1. Revised Specification
GCSE Business Studies Further advice on assessment and completing the Controlled Assessment

2. Specification at a glance
Content
Assessment
Unit 1: Starting a Business
Unit 2: Developing a Business
Unit 3: Planning a Business
NB: Unit 1 and Unit 2 are now of equal weighting, equal marks and similar format.
External examination (40%)
Controlled Assessment (20%)

3. Content changes? Majority of content is similar to legacy
Re-ordered to make a more logical teaching sequence
Updated with M-Business aspect
Inclusion of financial statements – candidates need only complete statements, at a simple level
(exemplar resources have been written as support)
Format of statement of financial position (single column format)

4. Summary of external assessment
Unit 1 and Unit 2
1 hour 30 mins
90 marks for each paper
3 questions in each paper
Structured and extended response
Each of 3 questions, marks from 1 to 8 available

5. Unit 1: Starting a Business
External Exam (40%)
1 hour 30 mins marks
3 Sections/ 3 Questions
Creating a Business
Marketing
Business Operations
Each question structured response marks 1 - 8

6. Unit 2: Developing a Business
External Exam (40%)
1 hour 30mins marks
3 Sections/3 questions
Human Resources
Business Growth
Finance
Each question structured response marks 1 - 8

7. Examination Assessment Clear questions and mark schemes Mark schemes detailed with clear mark allocations Clear mark breakdowns for Q’s with calculations (OFR) Similar style to legacy papers Level banding in 8 mark questions QWC assessed in 8 mark question

8. Higher Level of Detailed Response Required
Mark schemes are more detailed to provide not only the type of content response expected, but a holistic approach to writing a good response.
Review SAMs and level banding for further guidance.
Page 72 (SAMs): ‘Explain the role of the Health and Safety Executive and discuss the ways in which the work of the HSE would affect Daily Bread’s business’.
Examiners looking for: appropriate content, in this case firstly a good explanation of the role, then 2 or more relevant effects it might have on the business.
Expectation is well written detail, bullet points as per mark scheme are not enough (mark schemes are for examiners) – Discuss = analyse (AO3)

9. Evaluate
‘Evaluate’ page 78 ‘ of the SAMs The Laganside Hotel needs to employ an Assistant Manager and the candidates for the post will be selected by interview. Evaluate the suitability of this method of selection for an Assistant Manager’
Expectation of response is that there is no explanation of what interviews are, just evaluation of positive or negative points, or both, and a conclusion which matches your previous arguments. To evaluate if you give a positive point you should refer to the counter negative point for balance.
e.g. interviews are good as it’s a face to face opportunity to meet people to make a good impression and discuss the job, however some people are nervous and do not interview well.
NB: An appropriate conclusion is always necessary for ‘evaluate’ questions

10. Unit 3: Planning a Business Controlled Assessment – What's new?
Now 20% of the assessment
Good practice adopted from other subject areas, similar format already used by Sciences
Has similarities to the legacy report, but more streamlined, less time consuming for teachers
A completely separate assessment from external examinations
Credit given to pupils for the research element as part of the assessment
The pre-printed booklets will make it very clear to students and teachers of the requirements
The mark schemes will be detailed and easier to apply
Usual controlled assessment rules apply – secure storage and no redrafting

11. How does it Look? A single controlled assessment task
(first release September 2018, first submission summer 2019)
Booklet A: to be completed as part of the 12 hours of research
15 marks available
Booklet B: on completion of Booklet A
I hour structured response
45 marks available
60 marks

12. Booklet A In centres each September (2018 start) CCEA set task
Context for study provided (case study, similar to legacy CAT)
Details of the areas of the specification which will be addressed through CAT will be included on the front of Booklet A
12 hours of research (as legacy)
Itemised requirements for your research are provided
Generic mark scheme (AO1 to AO3)
Level of Control
Research only can be carried out with a medium level of control.
All other sections individual work, so high level of control.
15 marks

13. Presentation and Completion of Booklet A
Front cover contains important information on content for Booklet B!
See guidance material on microsite.
Majority handwritten (to ensure individual work) see document on microsite for details.
Primary Research may be either hand written or word processed
No set order to primary and secondary research – it may be carried out as and when centres decide, action plan updated as it progresses
Candidates should be encouraged to use as much space/pages as they want – encourage detailed response in relation to the task.

