AS and A-level Business
New Specification Launch
Slide 1
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Structure of the session
Overview of the new AS and A-level specifications
•
Underlying principles and key features
•
Overview of the specification
•
Summary of content and assessment objectives
A-level Papers 1, 2 and 3
•
Core content
•
The question papers and question types
AS assessment and papers
Support and resources
Slide 2
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Context
•
Developed by an experienced team of teachers and examiners
•
Designed to engage young people in this subject, develop important skills
and provide effective assessments across the ability range
•
Accredited by Ofqual in August 2014
•
New AS/A-level specifications are for teaching from September 2015 with
first assessment in summer 2017.
Slide 3
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Specification at a glance
Subject content – 10 Topic Areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
What is business?
Managers, leadership and decision making
Decision making to improve marketing performance
Decision making to improve operational performance
Decision making to improve financial performance
Decision making to improve human resource performance
Analysing the strategic position of a business
Choosing strategic direction
Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
Managing strategic change
AS qualification and 1st year of linear A-level = Content 1 – 6
2nd year of linear A-level
= Content 7 – 10
Slide 4
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Decision making
objectives
decisions
Slide 5
analysis
The ‘Journey’
What is
business?
Slide 6
Management,
leadership
and decision
making
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Making functional
decisions:
marketing
operations
Human Resources
finance
Making strategic decisions:
SWOT analysis
choosing direction and strategies
assessing strategies
managing change
Similarities and differences between ‘new’ and ‘existing’
• The new specification is linear rather than modular.
• Much of the content is similar to the previous specification but there are also
some changes, including a change in focus so that you can apply concepts to
a range of business contexts as well as considering the external environment
and stakeholder perspectives from the start of the course.
• The subject content of the specification is spread across all three question
papers and therefore there is no requirement to teach specific subject areas
for specific question papers. This encourages an integrated and holistic
approach to the subject.
Slide 7
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A-level: Assessment at a glance
Component 1:
Business 1
33.3%
• 100 marks - 15 MCQs worth 1 mark
each, short answer questions worth 35
marks, 2 extended answer questions
(each out of a choice of 2) worth 25
marks each
Written Paper
Component 2:
Business 2
33.3%
33.3%
Written Paper
Slide 8
• 2 hours
• 100 marks – 3 data response questions
each worth approx. 33 marks
Written Paper
Component 3:
Business 3
• 2 hours
• 2 hours
• 100 marks – one case study consisting
of 6 questions
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A-level: Assessment Objectives
Assessment Objectives
AO
Slide 9
Description
Weighting range
AO1
Demonstrate knowledge of terms, concepts, theories, methods
and models to show an understanding of how individuals and
organisations are affected by and respond to business issues.
22-25%
AO2
Apply knowledge and understanding to various business
contexts to show how individuals and organisations are affected
by and respond to issues.
24-27%
AO3
Analyse issues within business, showing an understanding of
the impact on individuals and organisations of external and
internal influences.
25-28%
AO4
Evaluate qualitative and quantitative information to make
informed judgements and propose evidence-based solutions to
business issues.
23-26%
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AS: Assessment at a glance
Component 1:
Business 1
50%
• 80 marks – 10 MCQs worth 1 mark
each, short answer questions worth 20
marks, 2 data response questions each
in 2 parts worth 25 marks each
Written Paper
Component 2:
Business 2
50%
Written Paper
Slide 10
• 1 hour and 30 minutes
• 1 hour and 30 minutes
• 80 marks – 1 case study consisting of 7
questions
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AS: Assessment Objectives
Assessment Objectives
AO
Slide 11
Description
Weighting range
AO1
Demonstrate knowledge of terms, concepts, theories,
methods and models to show an understanding of how
individuals and organisations are affected by and respond to
business issues.
31-34%
AO2
Apply knowledge and understanding to various business
contexts to show how individuals and organisations are
affected by and respond to issues.
24-27%
AO3
Analyse issues within business, showing an understanding of
the impact on individuals and organisations of external and
internal influences.
21-23%
AO4
Evaluate qualitative and quantitative information to make
informed judgements and propose evidence-based solutions
to business issues.
19-21%
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Key features and benefits 1
•
We’ve listened to your feedback to build on the strengths of our existing
specification.
•
Our continual development through operational experience, teacher
feedback and working with the academic community allows us to minimise
the effect of the changing requirements on your day-to-day teaching whilst
using this as an opportunity to move the subject forward.
•
Increased relevance to today’s Business world.
•
AQA’s growing reputation for providing successful and high quality Business
qualifications.
•
Assessment you can trust with clear, well structured mark schemes and
exemplar materials.
Slide 12
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Key features and benefits 2
•
Our new specifications are fully co-teachable.
•
We will continue to provide our comprehensive range of resources and
support.
•
Support materials developed by currently practising teachers.
•
We will support you through the changes.
Slide 13
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A-level: Paper 1
Slide 14
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A-level: Content for Paper 1
•
What is business?
•
Managers, leadership and decision making.
•
Decision making to improve marketing performance.
