AQA AS Business specification (7131)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your AQA AS 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 AQA AS 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 AQA AS Business (7131) 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 AQA specification PDF.
Specification overview
This AS Business course introduces students to the key concepts and practices of business in a range of contexts, from small enterprises to large global firms. It explores the interdependent nature of business activities including marketing, operations, finance, and human resources. The specification focuses on developing decision-making, problem-solving, and critical analysis skills through real-world case studies and data interpretation. Students gain an appreciation of contemporary business challenges including globalisation, digital transformation, and ethical considerations:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.Subject content breakdown
3.1 What is business?
- Purpose and objectives: profit, growth, survival, ethical aims
- Types of business: sole traders, PLCs, non-profits, social enterprises
- Shareholders and business forms: liability, dividends, share prices
- External influences: competition, incomes, interest rates, demographics
3.2 Managers, leadership and decision making
- Leadership styles: autocratic, democratic, paternalistic, laissez-faire
- Management theories: Tannenbaum-Schmidt continuum
- Decision making: scientific vs intuitive, use of decision trees
- Stakeholders: mapping, managing relationships and conflicts
3.3 Marketing management
- Marketing objectives: sales, growth, market share, loyalty
- Market research: primary/secondary, sampling, interpreting data
- Elasticity: price and income elasticity of demand
- Segmentation, targeting, positioning: demographic, behavioural, market mapping
- Marketing mix (7Ps): product, price, place, promotion, people, process, physical evidence
3.4 Operational management
- Objectives: cost, quality, flexibility, environmental targets
- Operational data: labour productivity, capacity, unit costs
- Improving efficiency: lean production, JIT, resource mix, technology
- Quality: assurance vs control, impact of poor quality
- Inventory and supply chain: lead time, re-order levels, supplier management
3.5 Financial management
- Objectives: return on investment, revenue, cash flow
- Financial analysis: budgeting, break-even, profit margins, timing of flows
- Sources of finance: loans, share capital, venture capital, crowdfunding
- Improving cash flow and profitability: strategies and difficulties
3.6 Human resource management
- HR objectives: engagement, training, diversity, staffing
- Performance metrics: turnover, labour costs, productivity
- Organisational design: structures, authority, centralisation
- Motivation: financial (pay, bonuses), non-financial (empowerment, teamwork)
- Employee relations: trade unions, communication, consultation
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Business 1
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 80 marks, 50% of AS
- Section A: 10 multiple choice questions
- Section B: short answer questions (approx. 20 marks)
- Section C: two data response questions (approx. 25 marks each)
Paper 2: Business 2
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 80 marks, 50% of AS
- One compulsory case study with approx. 7 questions
Assessment Objectives
- AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of terms and models
- AO2: Apply knowledge to business contexts
- AO3: Analyse business issues and influences
- AO4: Evaluate evidence to make judgements and propose solutions
Quantitative Skills
- At least 10% of marks assess quantitative skills
- Includes ratios, percentages, elasticity, break-even, and interpreting data:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Key tips for success
Doing well in your AQA AS 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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