Exam tips: Business studies A-level (6BS03) orientation class

Business studies Code : 6 BS 03

Over view

The exam pattern ...Duration 1 hour 30 minutes80 marksSection A - 35 marksSection B - 45 marks

The differences from AS...Time 90 minutes : Longer by 15 minutesNo multiple choiceMore evidence to readMore emphasis on analysis and evaluation

Units Theory , application

Analysis , evaluation

1,2 (AS) 60 % 40%

3, 4 (A2) 40 % 60%

Section A – 35 marks2 pieces of evidence of less than 1 page

4 questions...

Q1- Briefly analyse ... 6 marksQ2- Analyse ... 8 marksQ3- Assess ... 9 marksQ4- Evaluate ...12 marks

Section A...Assessment objectives

Question Kn App An Eval Total1 2 2 2 - 62 2 2 4 - 83 1 2 3 3 94 2 2 3 5 12

Total 7 8 12 8 35

Section B – 45 marks3 – 4 pieces of evidenceSome graphs/charts/pictures2 pages maximum5 questions

Q5 -Explain. .. 6 marksQ6 –Analyse ... 6 marksQ7 –Assess ... 8 marksQ8- Assess/Evaluate ... 10 marksQ9- Evaluate/discuss ... 15 marks

Section B...AssessmentQuestion Kn App An Eval Total

5 2 2 2 - 66 2 2 2 - 67 1 2 2 3 88 1 1 3 5 109 2 1 4 8 15

Total 8 8 13 16 45

Levels of response

Level 1 = knowledgeLevel 2 = applicationLevel 3 = analysisLevel 4 = evaluation

e.g. Q 7 for 8 marks

Relevant analysis will put the candidate straight into L3 (4 to 5 marks)

If there is evaluation as well then it goes straight into L4 (6 to 8 marks)

BUT without context it will be confined to the level below.....

e.g. Analysis without context = L2 - 3 marks max.

Evaluation without context = L3 - 5 marks max

Content of answer – 4C1. Context - focus your answer to given

product / company / industry / location

2. Causes - reasons for the issue 3. Cost - expenditure, risk, loss, price4. Consequences - chain of impacts on one

more dimensions company, owner, customer , product, promotion, place quality, packaging motivation

How to answer in context Student writes : “India will benefit from increased FDI from Europe

as it will create jobs and boost personal income”.

Comment : Substitute any other country and see if it still makes sense, if it does –then there is no context.

Modified version : “India will benefit from increased FDI in retail, as it

will create jobs and boost income for Indian farmers ”.

Hints for students...Do spend time reading the evidence and

questions BEFORE you start to writeWork on a mark a minute for your timingLook for the command wordsDon’t write too much on the easier questions,

move on and come back if time later...Don’t rewrite the evidence in your answerDon’t write without valid points Don’t use etc, so on

Command Skills requirement

Briefly explain why... Explanation is a key part of analysis though these Explain commands commonly also include the lower skills. Analyse The mark allocation, from 4-8 often indicates depth of The analysis required. Comment on… This command at least require analysis. Usually this relates

to data in a table or calculations, so candidates ability to interpret is being questioned (analysis)

Example :Example :Analyse 2 reasons for high revenue of Analyse 2 reasons for high revenue of TescoTesco

COMMAND WORDS

Command Skills requirement

Assess These are the main evaluation commands. Examine If you offer no final conclusion, judgement or balance Evaluate when any of these commands are used, you will not Justify score well. To what extent Questions with these commands generally carry Recommend larger allocations of marks, from 8 plus.

Example: Example: Discuss the importance of ProfitDiscuss the importance of Profit

SUGGESTIONS Section A, MCQ

1. Provide definition or formula2. Apply knowledge or Explain your choice3. Explanation of one distracter is enough

(chose only one)4. Wrong answers in part (a) will mean

that the most a candidate can expect to gain in part (b) is 2 out of the 3 maximum marks available.

5. Do not overwrite answers 6. Aim for three or four sentences

Always define the key terms in the question.

If a question asks for three reasons, you must have three paragraphs, starting, “firstly, secondly and thirdly. Preferably with a line between each paragraph.

If only 2 reasons asked, then marks are not awarded for additional reasons/ explanations etc.

Use diagrams where ever appropriate with explanation.

Manage time; Do not get held up tough questions. Go back to them at the end.Include causes , cost and consequences with answer build –up in sequence

Levels of response in marking scheme K.A.A.E

Level 1 = knowledge ( Theory )Level 2 = application ( to the context in case

given) Level 3 = analysis ( one sided argument with 4

Cs ) Level 4 = evaluation ( 2 sided or multi

dimensional arguments with 4 Cs )

4 C = cause, cost , consequence, context

Where do students go wrong ?The most common mistakes are ...Lack of context - without reading the case or

mentioning the type of business Writing only theories as per O-level practice Ignoring command words such as :Explain ,assess

and evaluate ( Don’t know how many sidesNot including 4 Cs in answerPoor time management : cannot complete section-

BSpelling, punctuation and Grammar problems