GCSE Business Studies

Exam Boards: AQA, OCR, Edexcel

Course Structure

The GCSE Business Studies course equips students with an understanding of business principles, practices, and real-world applications. It focuses on developing analytical and decision-making skills while preparing students for further study or careers in business and entrepreneurship.

Topics Covered (Aligned with Exam Boards)

• Business Activity (10 hours)
  • Purpose and Nature of Business: Profit, Non-Profit, and Social Enterprises.
  • Business Sectors: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.
  • Entrepreneurship and Business Objectives.
• Business Operations (15 hours)
  • Production Processes: Job, Batch, and Flow Production.
  • Quality Control and Assurance.
  • Supply Chain Management.
• Marketing (20 hours)
  • Market Research: Primary and Secondary Methods.
  • The Marketing Mix: Product, Price, Place, Promotion.
  • Understanding Market Segmentation.
• Finance (20 hours)
  • Sources of Business Finance: Internal and External.
  • Cash Flow Forecasting and Break-Even Analysis.
  • Basic Financial Statements: Profit and Loss, Balance Sheets.
• Human Resources (15 hours)
  • Organizational Structures: Hierarchical, Flat, and Matrix.
  • Recruitment, Training, and Retention of Staff.
  • Motivational Theories: Maslow, Herzberg, and Taylor.
• External Influences on Business (10 hours)
  • Economic Factors: Inflation, Unemployment, and Interest Rates.
  • Ethical and Environmental Considerations.
  • The Role of Government and Globalization.
• Examination Preparation (10 hours)
  • Exam Skills: Interpreting Data, Structuring Long-Answer Questions, and Case Study Analysis.
  • Practice with Past Papers and Model Answers.

Exam Board-Specific Emphasis:

• AQA:
  • Heavy focus on the application of business concepts to real-world case studies.
• OCR:
  • Emphasis on decision-making frameworks and the role of technology in business.
• Edexcel:
  • Integration of global business perspectives and quantitative skills.