Summary

No matter what you do in your future, at some point you will need to have knowledge of how a business operates. Whether you become self-employed or work for a large organisation, you will need to understand what is meant by profit, how to communicate with others and how to operate as efficiently as possible.

The full A-level is split into 10 subject areas, 6 of which are covered in the first year and would be examined in the AS qualification. All 10 areas are assessed in the full A-level. In the first year you will start by looking at 'What is a Business' and 'Management, Leadership and Decision Making', and then move onto decision-making to improve the different functional areas of the business – finance, marketing, operations (production) and human resources.

In Year 2, you will then learn about how to analyse the internal position of the business – for example, the financial strengths and weaknesses, or the opportunities and threats that the business may face from outside. You then go on to look at strategic decisions (e.g. growth, innovation, digital technology or operating in international markets) and how change can be managed and implemented effectively.

AS (Year 1)

A2 (Year 2)

How will I know how I am doing?

There are a big range of exam questions; the exam papers include multiple-choice, short answer and calculation questions, extended essays and questions based on a case study or data response information. The overall A-level grade will be determined by three 2-hour papers at the end of the course.

What do I need to join?

5 GCSEs at grade 4–9. Must have a 5 in English Language.

Work Experience

You will be required to do a minimum of 36 hours of work experience. This is usually completed in a week during term time where you will have the opportunity to explore a career field which takes your interest, with the aim of giving you an insight into full-time working life. In the lead-up to this week, you will be asked to create an exciting CV during a group tutorial period.

What can I do next?

Business is a popular course at degree level, and can be combined with other aspects such as management, marketing and finance. There are also a wide range of business-related apprenticeships available to students with A-levels.

Career options for business graduates include employment in commerce, finance, accountancy, marketing, HR and personnel management. While many of these careers are open to graduates in any subject, some employers will have a preference for graduates with a business background, and for others it may be a definite requirement.