At a glance
- Current guide
- First assessed May 2024
- Paper 1
- Pre-released case study context, 30 marks
- Paper 2
- Quantitative focus, SL 40 marks, HL 50 marks
- HL Paper 3
- Social enterprise, 25 marks
- IA
- Business research project, max 1,800 words
IB Business Management assessment
| Component | SL | HL | What it involves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 1 h 30 min, 30 marks, 35% | 1 h 30 min, 30 marks, 25% | Structured and extended questions on an unseen case study; the context is released about three months before |
| Paper 2 | 1 h 30 min, 40 marks, 35% | 1 h 45 min, 50 marks, 30% | Structured and extended questions on unseen stimulus material with a quantitative focus |
| Paper 3 (HL only) | Not taken | 1 h 15 min, 25 marks, 25% | One compulsory question on a social enterprise |
| Business research project (IA) | Up to 1,800 words, 25 marks, 30% | Up to 1,800 words, 25 marks, 20% | A real business issue in a real organisation, explored through a key concept |
The four key concepts are change, creativity, ethics and sustainability. The research project is marked by the teacher and moderated by the IB.
What students study
The five units run from business structures and stakeholders to recruitment and motivation, finance (cash flow, final accounts, ratio analysis, investment appraisal), marketing strategy and operations. HL adds extension topics in each unit, such as further finance, organisational culture and more operational tools, which also appear in the HL papers.
The course rewards applying tools, such as SWOT, STEEPLE, the Ansoff matrix, decision trees, break-even and ratios, to a specific organisation, not reciting them. Paper 2 and the finance unit mean students need confidence with numbers, which surprises some who chose the subject expecting only essays.
Where marks are lost
- Generic answers in Paper 1. Every point should refer to the case organisation by name and to details in the case.
- Finance errors. Cash flow forecasts, ratios and investment appraisal calculations need careful layout and correct formulas.
- Theory without judgement. Extended questions ask for a justified decision; balanced lists with no conclusion score low.
- Not preparing the pre-release. Students who research the industry and context in advance read the case faster and write sharper answers.
- An IA with a weak research question or thin sources. The project needs a real issue, a clear key concept, and enough supporting documents to analyse.
How one-to-one Business lessons work
A tutor who teaches IB Business Management works through a short case in most lessons: the student applies a tool, writes a timed answer, and the tutor marks it against the markscheme and shows where the answer drifted from the case. Finance gets regular, separate practice on the shared whiteboard until the calculations are reliable.
When the Paper 1 pre-release arrives, lessons focus on understanding the context and predicting the likely issues. For the research project, the tutor helps the student choose an organisation and an issue with accessible information, and gives feedback on structure and analysis, while the writing remains the student's own.
Local businesses work well for the IA
A family business, a local franchise or a regional company can make a strong research project if the student can get real documents and data. Start the search early in DP1.
Common questions
Is IB Business Management HL much harder than SL?
HL adds extension topics, a longer Paper 2 and Paper 3 on a social enterprise. The extra time is the main burden; the style of question is similar.
What is the pre-released statement for Paper 1?
The IB releases the context and background of the Paper 1 case study about three months before the exam. The full case is unseen until exam day.
How long is the Business Management IA?
Up to 1,800 words, at both SL and HL. It is a research project on a real business issue in a real organisation, using one of the key concepts, worth 30% at SL and 20% at HL.
Does Business Management need maths?
Yes, at a practical level: percentages, ratios, cash flow, break-even and investment appraisal. Students do not need advanced maths, but careless arithmetic costs marks.
How much do IB Business Management lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same flat rate for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one and online, and the first lesson is a free trial.
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.