GCE Economics and Business (Edexcel) AS/A-Level
Economics and Business is a course highly valued by both further education institutions and employers. This subject is of
interest to you if you are considering a career in finance or banking, or are just generally interested in how the world of
Economics and Business works. The course is more practical than pure economics and gives a good insight into how small and
large businesses work. You will also gain a thorough grounding in Economics; enough Business Economics to enable you to
make smart economic decisions, and enough Macroeconomics in order to follow the national economy and understand and
benefit from the current downturn. Economics has its own specialist vocabulary which you will acquire during the course. A2
units include “stretch and challenge” questions for the most able students with a greater emphasis on evaluation. The
Economics Department use a range of resources including websites, relevant articles, a standard course text as well as games
and visits.
To succeed, you would benefit from a minimum B grade in Mathematics. If you are considering taking an Economics degree at
University, you should also take AS-Level Mathematics. Economics students at the Ellen Wilkinson School have gained places
at SOAS, St. Mary’s College, the London School of Economics, City University and Brunel University.
AS Unit 1: Developing New Business Ideas
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This unit focuses on the characteristics students need to develop to be successful in business and how new or existing
businesses generate their product or service ideas and test them through market research. Students also consider the
competition in the market, the economic climate, how the business might be financed and how much revenue the idea might
generate.
AS Unit 2: Business Economics
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This unit considers the market in which the business may be operating. We look at how the level of competition in the
market affects the firm, how changes in the economy affect it and how businesses can seek to minimise uncertainty.
A2 Unit 3: International Business
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Students will be introduced to the world of international business and issues that a company trading internationally would
have to consider.
A2 Unit 4: The Wider Economic Environment and Business
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In this unit, students consider why certain markets fail, how government decisions affect the economy, the markets in which
companies operate, and the income and welfare of private individuals. Students can assess why government economic
policy can succeed or fail and why regulation of some markets is necessary.
Assessment
All units have an equal weighting towards the final qualification and all are assessed by a written examination. AS exams last
1hr and 15 minutes and consist of a mix of multiple choice and data response questions (Unit 1) and a “structured answer”
paper. A2 exams last for 1hr and 30 minutes and are based on case studies, with Unit 4 a pre-seen case study.
For more information please contact Mrs. Hyde