Business

Course at a Glance

Why Study Business?

Business helps students understand how organisations make decisions, compete in changing markets and respond to opportunities and threats.

Why do some businesses succeed while others fail? How should a business launch a new product? What motivates employees? How can a business improve its profitability? Should businesses prioritise shareholders, employees, customers or the environment?

Students investigate these questions using business theories, case studies, financial data and examples from real organisations. They learn to analyse problems, compare possible courses of action and make evidence based recommendations.

Business is particularly suitable for students interested in entrepreneurship, management, marketing, finance, technology, current affairs and how organisations affect society.

Is Business Right for Me?

A Level Business is a demanding essay and numeracy based subject. Success requires strong written communication alongside confidence in calculations and data interpretation.

Students must move confidently between written analysis and numerical evidence. For example, a student may calculate a business’s operating profit margin and then explain what the result means for its competitiveness, stakeholders and future strategy.

The Mathematical Demand

The official AQA specification confirms that quantitative skills account for a minimum of 10% of the qualification.

However, the role of numeracy is broader than this minimum suggests:

· Papers 1 and 2 will each contain two quantitative questions.

· Paper 3 will contain one quantitative question.

· These quantitative questions will be worth either 9 or 15 marks.

· Therefore, between 45 and 75 marks, approximately 17% to 28% of the qualification, will be attached to questions containing a quantitative element.

Not every mark within these questions is awarded for the calculation itself. Students must also interpret the result, apply it to the case study and use it within their analysis or evaluation.

Students will study calculations including:

· Revenue, costs and profit

· Cash flow and budget variances

· Contribution, break even and margin of safety

· Market share and market growth

· Price and income elasticity of demand

· Profit margins

· Liquidity ratios and gearing

· Return on capital employed

· Labour productivity and capacity utilisation

· Inventory turnover

· Payback, average rate of return and net present value

· Exchange rate changes

What Will I Study?

The sequence below follows the AQA 7138 unit structure and provides a logical progression for a one teacher department.

The new specification reflects the modern business environment. Students will investigate Artificial Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management, data analytics, social media, remote and hybrid working, employee wellbeing, supply chain transparency, sustainability, ESG reporting and cybersecurity.

How Is the Course Assessed?

Every paper contains two case studies. Each case study is followed by five compulsory questions worth 45 marks.

Paper 3 is particularly synoptic. Students must connect knowledge from across the course and take a strategic view of the problems facing a business.

Further assessment information and specimen materials can be found through the AQA Business assessment resources.

Preparing for A Level Business

Prospective students should complete the academy’s A Level Business Transition Pack before beginning the course.

The transition pack introduces students to:

· Business objectives and stakeholders

· Marketing and market research

· Finance, profit and cash flow

· Leadership and people management

· Operations and business strategy

· The current UK business environment

· Essential business terminology

· Recommended videos, articles and wider viewing

Students will also research a real business and consider its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Recommended Online Resources

Two Teachers - Clear explanations of marketing, finance, operations, human resources and strategy.

Tutor2u Business - Real world application, case studies, revision and examination technique.

Tutor2u YouTube - Topic explanations, calculations and applied business examples.

Bizconsesh - Concise revision videos, numeracy practice and examination technique.

TakingTheBiz - Accessible explanations for students who are new to Business.

AQA A Level Business 7138 - The official specification, assessment information and resources. 

Business News 

Successful Business students regularly follow developments affecting real organisations. This strengthens their application and provides evidence for analytical and evaluative answers

BBC Business - Accessible coverage of major businesses, inflation, employment and technology.

Financial Times: Companies  - Business strategy, financial performance, shareholders and global markets.

The Guardian: Business - Business ethics, employment, regulation and environmental issues.

Wider Viewing 

Dragons’ Den - Entrepreneurship, sources of finance, market research, profit and business viability.

The Apprentice - Marketing, leadership, teamwork, pricing and decision making.

Inside the Factory - Operations, productivity, quality, technology and supply chains.

Undercover Boss - Organisational culture, motivation, communication and leadership.

Shark Tank - Investment, valuation, margins, entrepreneurship and growth.

The Founder - Franchising, growth, brand consistency and economies of scale.

Availability may vary across television and streaming platforms.  

Wider Reading 

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight - Explores entrepreneurship, risk, finance, branding and the growth of Nike.

The Everything Store by Brad Stone - Examines Amazon’s growth, leadership, innovation and competitive strategy.

Start With Why by Simon Sinek - Explores leadership, organisational purpose and culture.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries - Introduces innovation, customer feedback and business growth.

Entry Requirements 

Please refer to The Bridge Academy Sixth Form admissions and entry requirements for the latest information. 

Students do not need to have studied Business at GCSE. However, they should be confident with extended writing, multi-step calculations, interpreting detailed case studies and following current business developments.