How many times in the last week has your behaviour been influenced by clever marketing?

Why do so many new businesses fail?

What makes companies such as Apple and Amazon so successful?

How do business respond to the ever changing economic environment in which they operate?

We interact with numerous business everyday. If you want to understand more about the functions of business and you have an interest in analysing business strategy then studying Business may be for you.

Students begin the course by developing knowledge of core business concepts and applying them to a range of business contexts to build an understanding of how businesses operate. A deeper understanding with a broader range of contexts and more complex business information is studied as the course progresses, requiring students to take a more strategic view of business opportunities and issues.

The aims of the qualification are for students to:

• Develop an enthusiasm for studying business
• Gain an holistic understanding of business in a range of contexts
• Develop a critical understanding of organisations and their ability to meet society’s needs and wants
• Understand that business behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives
• Generate enterprising and creative approaches to business opportunities, problems and issues
• Be aware of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities faced by organisations and individuals
• Acquire a range of relevant business skills, including decision making, problem solving, the challenging of assumptions and critical analysis
• Apply numerical skills in a range of business contexts

Business complements the study of many other A Level subjects including Geography, Physical Education, Maths, Psychology and Philosophy.

Typical business related degrees studied at university include international business, business management, marketing, accountancy and finance, human resource management, retail management and tourism management.

Studying business can help you to enter a career in many fields including:

• Banking
• Accountancy / Finance
• Sales
• Marketing
• HR
• Management
• Procurement

At the end of the two year course you will sit three two hour written exams.

The papers include a range of question styles including short answer questions, data response questions, calculations, and extended essays.

One of the exams is based on a theme which changes each year and requires students to carry out research prior to sitting the exam.