Edexcel A Level Business specification (9BS0)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your Edexcel A Level Business exam. It lays out exactly what you need to learn, how you'll be assessed, and what skills the examiners seek. Whether you're working through the course for the first time or revising for your final exams, the specification helps you stay focused and confident in your preparation.
We've included helpful revision tools to support you in putting the specification into practice. Wherever you're starting from, you'll find everything you need to feel prepared, from the official specification to high-quality resources designed to help you succeed.
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In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official Edexcel A Level Business specification, along with a breakdown of key topics, assessment structure, and useful study resources. We've also included links to topic-level guides and revision tools to help you put the specification into practice.
Contents
Disclaimer
This page includes a summary of the official Edexcel A Level Business (9BS0) specification, provided to support your revision. While we've made every effort to ensure accuracy, Save My Exams is not affiliated with the awarding body.
For the most complete and up-to-date information, we strongly recommend consulting the official Edexcel specification PDF.
Specification overview
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Business is designed to help students develop a comprehensive understanding of how businesses operate in local, national and global contexts. The qualification aims to build an enthusiasm for studying business and to equip learners with a broad and strategic view of commercial environments. Students are encouraged to analyse and evaluate business issues critically, exploring ethical dilemmas and generating creative solutions. This A Level fosters key transferable skills including decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking and numerical analysis, helping learners prepare for higher education and careers in fields such as management, marketing, finance and international business.Subject content breakdown
Theme 1: Marketing and People
- Meeting customer needs, market research, market positioning
- Demand, supply, price and income elasticity
- Product design, branding, pricing, distribution, marketing strategy
- Staff recruitment, training, motivation and leadership
- Entrepreneurial roles, motives, objectives, business forms, decision-making
Theme 2: Managing Business Activities
- Internal and external finance, business planning
- Sales forecasting, costs, break-even, budgeting
- Profit, liquidity, financial documents, business failure
- Production methods, capacity utilisation, stock control, quality
- Economic influences, legislation, competitive environment
Theme 3: Business Decisions and Strategy
- Corporate objectives and strategy, SWOT, PESTLE, competitive environment
- Business growth, mergers, organic/inorganic growth, staying small
- Decision-making tools: sales forecasting, investment appraisal, decision trees, CPA
- Influences: corporate culture, stakeholders, ethics
- Competitiveness through financial analysis and HR data
- Managing change and scenario planning
Theme 4: Global Business
- Globalisation, trade, protectionism, trading blocs
- Conditions for trade, production location, global mergers, competitiveness
- Global marketing strategies, niche markets, cultural factors
- Multinational impacts on local/national economies, ethics and control
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Marketing, People and Global Businesses
- Covers Themes 1 and 4
- Two sections with data response and extended open-response questions
- 2 hours, 100 marks
- 35% of qualification
Paper 2: Business Activities, Decisions and Strategy
- Covers Themes 2 and 3
- Two sections with data response and extended open-response questions
- 2 hours, 100 marks
- 35% of qualification
Paper 3: Investigating Business in a Competitive Environment
- Synoptic assessment from all four themes
- Context released in November prior to exam
- Two sections based on pre-released and unseen materials
- 2 hours, 100 marks
- 30% of qualification
Key tips for success
Doing well in your Edexcel A Level Business isn't just about how much you study, but how you study. Here are a few proven tips to help you stay on track
- Start with a clear plan: Break the subject into topics and create a revision schedule that allows enough time for each. Start early to avoid last-minute stress.
- Focus on understanding, not memorising: Use our revision notes to build a strong foundation in each topic, making sure you actually understand the material.
- Practise regularly: Attempt past papers to familiarise yourself with the exam format and timing. Mark your answers to see how close you are to full marks.
- Be strategic with your revision: Use exam questions by topic to focus on weaker areas, and flashcards to reinforce important facts and terminology.
- Learn from mistakes: Whether it's from mock exams or practice questions, spend time reviewing what went wrong and why. This helps prevent repeat mistakes in the real exam.
- Stay balanced: Don't forget to take regular breaks, eat well, and get enough sleep, a healthy routine makes revision much more effective.
With the right approach and consistent practice, you'll build confidence and improve your chances of exam success.
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