Exam board
OCR
Specification
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What is the qualification?
One full GCSE awarded at grades 9 – 1.
What will students be doing on the course? How will it be structured?
This course is a broad-based qualification providing a practical introduction to business. This qualification will encourage students to be inspired, moved and challenged by following a broad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study and to gain an insight into related sectors. The GCSE will prepare students to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices.
The course is made up of two main parts:
Business 1: (Paper 1) Business activity, marketing and people (50% of total mark)
Unit 1 Business activity
Unit 2 Marketing
Unit 3 People
Business 2: (Paper 2) Operations, finance and influences on business (50% of total mark)
Unit 4 Operations
Unit 5 Finance
Unit 6 Influences on businesses
Unit 7 The independent nature of business
This GCSE qualification in business studies enables students to actively engage in the study of business to develop as effective and independent students and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. The course is taught using up to date case studies to encourage an enquiring, critical approach to distinguish between facts and opinions and to build arguments and make informed judgements. Trips and guest speakers are used to develop and allow students to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills to contemporary issues in a range of local, national and global contexts.
Assessment
Year 10
Autumn Term: In class unit 1 test – 20 mark multiple choice questions and written examination questions
Spring Term: In class unit 2 test – 20 mark multiple choice questions and written examination questions in addition students will have their Year 10 mock paper which will be based on Paper 1 units 1, 2 and 3.
Summer Term: In class unit 3 test – 20 mark multiple choice questions and written examination questions.
Year 11
Autumn Term: In class unit 4 test – 20 mark multiple choice questions and written examination questions in addition student will have their Year 11 mock paper which will be based on Paper 1.
Spring Term: Mock examinations in class unit 5 and 6 test – 20 mark multiple choice questions and written examination questions – there will also be a Paper 2 mock paper towards the end of Spring 2 covering units 4-7.
Summer Term: Terminal examination
What skills do students need to develop to be successful at this course?
It is important that students are reading local and national newspapers to help contextualise the theory they are learning and, applying their knowledge to real life situations, means that independent research is vital to success. Students need to be organised as each unit contains approximately 6 chapters. Mathematical and calculations are also integral to the finance unit and students need to be confident in workings out and analysing results. This course involves lots of discussion and team work.
What could this qualification be used for?
This qualification will allow students to go on and study a business based course at Post 16 and it will also help enhance research skills, analytical skills, independent and creative thinking skills and team building skills – all of which are very useful whatever courses students go on to study.
Careers in business include marketing, accountancy, human resource management, finance and business management. The subject also complements careers in IT and media.