Paper 1: Marketing, people and global Paper 2: Business activities, decisions and Paper 3: Investigating business in a

Business A-Level business strategy competitive environment

Exam Technique Mat V 1.2 100 marks (35% weighting) 2 hours 100 marks (35% weighting) 2 hours 100 marks (30% weighting) 2 hours
**Keep looking back at the question when 2 Questions: 2 Questions: 2 Questions:
answering**  4 marks (either ‘explain...’ or  4 marks (either ‘explain...’ or  8 marks (‘assess two
‘calculate...’) ‘calculate...’) possible...advantages/disadvantages/im
Calculate Answering in context  4 marks (either ‘explain...’ or  4 marks (either ‘explain...’ or plications/consequences...’)
4 marks To help put an answer ‘calculate...’) ‘calculate...’)  10 marks (‘assess...’)
Have you included... into context, think  10 marks (‘assess...’)  10 marks (‘assess...’)  12 marks (‘assess...’)
about the kind of  12 marks (‘assess...’)  12 marks (‘assess...’)  20 marks (‘evaluate...’)
 An identification product the business  20 marks (‘evaluate...’)  20 marks (‘evaluate...’)
of the formula produces and who the Themes:
needed? competition is in the Themes: Themes: Theme 1: Marketing and people
 The data you market place. Theme 1: Marketing and people Theme 2: Managing business activities Theme 2: Managing business activities
need for the Theme 4: Global business Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy
calculation from Use evidence from the Theme 4: Global business
the question? case study in your
 A substitution of answer – what is the
There will be a pre-released context document
the data in the case study telling you
issued on Edexcel’s website in November of the
formula? about the business’
previous year. A new context will be given to
 A calculation? objectives, product or
centres each year.
environment that it
See the Calculate operates in?
command word in the Assess Evaluate
Taxonomy
Taxonomy (command words)
8 or 10 or 12 marks 20 marks Command Definition
These will be linked to a business or economic 'Using' requires students to use a prescribed diagram, or formula. Calculate Assesses quantitative skills. 'Calculate'
context. Most refer to a particular To answer the question you have to offer a balanced answer and/or / requires a calculation comprising of at least
problem/benefit/opportunity faced by a business or an attach value to your points, which show your ability to make a Using our stages. For example, locating the data,
economy. judgement about how important or significant it is. identifying the formula, substituting the data
in the formula and performing the
calculation.
Explain Have you included: Have you included:
4 marks  A definition of a key term?  Definitions of a key terms? 'Using' requires students to use a prescribed
 An example from the case study?  Context from the case study (the market the business operates diagram, or formula.
Have you included...
 At least two chains of reasoning explaining Explain Requires a multi-stage definition relating to
in, its objectives or product)? context and includes analysis. In terms of
 A definition? reason/cause/consequence?  At least two chains of reasoning explaining a range graphs, includes interpretation. Requires
 Two examples  Examples from the case study to add weight to reason/cause/consequence with examples from the case students to convey understanding by making
a point and linking the point with a
contextualised to your reasoning? study? justification.
the case study?  Arguments to help make judgements about the  Arguments to help make judgements about the strength of Assess Requires a contextualised and a balanced
 A development strength of your reasoning (again, using your reasoning (again, using examples from the case study)? answer with connectives. Requires students
to carefully consider factors or events that
explaining the examples from the case study)?  An examination of the validity of your arguments? apply (awareness of competing argument)
reason/cause/co  A conclusion  Quantitative/Qualitative data in order to show the significance and identify which are the most important or
of your answer? relevant.
nsequence? Requires students to make an informed
Key connectives:  A conclusion which includes a proposed solution or judgement on the importance of something.
See the Explain recommendation? Evaluate Requires an informed judgement and
command word in the This will… supported conclusion. Requires students to
Taxonomy However… Key connectives:
review information then bring it together to
…is more/less important because form a conclusion, drawing on evidence
…however…therefore… including strengths, weaknesses, alternative
A better way would be…this is because …is important because… actions, relevant data or information.
In the short-term…In the longer term …is more/less important because… Requires students to come to a supported
…is most important because… An alternative view is… judgement of a subject's qualities in relation
The extent to which… depends on… to its context.
…is most important because…the consequence of this…
The extent to which… depends on…