SQA Advanced Higher Business Management specification (X810 77)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your SQA Advanced Higher Business Management 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.
Examiner-written revision resources that improve your grades 2x
- Written by expert teachers and examiners
- Aligned to exam specifications
- Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t
In the next section, you'll find a simplified summary of the official SQA Advanced Higher Business Management 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 SQA Advanced Higher Business Management (X810 77) 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 SQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
The Advanced Higher Business Management course equips learners with a deep understanding of the strategic nature of business and decision-making at senior levels. It aims to develop learners’ analytical, evaluative, and research skills through the study of real business environments, both domestically and globally. The course emphasises independent learning and critical thinking, offering strong preparation for further study or careers in management and enterprise.
Key aims include:
- Enhancing independent learning, critical analysis, and problem-solving skills.
- Applying business and management theories in real-world contexts.
- Evaluating social, ethical, and global influences on organisations.
- Exploring leadership theories, schools of management thought, and strategic change.
- Using analytical and management tools for effective decision-making.
- Preparing learners to participate actively in a dynamic, global business environment.
Subject content breakdown
The External Business Environment
- Globalisation, multinationals, FDI, joint ventures, transfer pricing.
- Impact of MNCs on host/home countries, EU/ASEAN/China trade effects.
- Current issues: business ethics, government policies, technological change.
The Internal Business Environment
- Roles of management (Fayol, Mintzberg).
- Management theories: classical (Taylor, Weber), human relations (Mayo, Herzberg, Maslow, McGregor), contingency.
- Leadership: trait, style, situational (Hersey and Blanchard).
- Teams: Tuckman’s stages, Belbin roles, effective team characteristics.
- Managing change: Lewin’s model, change strategies (top-down, participative, etc.), success factors.
- Workforce diversity: Equality Act, benefits and challenges of diverse teams.
Evaluating Business Information
- Research: methods, referencing, bibliography, footnotes.
- Analytical tools: force field diagrams, Gantt charts, critical path analysis.
- Evaluation of financial and performance data: reports, surveys, statistics.
- Drawing conclusions and making strategic recommendations based on analysis.
Assessment structure
Question Paper
- 80 marks, 2 hours 45 minutes, 67% of total.
- Section 1: 40 marks based on a real-life case study with stimulus materials.
- Section 2: 40 marks from at least four questions sampling all areas of the course.
- Assesses application, analysis, evaluation, and communication of business theories and concepts.
Project
- 40 marks, 33% of total.
- Independent investigation of a live organisation or industry.
- Report includes intro, analysis, conclusions/recommendations, research, and referencing.
- Word count: 2500–3500 words, excluding footnotes, appendices, and bibliography.
- Conducted with limited supervision and externally marked by SQA.
Key tips for success
Doing well in your SQA Advanced Higher Business Management 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.
Share this article