. Total marks= 20
Section C:
Data response question 1- one 9 mark analysis question and one 16 mark evaluation question. Total= 25 marks
Data response question 2- one 9 mark analysis question and one 16 mark evaluation question. Total= 25 marks

Paper 2- 80 marks, 1hr 30 mins, Tues 24th May
This paper consists of around 8 questions based on a single case study.
The format of the questions will vary but they'll be based on the following:
- 2-3 short answer questions requiring data interpretation/explanation of a concept. Total marks= 10
- 2 analysis 9 marks questions. Total marks= 18
- 3 evaluation 16-20 mark questions. Total marks= 52

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Reply 1
Original post by nightwing51214
Welcome to the official thread for A level Year 1 (AS) Business Studies (first exams in 2016).

Here you can discuss anything from revision tips to exam technique advice. Anything that's going to help the first students to take these new exams.

The structure of the new AS (Year 1) qualification is as follows:

Unit 1: What is business?
- Understanding the nature and purpose of business
- Understanding different business forms
- Understanding that businesses operate within an external environment

Unit 2: Managers, leadership and decision making
- Understanding management, leadership and decision making
- Understanding management decision making
- Understanding the role and importance of stakeholders

Unit 3: Decision making to improve marketing performance
- Setting marketing objectives
- Understanding markets and customers
- Segmentation, targeting and positioning
- Using the marketing mix

Unit 4: Decision making to improve operational performance
- Setting operational objectives
- Analysing operational performance
- Increasing efficiency and productivity
- Improving quality
- Managing inventory and supply chains

Unit 5: Decision making to improve financial performance
- Setting financial objectives
- Analysing financial performance
- Sources of finance
- Improving cash flow and profits

Unit 6: Decision making to improve human resource performance
- Setting human resource objectives
- Analysing human resource performance
- Improving organisational design and human resource flow
- Improving motivation and engagement
- Improving employer- employee relations

There will be 2 exams at the end of AS- Paper 1 and Paper 2. Their structure is as follows:

Paper 1- 80 marks, 1 hr 30 mins, Thurs 19th May
Section A:
10 multiple choice questions. Total marks= 10
Section B:
Approximately 4 short answer questions. Total marks= 20
Section C:
Data response question 1- one 9 mark analysis question and one 16 mark evaluation question. Total= 25 marks
Data response question 2- one 9 mark analysis question and one 16 mark evaluation question. Total= 25 marks

Paper 2- 80 marks, 1hr 30 mins, Tues 24th May
This paper consists of around 8 questions based on a single case study.
The format of the questions will vary but they'll be based on the following:
- 2-3 short answer questions requiring data interpretation/explanation of a concept. Total marks= 10
- 2 analysis 9 marks questions. Total marks= 18
- 3 evaluation 16-20 mark questions. Total marks= 52


Thank you. Which exam board?
Reply 2
This can't be edexcel?


Posted from TSR Mobile
AQA :smile:
Im planning to take A level Business as i have a lot of knowledge in business but hesitant... any help would be a thumbs up!

What are the easiest 3 subjects for A-Levels?
Original post by motive_uk
Im planning to take A level Business as i have a lot of knowledge in business but hesitant... any help would be a thumbs up!

What are the easiest 3 subjects for A-Levels?


There isn't really an easy subject at A-level- each subject either requires a lot of memorisation, practice or both
Reply 6
Original post by motive_uk
Im planning to take A level Business as i have a lot of knowledge in business but hesitant... any help would be a thumbs up!

What are the easiest 3 subjects for A-Levels?


Well government and politics is pretty easy and hasn't changed that much throughout the years lol
History is easy as well depending on what Units the college picks.
and Law is straight forward as well and the good thing about doing these subjects is that they all interlock with eachother so you can reference what you learnt in Law in History or even Government and Politics :smile:
3 easy A levels :smile:
I think this spec really hard and I am stressing. Any help on how I answer analysis and evaluation questions please? How do I revise because it isn't all knowledge and understanding?
Original post by GeorgeB16
I think this spec really hard and I am stressing. Any help on how I answer analysis and evaluation questions please? How do I revise because it isn't all knowledge and understanding?


Context is key, relate it to real life examples, it's hard but comes with time. In questions they give you case studies so draw on them and use data from it
Original post by nightwing51214
Welcome to the official thread for A level Year 1 (AS) Business Studies (first exams in 2016).

