OCR AS Business specification (H031)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your OCR 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 OCR 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 OCR AS Business (H031) 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 OCR specification PDF.
Specification overview
This AS Business qualification (OCR H031) provides learners with a broad, coherent, and practical insight into the operations of businesses in contemporary settings. It promotes analytical and evaluative thinking, problem-solving, and awareness of ethical and strategic considerations in business. The course equips students with relevant skills to support academic progression or career preparation and encourages the use of real-world contexts tSubject content breakdown
Introduction to Business
- Enterprise, entrepreneurs, and factors of production
- Business sectors: primary, secondary, tertiary; local/national/global markets
- Legal structures: sole traders, partnerships, companies
- Business size and functions: marketing, operations, finance
Business Objectives and Strategy
- Organisational aims and SMART objectives
- Stakeholders: interests, conflicts, influence
- Business plans and risk/uncertainty
- Measures of performance: financial and non-financial
External Influences
- Markets: size, share, structure, competition
- Demand and supply; market equilibrium
- Globalisation: trade, branding, multinationals
- Political, economic, social, technological, ethical, legal, and environmental factors
Accounting and Finance
- Sources of finance: internal and external
- Management accounting: costs, revenue, profit
- Break-even analysis; investment appraisal
- Budgeting and variances
- Cash-flow and working capital
- Financial accounting: income statements, statements of financial position, ratio analysis
Human Resource Management
- Organisation structure and design
- Recruitment, selection, and training methods
- Workforce performance and appraisal
- Redundancy, dismissal, and grievance procedures
- Management and leadership theory
- Motivation: theories and application
Employer/Employee Relations
- Legislation and employee participation
- Trade unions and changing employment relations
Marketing
- Marketing resources and SWOT
- Customer and consumer needs; market research and segmentation
- Marketing strategy: product, price, place, promotion
- Elasticities and branding
Operations and Productivity
- Production methods: job, batch, flow, cell
- Customer service in service provision
- Productivity, capacity utilisation and management
- Added value, economies/diseconomies of scale
- Stock control methods
- Lean production, quality control and assurance
- External quality standards and benchmarking
Assessment structure
The Local Business Environment (Component 01)
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Section A: Multiple-choice (15 marks)
- Section B: Data response based on a Resource Booklet (45 marks)
- Covers any topic; typically focuses on local or SME contexts
- Worth 50% of AS Level
The Wider Business Environment (Component 02)
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Section A: Short answer questions (20 marks)
- Section B: Extended response questions based on a Resource Booklet (40 marks)
- Covers any topic; broader national/international context
- Worth 50% of AS Level
Assessment Approach
- All exams externally assessed
- Synoptic assessment across both components
- Quantitative skills integrated (minimum 10% of total marks)
- Real-world business scenarios used in stimulus materials
- Focus on application, analysis, and evaluation of business decisions
Key tips for success
Doing well in your OCR 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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