This A Level Business Studies online course is designed to engage students through topics and issues that are relevant in today’s society – they will study key contemporary developments such as digital technology and business ethics, and globalisation is covered throughout the topics.
Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse data, think critically about issues and make informed decisions – all skills that are needed for further study and employment.
Enrol for this course
£295.00 – £395.00
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AQA or Cambridge
Full A Level Qualification
IAS or IA2 Available
No enrolment dates, Enrol & start studying anytime.
Up to 24 Months Tutor Support
300 - 360 Study Hours
Fast Track Available
Learning to suit you. Access to the online portal 24/7
This A Level Business Studies Online Course is ideal for anyone wishing to gain knowledge and understanding of this subject or for anyone who wishes to study at a higher level at University and gain UCAS points. You will also find this course extremely valuable if you are looking for a progression route for further training whilst employed.
This A Level Business Studies Online Course forms part of the new linear qualifications. This means that students will sit exams for their particular qualification at the end of the completed course in the June series.
AS levels will become decoupled from A’ Levels; this means that they will both become entirely separate qualifications. You will no longer be able to carry forward your AS qualification to the A’ Level qualification and you will sit either AS or A’ Level exams.
Support
The course will be delivered online including Tutor Support for two years. All assignments are marked by one of our professional Tutors who will offer regular feedback and guide you through your course. Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor and you must have access to email in order to contact your Tutor.
You will be provided with the telephone number for your dedicated Student Support Team who will be available for any other queries that you may have whilst completing your course. You can be assured that you will receive unlimited support for your home study course, so there is no need to struggle or feel isolated during your studies.
Assessment
The A Level Business Studies Online Course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. You will also have access to a range of online resources.
Students will be required to arrange and pay for their examinations at an approved centre when an examination forms part of the course. We can provide an extensive list of these centres for you.
Whats included?
Students will be provided with logins for the student portal where they will find all the study materials they need to complete their course. They will also be provided with an e-textbook to assist them in completing their assignments.
Students will be provided with a Tutor who will help guide them through their course, and their Tutor will expect them to submit a number of assignments in order that their progress can be monitored. These assignments will be graded for them and feedback provided. You will also be able to ask the Tutor any questions about the course or for more help if needed. Once their course has been completed, they will then be allocated practice exam papers to ensure that they are familiar with the procedure and layout of their exams. Learners will be expected to complete these under exam conditions (i.e.. stick to the time scales allowed and try to find somewhere quiet), their Tutor can then provide them with a grade and feedback. More practice papers can be provided if required.
Fees
Course fees for payment in full include:
Assessment and feedback on all assignments.
Access to your personal Tutor via our online portal.
Access to a range of online resources, student materials, assessments, assignments, eBooks etc
Practice exam papers to prepare you for the real thing.
Help with UCAS application if attending University.
Tutor references and predicted grades once a satisfactory amount of work has been completed.
Help finding an exam centre for you to sit your exam.
AQA Exam Board
Specification codes:
AS Level Business 7131
A Level Business 7132
AQA exams: June
AQA Study Hours: 300 – 360 hours
This A’ Level Business Studies Course is ideal for anyone wishing to gain a knowledge and understanding of this subject or for anyone who wishes to study at a higher level at University and gain UCAS points. You will also find this course extremely valuable if you are looking for a progression route for further training.
Develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse data, think critically about issues and make informed decisions. All of these skills are needed for further study and employment.
This A’ Level Business course forms part of the linear qualifications. This means that learners will sit exams for their particular qualification at the end of the completed course in the June series.
You will not be able to carry forward your AS qualification to the A’ Level qualification as they are now classed as entirely independent qualifications and you will sit either AS or A’ Level exams.