Here you can discuss anything from revision tips to exam technique advice. Anything that's going to help the first students to take these new exams.

The structure of the new AS (Year 1) qualification is as follows:

Unit 1: What is business?
- Understanding the nature and purpose of business
- Understanding different business forms
- Understanding that businesses operate within an external environment

Unit 2: Managers, leadership and decision making
- Understanding management, leadership and decision making
- Understanding management decision making
- Understanding the role and importance of stakeholders

Unit 3: Decision making to improve marketing performance
- Setting marketing objectives
- Understanding markets and customers
- Segmentation, targeting and positioning
- Using the marketing mix

Unit 4: Decision making to improve operational performance
- Setting operational objectives
- Analysing operational performance
- Increasing efficiency and productivity
- Improving quality
- Managing inventory and supply chains

Unit 5: Decision making to improve financial performance
- Setting financial objectives
- Analysing financial performance
- Sources of finance
- Improving cash flow and profits

Unit 6: Decision making to improve human resource performance
- Setting human resource objectives
- Analysing human resource performance
- Improving organisational design and human resource flow
- Improving motivation and engagement
- Improving employer- employee relations

There will be 2 exams at the end of AS- Paper 1 and Paper 2. Their structure is as follows:

Paper 1- 80 marks, 1 hr 30 mins, Thurs 19th May
Section A:
10 multiple choice questions. Total marks= 10
Section B:
Approximately 4 short answer questions. Total marks= 20
Section C:
Data response question 1- one 9 mark analysis question and one 16 mark evaluation question. Total= 25 marks
Data response question 2- one 9 mark analysis question and one 16 mark evaluation question. Total= 25 marks

Paper 2- 80 marks, 1hr 30 mins, Tues 24th May
This paper consists of around 8 questions based on a single case study.
The format of the questions will vary but they'll be based on the following:
- 2-3 short answer questions requiring data interpretation/explanation of a concept. Total marks= 10
- 2 analysis 9 marks questions. Total marks= 18
- 3 evaluation 16-20 mark questions. Total marks= 52


good revision website www.technocratnotes.com

and good revision apphttps://play.google.com/store/apps/d...s.app&hl=en_GB

can you add this to your originalpost please so that any new ppl to the thread see this. thanks
Im doing this new spec, how could I relate it to the context? i always struggle and lose a lot of mark.
Reply 11
[QUOTE=Nazrin
Context is KEY in 8/10/12/20 marks. If the case states a business, ALWAYS relate to that business in nearly all your points. Atleast twice. If it states a numerical figure 'their sales increased by 52%', state that as well.


Posted from TSR Mobile
3 days until the exam. Hope everyone is feeling okay. I certainly am not! I know a lot of the theory I just hope my analysis and evaluation skills are enough to pull me into a good mark band ! :/
If you guys can add as much context as possible you can get high grades! I went from having a U in my first exams to then B's and i've also achieved A's!!:h: i've progressed alot and it's all due to keeping the structure of defining the topic, giving a point, context from the case studies and then explain why it's an advantage/disadvantage! If it's a 16+ marker question, then it's exactly the same but you have one side for, one side against and then a conclusion for which side to pick! :biggrin:
what is the best way to revise content for business?
Original post by CanIpassplease
what is the best way to revise content for business?


I make flashcards and then use my computer to write them over and over again using Microsoft Word. It's honestly helped me so much and I technically know Units 1-6 now:rave: But if you're a visual person, possibly mind maps would help?
How does everyone think the exam went?!
Honestly I'm not sure.
I had pretty low expectations so it went better than I thought but still not the best but maybe better than questions in class
Original post by Sparky2016
How does everyone think the exam went?!
Honestly I'm not sure.
I had pretty low expectations so it went better than I thought but still not the best but maybe better than questions in class


Mine went really well!! Such an easy paper i'm happy:tongue:
Im here Now: (Ill Keep adding answers over the next hour) AQA

Q1) Fixed Cost
Q2) Maslow: First ego/esteem then Actualisation
Q3) Re Order Level 30 Units
Q4) ROI: 23.2 % (23 IS FINE) (Common Practice to round up Recurring decimal in that form)
Q5) Decision tree COO: 5M EV:11.1 NG: 6.1M Therefore recommend commencing the plan
Q6) PROCESS IS PART OF MARKETING MIX
Q7) Labour pro and Unit cost both rise as (25>20)

Remind me of the questions and ill tell you the answers!
What's everyone revising for the second exam??

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