Skills You Need To Demonstrate (Edexcel GCSE Business): Revision Note

Knowledge and Understanding

• This skill involves showing that you know the key business terms, facts and ideas from the course, and that you can recall them accurately when asked

• When a question tests this skill, it does not expect you to explain, analyse or evaluate - it is simply checking whether you remember and understand the basics

What this involves

• Select: choosing the correct answer from a set of options

• Define: writing the meaning of a business term

• Give: providing a short answer that shows you remember something from the specification

• State: writing a simple fact or short sentence, often linked to information in the question

• Identify: picking out the correct piece of information from data, a graph, or a table

Example

• In this response, knowledge has been demonstrated by stating a valid point

State one role of an entrepreneur. [1 mark]

Application

• This skill is about showing that you can take your business knowledge and apply it to a given situation, data or case study

• It involves showing how the knowledge works in practice. This means linking your answer to the context provided in the question (for example, a business, data table, or case study extract)

What this involves

• Calculate: using maths skills to work out an answer from the data given. You must show your workings clearly, even if you use a calculator

• Complete the table: filling in missing values in a table of data by applying the right formula or method

• Outline: giving points about a business concept or issue, and making sure these are connected to the case study or context in the question

Example

• In this response, application has been demonstrated by relating a knowledge point to a business scenario

Outline one way that a business plan could have helped Joe Thwaites when starting Loco. [2 marks]

Analysis and Evaluation

Analysis

• This involves showing that you can break down a business idea, issue or problem into parts, explain them clearly, and show how they connect.

• You are moving beyond recalling knowledge or applying it to context and developing chains of reasoning

What this involves

• Explain: give a clear statement, then add two linked points of expansion that may build on each other or stem from the same fact

• Discuss: write a longer answer where you explore a business concept or issue more fully

• Analyse: develop a chain of reasoning using a given context by expanding and exploring an issue. Your response will show clear cause-and-effect links

Example

• In this response, analysis has been demonstrated by a chain of linked points that build on a valid point

Explain one factor that would be likely to affect the choice of location for a small restaurant. [3 marks]

Evaluation

• This involves showing that you can weigh up different arguments, options or outcomes and reach a justified conclusion.

• You are expected to demonstrate higher-order thinking by recognising both sides, balancing evidence and making a decision that is clearly supported

• You need to demonstrate evaluation in 9-mark and 12-mark responses

What this involves

• Justify: use the information provided in the question to choose between options, and recommend one, explaining why that option is better, using evidence

• Evaluate: give a balanced argument about a business situation, weighing up advantages and disadvantages or short-term vs long-term effects. You should end with a supported conclusion that directly answers the question

Example

• In this response, evaluation has been demonstrated by weighing up the different options and a supported judgement

• This response shows a full-mark answer that demonstrates all skills

In order to improve its brand awareness, That Feeling is considering two options: Option 1: launch its own range of mens grooming products Option 2: open a mens spa in an adjoining empty retail unit Justify which one of these two options That Feeling should choose. [9 marks]