AS Modules:
What is Business
Understanding the nature and purpose of business
Understanding different business forms
Understanding that businesses operate within an external environment
Managers leadership and decision making
Understanding management, leadership and decision making
Understanding management decision making
Understanding the role and importance of stakeholders
Decision making to improve marketing performance
Setting marketing objectives
Understanding markets and customers
Making marketing decisions: segmentation, targeting, positioning
Making marketing decisions: using the marketing mix
Decision making to improve operational performance
Setting operational objectives
Analysing operational performance
Making operational decisions to improve performance: increasing efficiency and productivity
Making operational decisions to improve performance: improving quality
Making operational decisions to improve performance: managing inventory and supply chain
Decision making to improve financial performance
Setting financial objectives
Analysing financial performance
Making financial decisions: source of finance
Making financial decisions: Improving cash flow and profits
Decision making to improve human resource performance
Setting human resource objectives
Analysing human resource performance
Making human resource decisions: improving organisational design and managing the human resource flow
Making human resource decisions: improving motivation and engagement
Making human resource decisions: improving employer- employee relations
A Level Modules:
What is Business
Understanding the nature and purpose of business
Understanding different business forms
Understanding that businesses operate within an external environment
Managers leadership and decision making
Understanding management, leadership and decision making
Understanding management decision making
Understanding the role and importance of stakeholders
Decision making to improve marketing performance
Setting marketing objectives
Understanding markets and customers
Making marketing decisions: segmentation, targeting, positioning
Making marketing decisions: using the marketing mix
Decision making to improve operational performance
Setting operational objectives
Analysing operational performance
Making operational decisions to improve performance: increasing efficiency and productivity
Making operational decisions to improve performance: improving quality
Making operational decisions to improve performance: managing inventory and supply chain
Decision making to improve financial performance
Setting financial objectives
Analysing financial performance
Making financial decisions: source of finance
Making financial decisions: Improving cash flow and profits
Decision making to improve human resource performance
Setting human resource objectives
Analysing human resource performance
Making human resource decisions: improving organisational design and managing the human resource flow
Making human resource decisions: improving motivation and engagement
Making human resource decisions: improving employer- employee relations
Analysing the strategic position of a business
Mission, corporate objectives and strategy
Analysing the existing internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses: financial ratio analysis
Analysing the existing internal position of a business to assess strengths and weaknesses: overall performance
Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: political and legal change
Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: economic change
Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: social and technological
Analysing the external environment to assess opportunities and threats: the competitive environment
Analysing strategic options: investment appraisal
Choosing strategic direction
Strategic direction: choosing which markets to compete in and what products to offer
Strategic positioning: choosing how to compete
Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
Assessing a change in scale
Assessing innovation
Assessing internationalisation
Assessing greater use of digital technology
Managing strategic change
Managing change
Managing organisational culture
Managing strategic implementation
Problems with strategy and why strategies fail
Exams
AS Assessments:
Paper 1:
Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: Has three compulsory sections covering topics 1- 6
Section A has 10 multiple choice questions (MCQs) worth 10 marks
Section B has short answer questions worth approximately 20 marks
Section C has two data response stimuli with questions worth approximately
25 marks.
80 marks
50% of AS
Paper 2:
Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June
Assessment Overview:
One compulsory case study consisting of approximately seven questions covering topics 1- 6.
80 marks
50 % of AS
A Level Assessments:
Paper 1:
Written Examination: 2 hours
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: Comprises of three sections overing all topics. Section A has 15 multiple choice questions (MCQs) worth 15 marks.
Section B has short answer questions worth 35 marks.
Sections C and D have two essay questions (choice of one from two and one from two) worth 25 marks each.
100 marks
33.3% of A Level
Paper 2:
Written Examination: 2 hours
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: Three data response compulsory questions worth approximately 33 marks each and made up of three or four part questions.
100 marks
33.3% of A Level
Paper 3:
Written Examination: 2 hours
Availability: June
Assessment Overview:
One compulsory case study followed by approximately six questions covering all topics.
100 marks
33.3% of A Level
Cambridge (2022)
Awarding Body: Cambridge
Course Code: 9609
Study Hours: Recommended 300 – 360 hrs
Exams Available: June & November (also March in India only)
For exams in 2022
The key concepts for Cambridge International AS & A Level Business Studies are:
Change
Change is the only constant. Exciting new enterprises are often created in response to economic, cultural or technological changes. Existing businesses must adapt to change if they are to survive and grow.
