Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When will the assessment units be available?
A. Assessment units AS 1, AS 2, A2 1 and A2 2 will be available in both the January and Summer series.
Q. When will the first examinations be available?
A. This GCE Business Studies specification is available for first teaching from September 2008. The first AS examination will take place in 2009 and the first A2 examination will be held in 2010.
Q. What range of grades is available for AS and A2?
A. AS Level qualifications will be awarded on a five-grade scale A-E. A Level qualifications will be awarded on a six-grade scale A*-E.
To be awarded an A*, students will need to achieve a Grade A on their full A Level qualification and an A* on the aggregate of their A2 units. Students who fail to reach the minimum standard for a Grade E are recorded as U (unclassified) and will not receive a certificate.
Q. Can you tell me more about the unseen case study in the A2 2 exam?
A. The A2 2 exam will include an unseen case study and a variety of source materials. Students will have to produce a formal report. In the formal report, students will be expected to analyse problems, evaluate evidence and propose and justify solutions.
Students will have two hours to complete this exam.
Q. How will this qualification help students gain Key Skills?
A. This specification will provide assessment evidence for nationally-specified
Key Skills Level 3 in:
- Communication;
- Application of Number;
- Information Technology;
- Improving Own Learning Performance;
- Working with Others; and
- Problem Solving.