14. What’s Included in Booklet A
Section 1: Aim
Aim is in the body of the case study – ‘Ellie has decided to research…….etc (CAT for submission Summer 2019)
Need individual paragraph(s) on aim, bringing in the content areas mentioned, reasons why they might be important to Ellie’s business. Candidates own rationale, knowledge of subject matter, applied to the business context.
Exemplar (part) of the aim may be:
It will be important to help Ellie to consider the components of a business plan. When you are starting up a new business you need to consider your business objectives, what resources and finance is available to you, and how you are going to promote the business. You have to plan for the future and Ellie will want to consider how her business could grow in the next few years.

15. Section 2: Action plan This is a Personal Diary of candidates research
It is a ‘living’ document and is updated as you go about your primary and secondary research.
Must include primary and secondary intended actions of research.
We expect to see the following included and written about in detail in relation to the task:
Web search, book research, other media, as well as questionnaire or interviews etc.
Forward tense for Actions
Working Log of progress (past tense) completed as you go about your research so not in one sitting –
If you miss a target, just write up why and record action taken – no concern, no penalty.

16. Exemplar: Action plan Action
I am going to search the web for information on famous entrepreneurs to find out the necessary skills and characteristics that may be useful to Ellie in building her hairdressing business.
Personal Target Dates
By February 14th 2019
Working log of progress
I found many web sites on entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates and Richard Branson and more relevantly on famous hairdressing names such as Nicky Clarke or Vidal Sassoon, which I think will be useful when looking at Ellie’s business, and how they have grown successful businesses. I have picked out what I think Ellie could learn from these people and logged it in my research.
NB: Above the exemplar only demonstrates a log of an element of secondary research. The action plan will also set out in detail the steps taken to plan and carry out the primary research, candidates should note their personal contribution to these steps where possible.

17. Section 3: Primary Research
Collaborative work in this section on deciding on what type of research and conducting interview or questionnaire etc
Individual contribution is important in the process
Own set of potential questions - individual
After class discussion a final set of questions - collaborative
On completion of the survey/interview a collated set of results/responses – collaborative
Interpretation of results/use of information – individual
All of above appended to Booklet A when complete
Candidates will be updating ‘working log of progress’ Action Plan Section 2 as they complete sections.

18. Section 4: Secondary Research
Complete research task given (i.e. Costs required in CAT 2019)
Complete your research on the items given in the source and in your aim
Update working log of progress
Be selective – research should reflect your aim(s) – it should not be entire chapters from books or all class notes!
Annotate your research as to its relevance to your aim(s)( in this case to Ellie’s business) and append to Booklet A.

19. Section 5: Information Requirements
This is a record of the information that you need to complete your secondary research on the aim that you have provided.
Document your sources, providing detail of website addresses or book sources etc.
Relevant sources will be copied and annotated and appended to the Booklet A
For example:
What information do you need?
I need to find out what entrepreneur skills are and what qualities Ellie needs to be successful.
Where did I find this information?
CCEA GCSE Business Studies Book by Hope Kerr published by Hodder 3rd edition page 3 to 5. This tells me about entrepreneurs.
this is a real life entrepreneur in hairdressing.
This differs from the Action plan which will give a general plan of the secondary research and will in detail plan the steps required for the primary research. What/when you will carry out research and what happened when you did.

20. Booklet B Centres will be advised when and how available by Xmas 2018
Centres can decide when to complete the 1 hour of Booklet B
Controlled Assessment conditions must be adhered to as
Booklet B is completely individual work
Candidates will have access to their completed Booklet A/and appended research during the hour given to complete the task
Candidates should be advised that the top mark bands are only achievable when using their own research to answer the questions when required to do so.

21. Contacts: GCSE (Add Subject)
Education Manager: (Jill Armer)
Telephone: Ext (2426)
Subject Support Officer: (Arlene Ashfield)
Telephone: Ext (2291)
Specification, sample assessment and support materials available on the subject microsite at