Management
Management is relevant to every person in a business. Good leadership, strong motivation in workers, effective systems and clear communication are hallmarks of successful businesses.
Customer focus
Customer focus means a business will design and produce goods and services that people want to buy. Customers provide the revenue which sustains a business. Successful businesses really understand their customers and strive to provide products that their customers love.
Innovation
Innovation enables a business to re-invent itself and stay ahead of the competition. The business world is dynamic and companies must seek to innovate through product development, more efficient processes and finding better ways ‘to do business’.
Creating value
Creating value is the core reason why any organisation exists. Effective organisations aim to maximise stakeholder value. For most businesses this will be about maximising shareholder value, but social enterprises will also have other, non-financial, aims. Stakeholders also need to measure the value that is created.
Strategy
Strategy is about knowing where you are, where you want to get to and how you are going to get there. Managers need to think about, decide on and put into action major long term plans – such as buying another business, entering a new market or developing a new technology.
Key Info:
Modules for AS Level:
Business and environment
Enterprise
Business structure
Size of business
Business objectives
Stakeholders in a business
People in organisations
Management and leadership
Motivation
Human resource management
Marketing
What is marketing?
Market research
The marketing mix
Operations and project management
The nature of operations
Operations planning
Inventory management
Finance and accounting
The need for business finance
Sources of finance
Costs
Accounting fundamentals
Forecasting cash flows and managing working capital
A Level Candidates also study these additional topics:
Business and environment
External influences on business activity
People In organisations
Organisational structure
Business communication
Marketing
Marketing planning
Globalisation and international marketing
Operations and project management
Capacity utilisation
Lean production and quality management
Project management
Finance and accounting
Budgets
Contents of published accounts
Analysis of published accounts
Investment appraisal
Strategic management
What is strategic management?
Strategic analysis
Strategic choice
Strategic implementation
Exam Papers:
Paper 1
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Short answer and essay
40 Marks
Paper 2
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Two data response
60 Marks
Paper 3
Time: 3 hours
Five questions and one essay (from a choice of two) based on a case study, based on the additional A Level syllabus content and also assumes knowledge and understanding of the AS Level syllabus content
100 marks
Cambridge (from 2023)
Awarding Body: Cambridge
Course Code: 9609
Study Hours: Recommended 360 hrs
Exams Available: June & November (also March in India only)
For exams in 2023- 2025
Change
Change is the only constant. New enterprises and opportunities are created in response to change in the external environment. Change can also happen within a business, leading to success when change is handled correctly.
Context
Context is the basis for every business decision. What might be a suitable solution in one situation may be unsuitable in another. Businesses must understand and research their context to be able to make good decisions.
Decision-making
Decision-making affects all levels in a business. Stakeholders in businesses use their knowledge, apply it to a scenario, analyse the data, evaluate the arguments and then come to a decision.
Enterprise
Enterprise is the ability to seek out and successfully develop business opportunities.
Innovation
Innovation enables a business to re-invent itself and stay ahead of the competition. The business world is dynamic and companies must seek to innovate through product development, more efficient processes and finding better ways to do business.
Strategy
Strategy is about knowing where you are, where you want to get to and how you are going to get there. Being able to analyse a business situation, make choices given relevant data and then implement this effectively is key to running a successful business.
Key Info:
Modules for AS Level:
1.Business and its environment
Enterprise
Business structure
Size of business
Business objectives
Stakeholders in a business
2.Human resource management
Human resource management
Motivation
Management
3.Marketing
The nature of marketing
Market research
The marketing mix
4.Operations management
The nature of operations
Inventory management
Capacity utilisation and outsourcing
5.Finance and accounting
Business finance
Sources of finance
Forecasting and managing cash flows
Costs
Budgets
A Level Candidates also study these additional topics:
6.Business and its environment
External influences on business activity
Business strategy
7.Human resource management
Organisational structure
Business communication
Leadership
Human resource management strategy
8.Marketing
Marketing analysis
Marketing strategy
9.Operations management
Location and scale
Quality management
Operations strategy
10.Finance and accounting
Financial statements
Analysis of published accounts
Forecasting and managing cash flows
Investment appraisal
Finance and accounting strategy
Exam Papers:
Paper 1
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Section A: four short answer questions. There are two parts to the first three questions.
