alevel business help

Heyy guys, Alevel business is approaching, and I think I’m confident in it but Idkk😭 I’m kinda scared, I’ve been doing a lot of practice questions+papers asw, does anyone that is doing rlly good at the subject check how I answer my questions? because I’m always stuck at a grade c and it doesn’t seem to budge😭

Reply 1

Anonymous #3

I am an external examiner for AQA business studies. Not allowed to openly share so I am posting anonymously. I mark paper 3 - the long answer questions. Here are a few tips:

1.

Remember your 'assessment objectives' (AO).

AO1: Demonstrate knowledge of terms, concepts, theories, methods and models to show an understanding of how individuals and organisations are affected by and respond to business issues
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding to various business contexts to show how individuals and organisations are affected by and respond to issues
AO3: Analyse issues within business, showing an understanding of the impact on individuals and organisations of external and internal influences
AO4: Evaluate quantitative and qualitative information to make informed judgements and propose evidence-based solutions to business issues.

In the long answer questions there will always be a few marks for AO1 and AO2. For example, if you get a question on the Boston Matrix, an easy 3-4 marks is to draw and correctly label the Boston Matrix (AO1). No doubt to answer the rest of the question you will need to refer to the case and demonstrate use of the Boston Matrix (AO2) by discussing how, with the right marketing support product xx could move from question mark to star or drop to being a dog without support.

1.

Here is a good rule of thumb - write a paragraph to get 3 or 4 marks. Thus for a 12-mark question you need to write 4 paragraphs covering different angles/ viewpoints. For a 16-mark question, it will be 5 paragraphs and for a 20 marker 6 paragraphs. Alway use the phrase 'which means that . . .' to link your thought process. If possible link the discussion to profits - falling or rising.

2.

Before you even look at a particular question and your brain gets into overdrive write down a generic list of stakeholders (Competitors, customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, local community, the government), PESTLE and the 4Ps. I guarantee you will be able to answer any question with these three frameworks. You then can read the question and determine how to go about answering the question. The question may ask you to refer to graph xx or table yy and use quantitative data but always keep stakeholders, PESTLE and 4Ps at the front of your mind and it will help you write a nuanced essay. By looking at the information in chart xx from a supplier or customer or shareholder's perspective your essay will gain depth. Discussing how the data could influence the promotional strategy or the pricing strategy will add depth. Considering economic or political factors will again make your essay richer.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by Anonymous

I am an external examiner for AQA business studies. Not allowed to openly share so I am posting anonymously. I mark paper 3 - the long answer questions. Here are a few tips:

1.

Remember your 'assessment objectives' (AO).

AO1: Demonstrate knowledge of terms, concepts, theories, methods and models to show an understanding of how individuals and organisations are affected by and respond to business issues
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding to various business contexts to show how individuals and organisations are affected by and respond to issues
AO3: Analyse issues within business, showing an understanding of the impact on individuals and organisations of external and internal influences
AO4: Evaluate quantitative and qualitative information to make informed judgements and propose evidence-based solutions to business issues.
In the long answer questions there will always be a few marks for AO1 and AO2. For example, if you get a question on the Boston Matrix, an easy 3-4 marks is to draw and correctly label the Boston Matrix (AO1). No doubt to answer the rest of the question you will need to refer to the case and demonstrate use of the Boston Matrix (AO2) by discussing how, with the right marketing support product xx could move from question mark to star or drop to being a dog without support.

1.

Here is a good rule of thumb - write a paragraph to get 3 or 4 marks. Thus for a 12-mark question you need to write 4 paragraphs covering different angles/ viewpoints. For a 16-mark question, it will be 5 paragraphs and for a 20 marker 6 paragraphs. Alway use the phrase 'which means that . . .' to link your thought process. If possible link the discussion to profits - falling or rising.

2.

Before you even look at a particular question and your brain gets into overdrive write down a generic list of stakeholders (Competitors, customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, local community, the government), PESTLE and the 4Ps. I guarantee you will be able to answer any question with these three frameworks. You then can read the question and determine how to go about answering the question. The question may ask you to refer to graph xx or table yy and use quantitative data but always keep stakeholders, PESTLE and 4Ps at the front of your mind and it will help you write a nuanced essay. By looking at the information in chart xx from a supplier or customer or shareholder's perspective your essay will gain depth. Discussing how the data could influence the promotional strategy or the pricing strategy will add depth. Considering economic or political factors will again make your essay richer.

Thank you soo much for the tips🥰

however I am doing Alevel Edexel but I think the AOs are the same and still apply to Edexel.

It’s just the structure for the 20 and 12 markers is a bit different, I always say the phrase ”this means that” or "meaning that..” but idk if I say it a lot in a paragraph because idk how else to add it more chain of reasoning,
also, I usually tend to say another point instead of developing which I kinda struggle with too, the only things that could come to mind are “ could increase profitability, EOS, market share.. so because of that I tend to repeat myself which won't get me any marks.

I still kinda struggle with timing.. I tend to take longer on the shorter questions than the longer ones even after all the exam practice I did.

Thank you so much for the tipss😊, it's veryy helpful!

Reply 3

mike23mike

16

Yep the AOs will be the same for every exam board because the syllabus - what topics to cover and the AOs - are set by the UK government. The difference is that Edexcel split up their papers by topic and AQA don't. Thus in Edexcel paper 1 covers topics 1&4, and paper 2 covers topics 2&3, whilst paper 3 covers all 4 topics.

A 16-marker or 20-marker (25-marker in AQA) will require the same structural answer regardless of exam board:

•

Define the key 'technical terms' used in the question e.g what is a 'trade tariff' or what does 'gearing' mean (AO1) - should be an easy couple of marks

•

In Edexcel essays there are usually two options and so your next paragraphs should be 1st para - advantages of option A, 2nd para - disadvantages of option A, 3rd para - advantages of option B, 4th para - disadvantages of option B, closing para, what do you recommend.

•

Please draw quotes and data from the case material to show the examiner you have read and understood the case.

•

Then use Stakeholders, PESTLE and 4Ps to make different points in each of the paragraphs. That would be a sophisticated, rounded answer.

Best of luck!

(edited 11 months ago)

alevel business help

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