Structuring your answers to achieve maximum marks Year 12 Business Studies Structuring your answers to achieve maximum marks

Learning Objectives To understand the assessment objectives needed in an analytical question To understand the assessment objectives needed in an evaluative question To apply this understanding and answer exam questions achieving full marks

Starter Activity You have two questions in front of you and you have the first halves to both of these questions. Cut out the answers and construct them in order to complete the first half of each question.

9 mark structure A 9 mark question will usually ask you to analyse 2 different points and these could both be advantages or disadvantages or a mixture of both. It will also sometimes ask you to refer to a case study text so be ready to analyse and apply your knowledge. Define the theory or concept the question asks you about (AO1) Make your first point/state your theory (AO1) Analyse/explain the impact of this point or find and quote evidence from the case study if applicable (AO2) Analyse the impact of this point on the business or analyse your answer in context to the evidence, explaining the impact it will have on the business (AO3) Repeat this for the second paragraph, dependent on the question Key question: What do the different assessment objectives mean?

Analyse one benefit and one problem of using JIT stock management Analyse one benefit and one problem of using JIT stock management. (9 marks)

We start by explaining what JIT stock management is: JIT stock management is a concept that means ordering stock only as and when it is needed (AO1)

We now give our first advantage of using JIT: A benefit of using this particular method is that it reduces costs (AO1)

We now apply why this is an advantage: This is because a business won’t have to spend money on storing stock that is not being used. This is because the supplier will have it until it is ordered (AO2)

We now analyse the impact of this point to a business: This therefore, reduces wastage and could mean a business is able to lower its costs and become more competitive. (AO3)

So the first half of your answer looks like: JIT stock management is a concept that means ordering stock only as and when it is needed. A benefit of using this particular method is that it reduces costs. This is because a business won’t have to spend money on storing stock that is not being used. This is because the supplier will have it until it is ordered. This therefore, reduces wastage and could mean a business is able to lower its costs and become more competitive.

Your turn Using the remaining boxes on your sheet, complete the second half the answer using the same structure as the first half. Key question: How many linked sentences will this part of your answer have and why?

Analyse two possible economies of scale that might occur in a national newspaper publisher. (9 marks) Key question: What are economies of scale? Key question: What type of economies of scale are there?

Economies of scale are when a business benefits from its size, where generally, the bigger the business is, the cheaper unit costs become. There are different types of economies of scale, including technological, purchasing and marketing. Technological economies of scale are when more expensive, modern equipment can improve the efficiency of a business and lower costs. This therefore demonstrates that larger publishers with access to larger funds and therefore more advanced equipment gain an advantage over smaller firms who cannot compete for them on cost grounds because they don’t have equipment that will allow them to lower their unit costs. This allows them to maximise profit or pass these savings onto the customers and become more competitive – and therefore gain more sales.

Your turn Using the remaining boxes on your sheet, complete the second half the answer using the same structure as the first half. Key question: How many linked sentences will this part of your answer have and why?

Applying to a case study You have answered two 9 mark questions without a case study, now it’s time to use a case study to support your answer. Evaluate whether Marks and Spencer’s method of push production or Zara’s method of pull production is best. (16 marks)

AO1: Define the concept Push production is a method of stock management where large scale production is used and products are made in the hope that consumers buy them in large quantities.

AO1: State the first advantage Marks and Spencer benefit from the use of push production as it allows them to lower their unit costs.

AO2: Apply to the case study The case study states “Marks and Spencer buy in large quantities and are able to enjoy the benefits of economies of scale”.

AO3: Analyse what this means This means that Marks and Spencer will be able to access bulk buying discounts due to the amount of stock they buy in one go.

AO3: Explain the impact of this to the business By taking advantage of bulk buying discount, the individual cost of one particular garment falls. This means that if Marks and Spencer don’t reduce their prices, their profits will increase. Or, if they pass this cost saving on to the consumer in the form of lower prices, they will become more competitive as they may be seen as cheaper than some of their competitors.

