IGCSE Enterprise Topics by Exam Board: Full List

Organising your revision for IGCSE Enterprise can be tricky. You might have notes scattered everywhere, textbooks open at random pages, and a nagging worry that you're missing something important.

You might also be wondering: how do I split my time between the written exam and the coursework, and what exactly am I going to be assessed on?

This article provides a complete, structured list of all the topics you need to know for IGCSE Enterprise. With official, exam-board specific information, you can rest assured that you’re covering the full syllabus based on accurate, up-to-date content.

Key Takeaways

• Cambridge is currently the only exam board offering this course

• The course consists of 10 topics, blending business theory with practical entrepreneurship

• You'll complete both a written paper (Component 1) and coursework (Component 2)

• You can use the topic list to help you revise for both components

Why Topic Lists Matter in IGCSE Enterprise

IGCSE Enterprise combines theoretical knowledge and understanding with a practical enterprise project.

A list of all the topics you need to know can help you to understand what each component assesses. It’s also a great way to track your progress and focus your revision.

Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise (0454) Topics

The 10 topics you need to learn for Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise are listed below.

We’ve also added guidance specific to Component 1 (the written paper), as well as topics that link directly to Component 2 (coursework).

1. Introduction to Enterprise

• What is meant by enterprise

• Ways for students to be enterprising in everyday life

2. Setting Up a New Enterprise

• The enterprise process

  • You’ll follow this process when working on your enterprise project in Component 2

• Types of business organisation

  • You will not be assessed on limited liability partnerships (LLPs) or community interest companies (CICs) in Component 1

3. Enterprise Skills

• Skills of enterprising people

  • You’ll identify and evaluate your own skills during your enterprise project in Component 2

• Behaviours of entrepreneurs

4. Enterprise Opportunities, Risk, Legal Obligations and Ethical Considerations

• Opportunities

• Risk

• Legal obligations

  • You will not be assessed on specific laws in Component 1

• Ethical considerations

5. Negotiation

• The negotiation process

  • You’ll be required to plan and conduct a negotiation as part of your enterprise project in Component 2

6. Finance

• Sources of finance

  • You have the option to prepare financial planning materials for your enterprise project in Component 2

• The concept of trade credit

• Financial terms

  • You’ll need to define and provide examples of terms and make calculations (where appropriate) in Component 1

• Financial records

  • You may need to make simple calculations in relation to the pre-released case study in Component 1

7. Business Planning

• Business objectives

• Action plans

  • You’ll need to produce an action plan for your enterprise project in Component 2

• Business plans

8. Markets and Customers

• The purpose of marketing

• Market research

• Customer retention

• Marketing communications

  • You have the option to produce marketing communications for your enterprise project in Component 2

9. Help and Support for Enterprise

• Sources of help and support

10. Communication

• Types of communication

  • You’ll need to write formal reports for your enterprise project in Component 2

• Meetings and presentations

  • You’ll need to give a presentation as part of your enterprise project in Component 2

For a detailed breakdown of each topic with specific subtopics, check the Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise specification (opens in a new tab).

Other IGCSE Exam Boards

Cambridge is currently the only exam board offering IGCSE Enterprise, so if you’re doing this course, this is your syllabus (opens in a new tab).

The information in this article is based entirely on the Cambridge specification, so you can trust it's accurate for your exams.

How to Use This Topic List to Prepare for the Exam and Project

Turn it Into a Checklist

Print or write out all 10 topics. Incorporate each one into a revision timetable and, once you’ve covered a topic, tick it off. That way, you’ll feel more on top of the content by approaching it strategically.

Match Topics to Their Components

Using the specified guidance above, make a note of which topics apply to both components. Some topics (such as enterprise skills, negotiation and communication) need to be learnt in theory as well as in practice.

Create Your Revision Materials

Revise using a variety of techniques. Making flashcards will help you to revise key terms like ‘franchise’ and ‘crowdfunding’, while mind maps are a great way to show the connections between concepts (such as customer retention and brand loyalty).

Practise Past Papers

Complete past papers (opens in a new tab), ideally under timed conditions, to put your revision into practice. Make a note of which topic each question covers so that you incorporate past paper questions into your revision materials.

Apply Topics to Your Enterprise Project

Your coursework involves four main tasks: choosing a suitable project, planning it, implementing it, and evaluating it.

Refer back to your topic list to help you complete these tasks to a high standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the written exam and the coursework?

Component 1 is a 1.5-hour written paper worth a total of 100 marks. It requires you to demonstrate and apply your enterprise knowledge, comment on issues and solve problems. You’ll need to support your answers with references to a pre-released case study, your own enterprise project, and the subject content.

Component 2 is a coursework project worth a total of 60 marks. It involves presenting a portfolio of evidence based on an enterprise project, which you’ll either do alone or in a group of up to six. You’ll need to use your enterprise skills to plan, run and evaluate your project.

Both components are worth 50% of your final grade.

How is the enterprise project assessed?

Your coursework project is marked on four tasks:

1. Choosing a suitable project (including a formal written report of approximately 1,200 words)

2. Planning the project (including potential problems or issues in the action plan/plans for finance or marketing)

3. Using enterprise skills to implement the plan (using skills from topic 3 in the topic list)

4. Evaluating the project (including a formal written report of approximately 1,500 words)

You can find out more about Component 2 in the official Cambridge syllabus (opens in a new tab).

Are there any set case studies I need to learn?

No. Instead, Cambridge gives you a pre-released case study which is published prior to your exam. This gives you time to read it, analyse it, and prepare.

You can't take notes into the exam, but the case study is reprinted in the question paper as an insert.

Final Thoughts

Knowing exactly which topics you need to cover helps take the stress out of IGCSE Enterprise revision. Work through each topic systematically, making notes and practising past paper questions as you go.

Remember that many topics connect directly to your coursework project. The theory you learn for the exam becomes practical knowledge when you run your own enterprise.

Good luck!

References

• Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise (0454) Past Papers (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise (0454) Syllabus – 2024-2025 (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise (0454) Syllabus – 2026 (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise (0454) Syllabus – 2027 (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge IGCSE Enterprise (0454) Syllabus – 2028 (opens in a new tab)

• Flashcards

• How to Create an IGCSE Revision Timetable

• How to Prepare for IGCSEs: Revision Strategies that Work

• Revision Mind Maps: Your Key to Exam Success

• What is IGCSE Enterprise? Overview for Students (opens in a new tab)