Edexcel AS Business specification (8BS0)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your Edexcel 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 Edexcel 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 Edexcel AS Business (8BS0) 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
This AS Business qualification enables students to develop a broad understanding of how businesses operate through the study of core business concepts and application to a range of contexts. It aims to foster critical thinking and an enquiring approach to business, helping students explore how individuals and organisations respond to business challenges. The course supports progression to further study and provides a foundation for careers in business-related fields. It develops analytical and quantitative skills alongside awareness of ethical considerations and entrepreneurial creativity.Subject content breakdown
1. Theme 1: Marketing and People
- Understanding mass vs niche markets, market size/share, competition and change
- Conducting and evaluating primary/secondary market research; using ICT in research
- Market mapping, differentiation, value addition
- Influences on demand and supply; interpreting supply & demand diagrams
- Calculating and interpreting price/income elasticity of demand
- Design mix: function, aesthetics, cost; social trends in product design
- Branding: benefits, types, strategies, social media, trends
- Pricing strategies: skimming, penetration, psychological, competitive etc.
- Channels of distribution; online distribution trends
- Marketing strategy: product life cycle, Boston Matrix, consumer loyalty
- Approaches to staffing, flexible work, employer relations
- Recruitment: internal vs external, costs, training types
- Organisational structure: hierarchy, span of control, types
- Motivation theories: Taylor, Mayo, Maslow, Herzberg; financial/non-financial incentives
- Leadership styles: autocratic, paternalistic, democratic, laissez-faire
- Entrepreneurial roles, motives, characteristics and barriers
- Business objectives: profit, market share, efficiency, ethics
- Business forms: sole trader, partnership, ltd companies, franchising
- Opportunity cost, trade-offs, transitioning from entrepreneur to leader
2. Theme 2: Managing Business Activities
- Sources and methods of internal and external finance
- Planning with business plans and cash flow forecasts
- Sales forecasting: purpose, influences, limitations
- Sales, revenue and costs; break-even analysis
- Budgeting: purpose, types, variance analysis
- Profit: calculating gross/operating/net profit and interpreting margins
- Liquidity: interpreting balance sheets, working capital, cash importance
- Causes of business failure: financial and non-financial
- Production methods: job, batch, flow, cell; productivity and efficiency
- Capacity utilisation: calculation, implications, improvements
- Stock control: buffer stock, JIT, lean production
- Quality management: control, assurance, TQM, Kaizen
- Economic influences: inflation, interest rates, tax, exchange rates, cycles
- Legislation: consumer, employee, environment, health & safety
- Competitive environment: market size and competition
Assessment structure
Paper 1: Marketing and People
- Covers Theme 1 content with a Section C linking to Theme 2
- Includes 3 sections: A and B contain data response questions; C is an extended open-response
- Questions are drawn from local, national and global contexts
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks
- Worth 50% of total AS qualification
Paper 2: Managing Business Activities
- Covers Theme 2 content with a Section C linking to Theme 1
- Includes 3 sections: A and B contain data response questions; C is an extended open-response
- Questions are drawn from local, national and global contexts
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks
- Worth 50% of total AS qualification
Key tips for success
Doing well in your Edexcel 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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