•
Decision making to improve operational performance.
•
Decision making to improve financial performance.
•
Decision making to improve human resource performance.
•
Analysing the strategic position of a business.
•
Choosing strategic direction.
•
Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies.
•
Managing strategic change.
Slide 15
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A-level: Structure of Question Paper 1
•
2 hours
•
33.3% of total marks
•
4 sections
•
Section A – 15 MCQs (15 marks in total)
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Section B – Short answer questions (35 marks in total)
•
Section C – 1 extended answer question from a choice of 2 (25 marks in
total)
•
Section D – 1 extended answer question from a choice of 2 (25 marks in
total)
Slide 16
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Levels of response mark scheme
Slide 17
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A-level: Paper 2
Slide 18
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A-level: Content and skills for Paper 2
•
The content and skills for Paper 2 are the same as for Paper 1.
•
The subject content of the specification is spread across all three question
papers and therefore there is no requirement to teach specific subject areas
for specific question papers.
Slide 19
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A-level: Structure of Question Paper 2
•
2 hours
•
33.3% of total marks
•
1 section
•
3 compulsory data response questions (each worth approx. 33 marks)
Slide 20
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A-level: Paper 3
Slide 21
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A-level: Content and skills for Paper 3
•
The content and skills for Paper 3 are the same as for Paper 1.
•
The subject content of the specification is spread across all three question
papers and therefore there is no requirement to teach specific subject areas
for specific question papers.
Slide 22
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A-level: Structure of Question Paper 3
•
2 hours
•
33.3% of total marks
•
1 section
•
1 case study question with 6 parts (100 marks in total)
Slide 23
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AS: Paper 1
Slide 24
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AS: Content and skills for Paper 1
•
What is business?
•
Managers, leadership and decision making.
•
Decision making to improve marketing performance.
•
Decision making to improve operational performance.
•
Decision making to improve financial performance.
•
Decision making to improve human resource performance.
Slide 25
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AS: Structure of Question Paper 1
•
1 hour 30 minutes
•
50% of total marks
•
3 sections
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Section A – 10 MCQs (worth 10 marks in total)
•
Section B – short answer questions (worth 20 marks in total)
•
Section C – 2 data response questions with 2 parts to each (worth 25 marks
each)
Slide 26
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AS: Paper 2
Slide 27
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AS: Content and skills for Paper 2
•
The content and skills for Paper 2 is the same as for Paper 1.
•
The subject content of the specification is spread across the 2 question
papers and therefore there is no requirement to teach specific subject areas
for specific question papers.
Slide 28
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AS: Structure of Question Paper 2
•
1 hour and 30 minutes
•
50% of total marks
•
1 section
•
1 case study question consisting of 7 parts (80 marks in total)
Slide 29
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Resources and support from AQA
Choosing the right qualification
•
•
•
•
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Results: reviewing and
planning for
improvement
•
•
•
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Enhanced Results Analysis
Teacher support feedback
meetings
Examiner reports
Candidate exemplars with
examiner commentary
Draft specification
Draft question papers and mark schemes
Specification at a glance
Summary of changes
Documents to help you compare exam boards’
specifications
Planning your course
Assess: preparing for
exams
•
•
•
Slide 30
•
360°
SUPPORT
Specimen question papers and
mark schemes
Additional sample questions
Candidate exemplars with
examiner commentary
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•
•
•
Teacher support launch
events
Teacher support preparing
to teach events
Schemes of work
Guidance on teaching AS
and A-level
Teaching your students
•
•
•
•
Resources linked to topics in the
specification and throughout the teaching
year (plan, teach, assess, results)
Command words used in exams
Publisher textbooks and digital resources
Direct access to subject teams
AQA ongoing support and resources
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Specimen assessment materials.
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Command words and key formulae
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Exemplar answers.
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Schemes of work.
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AQA website.
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e-AQA.
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Secure Key Materials.
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ERA (Enhanced Results Analysis).
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Training courses.
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Preparing to teach events.
Slide 31
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AQA ongoing support and resources - textbooks
• Hodder and Collins are the endorsed publishers for both A-level Business
and A-level Economics.
• Hodder and Collins are both going to offer separate texts for AS and A-level.
• The expected publication dates are
AS textbook:
Jan 2015 for Collins
March 2015 for Hodder
A-level textbook: April 2015 for Collins
May 2015 for Hodder
• Full details of our approval process and links to these titles will be on our
website later this year.
• Digital resources will follow for all titles.
Slide 32
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Timeline
Draft
Specification and
specimen
Question Papers,
and Mark
Schemes
published
First teaching of
AS/A-level in
Business
Accredited
Specification published
Teacher training courses available
FREE Preparing to Teach events
FREE
Introductory
events online
and face to face
June
Slide 33
September
Teacher and learner
resources published
December
March
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June
September 2015
Contact points for more information and guidance
•
Business Team
Email: business-studies@aqa.org.uk
Tel no 01483 477 862
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AQA Website: aqa.org.uk
Slide 34
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Thank you
Slide 35
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