WJEC A Level Business specification (1510)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your WJEC 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 WJEC 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 WJEC A Level Business (1510) 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 WJEC specification PDF.
Specification overview
The WJEC A Level in Business introduces learners to the dynamic and strategic nature of business. It fosters enthusiasm, critical understanding, and analytical thinking through exploration of real business issues and contexts. The qualification develops learners’ ability to assess opportunities and challenges facing businesses of all sizes, with particular attention to entrepreneurship, ethical considerations, and the changing global landscape. It prepares students for further education and employment by equipping them with decision-making, problem-solving, and numerical skills, while encouraging an awareness of the Welsh business environment:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
Unit 1: Business Opportunities
- Enterprise and entrepreneurs
- Business plans and sources of guidance
- Types of markets and market segmentation
- Market research methods and sampling
- Business structures (private/public/not-for-profit)
- Business location and finance
- Revenue, costs, break-even, contribution
Unit 2: Business Functions
- Marketing mix (4Ps), digital marketing, Boston Matrix, product life cycle
- Financial planning, budgeting, income statements, profitability ratios
- Human resources: recruitment, training, motivation, leadership, employer relations
- Operations: production methods, productivity, capacity utilisation, lean production, stock control, quality assurance
- R&D, innovation, economies of scale
Unit 3: Business Analysis and Strategy
- Data and market analysis (including elasticity)
- Sales forecasting, moving averages, time series
- Financial analysis: budgets, variances, ratio analysis, accounts
- Business objectives, strategy, SWOT, Ansoff Matrix, Porter’s Five Forces
- Growth methods (organic/external), franchising, outsourcing, rationalisation
- Decision-making models: decision trees, CPA, cost-benefit analysis
- Investment appraisal (ARR, payback, NPV)
- Special orders
Unit 4: Business in a Changing World
- Causes, effects and management of change
- Risk management and contingency planning
- PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological)
- Legal, ethical and environmental factors
- International trade, globalisation, multinationals
- European Union and impacts on UK business:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Assessment structure
Unit 1: Business Opportunities
- 1 hr 15 mins written exam
- 60 marks, 15% of A level
- Short and structured questions
Unit 2: Business Functions
- 2 hr written exam
- 80 marks, 25% of A level
- Data response questions
Unit 3: Business Analysis and Strategy
- 2 hr 15 mins written exam
- 80 marks, 30% of A level
- Data response plus structured questions
Unit 4: Business in a Changing World
- 2 hr 15 mins written exam
- 80 marks, 30% of A level
- Case study and one essay from a choice of three
Assessment Objectives
- AO1 (26%): Knowledge and understanding of concepts and responses
- AO2 (26%): Application in real-world business contexts
- AO3 (24%): Analysis of internal and external influences
- AO4 (24%): Evaluation using quantitative and qualitative data
Quantitative Skills
- At least 10% of marks include Level 2 maths
- Covers ratios, percentages, break-even, elasticity, investment appraisal, graphs and data interpretation:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your WJEC 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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