Other A Level Home Education
Business Studies A Level
Business Studies A Level Home Schooling – The Course
The course includes two major components – AS and A2. The AS level may be sat as a separate exam (and qualification) in its own right.
Each lesson begins with a set of clearly stated objectives and an explanation of its place in the overall programme of study
Effective learning is encouraged through frequent activities and self-assessment questions.
There are fifteen tutor-marked assignments (known as TMAs).
Key Topics Covered
The course covers the syllabus in four modules, to match the AQA examinations set in June 2013 and later years. These are:
AS Level
- Planning and Financing a Business
- Managing a Business
A2 Level
- Strategies for Success
- The Business Environment and Managing Change
The Syllabus
This course prepares candidates for the AQA Business Studies AS level syllabus 1131 (for examinations from 2013). Most home schooling students will then study the A2 syllabus 2131. The full advanced Level qualification comprises AS and A2. We have chosen this syllabus as it is the most suited to home schooling.
Assessment is by four written papers. Details are given below.
AS, Unit 1 Unit Code: BUSS1 Planning and Financing a Business
- Starting a Business: introduction to Business Studies, overview of activities involved in setting up a small business
- Financial Planning: essential financial concepts, basic relationships between finance and other organisational functions.
Unit 2 BUSS2 Managing a Business
- People: organisational design, recruitment, selection, training, motivation
- Operations Management: operational decisions, quality, customer service, suppliers, technology
- Marketing and Competition: designing and using an effective marketing mix, market conditions and competitiveness
A2, Unit 3 BUSS3 Strategies for Success
Questions leading to extended answers, drawing upon knowledge from AS units. Unseen case study
- Financial strategies and accounts: financial information, measuring performance, making investment decisions
- Marketing strategies: analysing markets and selecting successful marketing strategies, developing marketing plans
- Operations strategies: operational issues, innovation, location, improving operational efficiency
- HR strategies: workforce planning, adapting organisational structures, successful employee relations.
Unit 4 BUSS4 The Business Environment and Managing Change
Pre-release research tasks leading to the first section of a two section examination. The set topic will not be announced until the beginning of February in the year of your examination. It is vital that you find out what the research topic is and allow yourself plenty of time for independent research.
The second section will consist of choice of essays. All questions will be essay-style and synoptic, therefore drawing upon knowledge from all four units.
- Mission, aims and objectives: purpose and nature of corporate strategies, stakeholder perspectives
- External influences: the effects of changes in the economic, political, social, ethical and technological environment and responses of business
- Managing change: planning for change, leadership and corporate culture, making strategic decisions, managing change, decision making.
Within A Level Home Education there are the following subjects
Supporting textbooks for the Business Studies A level
The Business Studies A level course is supported by the following textbook.