At a glance
- Cambridge code
- 9609
- Edexcel IAL units
- WBS11 to WBS14
- AQA code
- 7132 (AS: 7131)
- Edexcel unit length
- 2 hours, 80 marks each
- Grades
- A* to E
Cambridge International 9609 assessment
From the 9609 syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
| Paper | Format | Length and marks | Share of A Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Business Concepts 1 | Four short-answer questions and one essay from a choice of two | 1 hour 15 minutes, 40 marks | 20% (40% of AS) |
| Paper 2 Business Concepts 2 | Two data response questions | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 30% (60% of AS) |
| Paper 3 Business Decision-Making | Five questions on a case study | 1 hour 45 minutes, 60 marks | 30% |
| Paper 4 Business Strategy | Two essay questions on a case study | 1 hour 15 minutes, 40 marks | 20% |
Papers 1 and 2 make the AS Level. Entries in June and November.
Pearson Edexcel International A Level Business
| Unit | Format | Length and marks | Share of IAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBS11 Unit 1: Marketing and people | Two sections of source-based short and extended questions (30 each) and one 20-mark essay | 2 hours, 80 marks | 25% |
| WBS12 Unit 2: Managing business activities | Same format as Unit 1 | 2 hours, 80 marks | 25% |
| WBS13 Unit 3: Business decisions and strategy | Source-based questions (40) and two 20-mark essays | 2 hours, 80 marks | 25% |
| WBS14 Unit 4: Global business | Same format as Unit 3 | 2 hours, 80 marks | 25% |
Units 1 and 2 are the International AS. The specification lists January, June and October availability.
AQA A-level Business 7132
| Paper | Format | Length and marks | Share of A-level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Business 1 | 15 multiple choice, short answers (35 marks) and two 25-mark essays | 2 hours, 100 marks | 33.3% |
| Paper 2: Business 2 | Three data response questions of about 33 marks each | 2 hours, 100 marks | 33.3% |
| Paper 3: Business 3 | One case study with about six questions | 2 hours, 100 marks | 33.3% |
Every paper can assess any part of the content. All three are taken in one May/June series.
What earns the top grades
Business mark schemes reward four skills: knowledge, application to the business in the question, analysis and evaluation. Most students know the theory. They lose marks by writing general answers that could apply to any company, when the examiner wants evidence from the case: this firm's figures, its market, its constraints. Every paragraph should mention the business by name and use something from the data.
Calculations are the second area: ratio analysis, break-even, investment appraisal and percentage changes appear on all three boards, and a slip in the arithmetic undermines the analysis that follows. The third is evaluation. Long questions ask what a business should do, and top answers weigh options, state what the decision depends on, and reach a clear recommendation rather than a balanced list.
How one-to-one Business lessons run
Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one, in LiveTutor's online classroom with video and a shared whiteboard. The tutor uses your child's board's papers and case studies: Cambridge 9609 case study papers, Edexcel IAL unit sources, or AQA data response and case study papers. A typical lesson takes one past question, plans the answer together, then reviews an answer your child has written against the mark scheme levels.
Tutors drill the calculations until they are automatic and build an evaluation routine your child can use under time pressure. Current business examples, including Gulf companies and markets, help students show wider awareness in essays.
When to start
- Early Year 12, to learn how to apply theory to cases from the first unit.
- Before AS exams or Edexcel units 1 and 2, for timed source-based practice.
- Year 13, for case-study and strategy papers, where evaluation carries the most marks.
Common questions
Is A-Level Business useful for a business degree?
It gives useful background, but most business and management degrees do not require it. Some competitive courses prefer Maths or Economics; check the specific entry requirements.
Is there coursework in A-Level Business?
Not in Cambridge 9609, Edexcel IAL Business or AQA 7132. All three are assessed entirely by written exams.
How is Business different from Economics?
Business studies how individual firms make decisions about marketing, people, operations and finance. Economics studies markets and whole economies. They overlap in places and can be taken together.
What do A-Level Business lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial, and there is a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Can lessons fit around school in the Gulf?
Yes. Lessons are online, so families book times after school or at weekends, and lessons can be rescheduled 48 hours ahead at no cost.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.