Push production is a method of stock management where large scale production is used and products are made in the hope that consumers buy them in large quantities. Marks and Spencer benefit from the use of push production as it allows them to lower their unit costs. The case study states “Marks and Spencer buy in large quantities and are able to enjoy the benefits of economies of scale”. This means that Marks and Spencer will be able to access bulk buying discounts due to the amount of stock they buy in one go. By taking advantage of bulk buying discount, the individual cost of one particular garment falls. This means that if Marks and Spencer don’t reduce their prices, their profits will increase. Or, if they pass this cost saving on to the consumer in the form of lower prices, they will become more competitive as they may be seen as cheaper than some of their competitors.

Your turn Please complete the second part of the question using the structure provided.

Assessment objective 4 We know that this means ‘evaluation’. It does not mean ‘conclusion’ According to the AQA website, to evaluate is to form a judgement based on available evidence Key question: Why is an evaluation better than a conclusion?

Example: Mr Crump is dating a super model with rich taste. As it turns out, Mr Crump is also a very good footballer who plays at a very high level (not at Spurs then). Although this woman can be quite high maintenance at times, she has a good heart and enjoys spending time with Mr Crump and has also been known to go out and party with him and his team when they get a good result. Mr Crump, has a dilemma. At the weekend he has a cup final in which he will be captaining his team at Wembley. He is just coming back from a serious injury that could nearly have finished his career. But, by way of freak coincidence, it is also his girlfriend’s birthday, their anniversary and he missed their last date as he had a modelling shoot in the Caribbean. He knows that if he misses the date with his girlfriend she will be extremely unhappy and also knows that another footballer has been trying to take her out, but this is the only medal missing from his extensive trophy cabinet. What should Mr Crump do? Play the cup final, or go on the date?

Evaluation: The skills in which you’ve just shown in coming to a decision based on the evidence in front of you, is exactly the same principle you need to use when completing an evaluation question. An evaluation question will be worth how many marks? Key question: What is the difference between a 16 and 20 mark question?

You will already have completed the 9 mark outline earlier in the question, but this final evaluative paragraph requires you to form a judgement. Considering (enter point) (AO2/AO4 – Here you identify one of the key themes running through the case study. You then choose which of your options is the best argument considering this theme. This demonstrates that you are making a decision based on available evidence.) I believe (state most valid point from above 2 paragraphs) is the best option/argument I believe this is a better option because: (Explain why you have not chosen your other argument (AO4) – Here you are stating the main disadvantage with the option you haven’t chosen) However, to what extent my decision is valid, depends upon (explain the main problem or issue associated with your chosen option) (AO3/AO4)

Considering: That the fashion market is extremely fast paced and tastes and trends change continuously (AO2)

I believe that the best option is: Zara’s method of pull production (AO4)

I believe this is a better option because: Marks and Spencer rely on the fact that they hope consumers will buy the designs that they make. It takes them longer to bring their designs to market and they risk their designs going out of fashion before they hit the high street. It also takes them longer to bring new designs out meaning that if they have clothes that people don’t want, it takes them longer to change these and they risk falling sales

However, to what extent my decision is valid, depends upon: How satisfied customers are with the customer service at Zara. Not only are they lower quality – risking damaging their brand image, but they may also be at risk of customers not being able to get the sizes they want as only a few of each size are delivered to each store, meaning they are less likely to revisit the store. However, this does reduce wastage within store, thus reducing costs.

Considering that the fashion market is extremely fast paced and tastes and trends change continuously, I believe that the best option is Zara’s method of pull production. I believe this is a better option because Marks and Spencer rely on the fact that they hope consumers will buy the designs that they make. It takes them longer to bring their designs to market and they risk their designs going out of fashion before they hit the high street. It also takes them longer to bring new designs out meaning that if they have clothes that people don’t want, it takes them longer to change these and they risk falling sales. However, to what extent my decision is valid, depends upon how satisfied customers are with the customer service at Zara. Not only are they lower quality – risking damaging their brand image, but they may also be at risk of customers not being able to get the sizes they want as only a few of each size are delivered to each store, meaning they are less likely to revisit the store. However, this does reduce wastage within store, thus reducing costs. Key question: Why are their two different colours highlighted here?

Plenary: Please answer the following questions: What does each assessment objective require? What should you do at the start of each 9/16/20 mark question? If you have a case study, what should you do for your second point? What does an evaluation require you to do?