Business Studies How to best support student development at home Stephen O’Hara – sohara@ccs.northants.sch.uk

General help from parents at home Encourage students to engage with the business news  Newspapers and Online Discuss business related issues at home that may arise at work or in day to day life. Watch and jointly critique business centred documentaries/TV shows eg Dragon’s Den and The Apprentice.

Specific help from parents at home Reviewing homework tasks and offering advice about approach to the task. Direct students to complete exam practice questions using papers from the Edexcel website Encourage work in Home Learning Booklet Remind students of revision/intervention/catch up sessions that are running.

Useful Resources http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel- gcses/business-2017.html Exam board website CGP Revision guide: ISBN: 978 1 78294 690 8 https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/Parent/books_gcse_business.book_BUER41

Useful Resources General www.tutor2u.net/business http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zpsvr82 https://www.businessed.co.uk/ https://www.theguardian.com/uk/business

Key to answering exam questions Exam questions will range from 1 mark to 12 marks Same skills are assessed and same approach is needed. Command words – understanding what the question is asking. Application – linking to the significance of the context (business/job role/employee) Analysis – explaining why points are significant to answering the question and the impact they will have on the business/job role/employee in question. Being able to see both sides of an argument. Evaluation – Actually answering the question (judgement) with justification and factors the decision may depend upon.

How do students get top grades? Engaging in business in the wider environment and drawing on these experiences in their learning. Responding to feedback positively. Reviewing content regularly. Practising exam skills in time pressured situations. Attending additional sessions.

Year 12 student – Callum Braithwaite During the run up to my GCSE business exam, I created mindmaps and revision cards of key terms and concepts. From about February onwards, I began to review my notes from the start of the course. For the case study exam, I noted key terms and calculations to make sure my exam went as smoothly as possible. GCSE Grade A A level Business and Economics student

Year 12 student – Timi Akintoye 'I felt that focusing from the start of the year was considerably helpful. When I understood what I had learnt from the start of year 10, it made it a lot easier when revising nearer the end of year 11. My work load was decreased and revising wasn't as difficult' GCSE Grade A* A level Economics and Finance student

Year 12 student – Matthew Rushton The most important thing about getting a good grade in Business is being able to know how to answer the 6 to 10 mark questions. Knowing how to structure answers is very important and helps you get so many more marks in your exam. If you use the wrong structure you will not get as many marks as you should. You also should revise everything making sure you have a good understanding of all the topics, as content from year 10 and 11 come up in the exams. You could be in trouble if you forget the topics from year 10. GCSE Grade A* A level Economics student