OCR GCSE Business specification (J204)
Understanding the exam specification is key to doing well in your OCR GCSE 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.
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 OCR GCSE 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 GCSE Business (J204) 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 GCSE (9–1) Business qualification from OCR equips learners with the knowledge and skills to understand how business decisions are made and how businesses operate in a dynamic, competitive environment. It develops an appreciation of business concepts, terminology, and the interdependent nature of business functions. Students are encouraged to become critical thinkers with commercial acumen, able to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios and use both qualitative and quantitative data to make informed decisions. The course supports progression to further study and promotes financial and commercial awareness.Subject content breakdown
1. Business activity
- Role and characteristics of enterprise and entrepreneurship
- Purpose and use of business planning
- Features and suitability of different ownership types
- Business aims and objectives, and how they evolve
- Stakeholder roles, influence, and impacts
- Business growth: organic and external
2. Marketing
- Purpose and importance of marketing in business
- Market research methods and data interpretation
- Market segmentation by characteristics
- The marketing mix (4Ps) including product life cycle and integration of the mix
3. People
- Purpose and functions of human resources
- Organisational structures, communication, and ways of working
- Recruitment, selection, motivation, and retention strategies
- Training, development, and employment law
4. Operations
- Production processes and impact of technology
- Quality control and assurance
- Customer service and the sales process, including e-commerce
- Consumer law and business reputation
- Factors influencing business location
- Procurement, logistics, and supplier relationships
5. Finance
- Role and influence of the finance function
- Sources of finance for new and established businesses
- Costs, revenue, profit, and profitability calculations
- Break-even analysis and its usefulness
- Importance of cash flow and forecasting
6. Influences on business
- Ethical and environmental impacts on business decisions
- The economic climate: income and employment
- Globalisation and its effects on location, branding, and competition
7. The interdependent nature of business
- How operations, finance, marketing and HR link in decision making
- Use of financial information in performance and decision analysis
- Risk and reward considerations in business activity
Assessment structure
Business 1: business activity, marketing and people (01)
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 50% of total GCSE
- Section A: multiple choice (15 marks)
- Section B: short, medium and extended response using real business contexts (65 marks)
Business 2: operations, finance and influences on business (02)
- 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 50% of total GCSE
- Section A: multiple choice (15 marks)
- Section B: short, medium and extended response using real business contexts (65 marks)
- Includes synoptic questions drawing on full course content
Key tips for success
Doing well in your OCR GCSE 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.
Share this article