A Level Business

Whatever your career path, it is likely you will work for and manage within a business in the future.

The business world is constantly changing and evolving as economic, technological, political and environmental developments alter the commercial landscape. Studying Business will provide you with an understanding of how businesses, large and small, can successfully deal with these challenges.

About the course

As a result of the changing global climate brought on by Brexit and the pandemic, businesses have been required to adapt in a variety of ways. Studying Business will provide you with an understanding of how businesses, large and small, can successfully deal with these challenges.

Amongst the issues you will consider are: how might the way people work change because of working from home for so long? Is a recession always damaging for business? Are emerging economies an opportunity or threat to businesses based in developed economies? You will learn through case studies, research assignments, class discussions and group activities.

Opportunities unique to this course

Students research real businesses rather than taking a purely theoretical approach. Small groups will have a marketing challenge where they will create a marketing campaign for an actual entrepreneur, which reflects the challenges of business.

Theme 1: Marketing and people

How businesses get started, communicate about their products via marketing, and recruit, train and motivate people.

Theme 2: Managing business activities

How businesses raise finance, monitor financial performance and ensure efficient operations.

Theme 3: Business decisions and strategy

How businesses analyse the environment around them and implement strategic decisions.

Theme 4: Global business

How and why businesses operate internationally in today’s globalised world.

Consists of three written exams lasting 2 hours each:

Paper 1: Marketing, people and global business (35%)

Paper 2: Business activities, decisions and strategy (35%)

Paper 3: Investigating business in a competitive environment (30%)

You need to be qualified by both the 1) relevant admissions score AND 2) for the subjects you are applying for:

1. Admissions scores

The indicative Minimum entry admissions score for ​Business is 58*

Calculate your admissions score at www.hillsroad.ac.uk/calculator

Read more about our admissions scores by visiting www.hillsroad.ac.uk/apply

2. Subjects and grades required

GCSE grade 6 in English Language or 6 in English Literature, and grade 4 in Mathematics

Before making your application, visit www.hillsroad.ac.uk/apply and give yourself the best chance of achieving our entry criteria.

*The admissions scores are an indicative guide to help applicants understand how places have previously been allocated, they should not be taken as a definitive prediction of equivalent scores for entry to the College in 2023, which will depend on application patterns for that year. Please submit your application to the College even if your score is a few points below the relevant admissions score.

Many Business students go on to take Business at university and an increasing number enjoy modern apprenticeships in Business Management or Marketing. Other students choose to go onto further education to study international relations, logistics or supply chain management.

For more information and to read the FAQs for this subject visit www.hillsroad.ac.uk/business