Description
This International A Level Business 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 whilst employed.
Our courses at International Home Study allow our students to work at their own pace and we work to ensure all our student’s needs are met. Our resources will cover the requirements of the course making sure you stay on track with the subject you choose.
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.
Throughout your course, you'll have the support of a Tutor to guide you. Additionally, you can reach out to the Student Support Team for help with any other questions you may have. 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 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.
Difference between Cambridge & Edexcel Exam Boards
Cambridge and Edexcel A Levels are international qualifications. Cambridge A-Levels can be taken worldwide including the United Kingdom, whereas Edexcel A-Levels can only be taken outside of the United Kingdom. Both exam boards offer a similar specification however different courses can have a different structure. Both the Cambridge and Edexcel courses are full A Level qualifications.
For the sciences, (biology, chemistry and physics) there are some differences between the specifications. With Edexcel all of the specification is taught in theory and as a result you will be assessed by written exam papers, including the practical element. If you sat the sciences with Cambridge, you will have to perform the practical element at a nearby centre, and this is not optional.
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.
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:
1.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:
1.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
- 2 Business structure
- 3 Size of business
- 4 Business objectives
- 5 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.
40 marks.
Edexcel
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Course Codes: XBS11/YBS11
Study Hours: Recommended 300 – 360 hrs
Exams Available: January, June & October
The Edexcel International A’ Level Business Course will help you develop an enthusiasm for studying business and allow you to gain a holistic understanding of business in a range of contexts. You will develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants.
Key Info:
Modules for AS Level:
1.Marketing and people
- Meeting customer needs
- The market
- Marketing mix and strategy
- Managing people
- Entrepreneurs and leaders
2.Managing business activities
- Business objectives and strategy
- Business growth
- Decision-making techniques
- Influences on business decisions
- Assessing competitiveness
- Managing change
A Level Candidates also study these additional topics:
- Business decisions and strategy
- Business objectives and strategy
- Business growth
- Decision-making techniques
- Influences on business decisions
- Assessing competitiveness
- Managing change
- Global business
- Globalisation
- Global markets and business expansion
- Global marketing
- Global industries and companies (multinational corporations)
Exam Papers:
Paper 1: Marketing and People
Time: 2 hours
Availability: January, June and October
Assessment overview:
Section A: Short- and extended-response questions based on sources (30 marks). Section B: Same format as Section A, based on different sources (30 marks). Section C: One 20-mark essay question, based on one or more sources (20 marks).
80 Marks
Paper 2: Managing Business Activities
Time: 2 hours
Availability: January, June and October
Assessment Overview:
Section A: Short- and extended-response questions based on sources (30 marks). Section B: Same format as Section A, based on different sources (30 marks). Section C: One 20-mark essay question, based on one or more sources (20 marks).
80 Marks
Paper 3: Business decisions and strategy
Time: 2 hours
Availability: January, June and October
Assessment Overview:
Section A: Short and extended-response questions, based on sources (40 marks). Section B: One 20-mark essay question, based on one or more sources (20 marks). Section C: One 20-mark essay question, based on one or more sources (20 marks).
80 Marks
Paper 4: Global business
Time: 2 hours
Availability: January, June and October
Assessment Overview:
Section A: Short and extended-response questions, based on sources (40 marks). Section B: One 20-mark essay question, based on one or more sources (20 marks). Section C: One 20-mark essay question, based on one or more sources (20 marks).
80 Marks