Section B: one essay from a choice of two. There are two parts to each essay.
40 Marks
Paper 2
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Two data response questions. There are six parts to each question.
60 Marks
Paper 3
Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Five questions based on a case study. Questions are based on the A Level subject content; knowledge of material from the AS Level subject content is assumed.
60 marks
Paper 4
Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Two essay questions based on a case study. Questions are based on the A Level subject content; knowledge of material from the AS Level subject content is assumed.
You do not need any prior learning knowledge or experience to take this course. This course is openly available to anyone who wishes to take part in a highly rewarding home study course, although you would be expected to have a reasonable standard of literacy.
You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 2 years from initial registration with the full support of your Tutor. You do not have to wait until September, when a traditional school starts.
Once you enrol, you will have access to our online portal 24/7. Here you will find study materials that have been specially prepared by your tutor, there will be assessments, study notes, eBooks and assignments all relating to your course. Everything in this course is structured to follow the course specification, so all topics and units cover everything you need to learn. Your tutor will mark your work and give you written feedback on areas you need to improve or explain what you have done well. You can also ask your tutor questions if you get stuck on a topic or need something explaining a little more.
When you approach the exams, your tutor will set you a series of practise exam papers so that you can know what to expect in your exam, and you can go into them feeling confident.
You will be provided with eBooks for this course. If you want to purchase physical books in addition, then we can provide you with the book ISBN numbers.
Students will be required to arrange and pay for their examinations (including any practicals they wish to take) at an approved centre. We can provide an extensive list of these centres for you.
Most of our A Levels are available internationally. We offer A Levels with three different awarding bodies, AQA, Cambridge and Edexcel. If the course is only available via the AQA awarding body then of course you can still take our course, however the exams must be taken in the UK.
Cambridge, and Edexcel both have international exam centres, so you may be able to take the exams locally to you. Should you need any help, then please do get in touch and we can assist you on this.
Yes, you can work at your own pace to complete this course. Despite having 24 months Tutor Support, once you enrol you will be asked when you wish to complete, and your tutor can work along side you to achieve this.
For example, any A-Level course undertaken has a recommended 360 guided learning hours. Breaking down a 360 hour course into 12 weeks, you would need to be able to commit to 30 hours per week of studying. It is entirely up to you the amount of time you can commit to studying. But with online learning, having the flexibility is a real advantage. This allows you to set the pace. Take your time or Fast-track, get the qualification when you need it.
All of our A Level awarding bodies will give you a full A Level qualification. There will be slight differences between the specifications and what you will actually learn.
For the Science courses (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), there would be a difference in how you sit practical elements.
AQA offers practicals but they are optional.
With the Cambridge exam board, you will be expected to perform the practical elements, they are compulsory. Which means finding an exam centre that has a lab for you to complete this.
With Edexcel, the practical elements are all taught in theory and are assessed via a written exam, therefore you can sit your full exam at a typical Edexcel approved exam centre.
More information about science practicals can be found here.
It is recommended that you aim to book your examinations 4/6 month prior to sitting them to avoid late entry fee charges. Additionally, we would advise that you contact a few exam centres and find out the best price, as they can fluctuate greatly.
You will sit the same exam as thousands of students across the country in an exam centre, and achieve the same qualification as everyone else. A-Level qualifications are recognised by the world’s best universities and employers, giving students a wide range of options in their education and career.
Of course, all of our courses are tailored to cover the entire specification and are split into topics. You will have assignments to complete on every topic where your tutor will give you feedback. If you are struggling with an aspect then you can message your tutor and they can provide more information for you.
As your exams approach, your tutor will set a series of exam papers for you to take, so you can get a feel for the real thing.
If you complete all of your assignments, and your practise exam papers then there is no reason why you shouldn’t achieve a top grade.
Are you interested in this course?
If you are interested in this course then fill in this form to receive more information to your email. Alternatively click on the chat logo in the bottom right hand corner and contact us there. We will get back to you.