Pre-16 Options - IGCSE Business Studies

IGCSE Business Studies

IGCSE Business Studies is a modern, dynamic and fascinating course which helps you develop your critical understanding of organisations and the markets they serve. The subject allows you to closely examine the inner workings of a firm and the day-to-day decision-making that occurs in a fast-changing business environment.

You will study business behaviour from the perspective of different stakeholders including managers, shareholders, employees and customers. You also explore the economic, environmental, ethical, legal, social and technological influences on business activity. Some of the key topics you will cover include: business ownership, human resource management, marketing, production and accounts. This will be achieved through a variety of teaching methods, including business simulations, investigating case studies and debate. There will be further opportunities both inside and outside class to develop key business-related skills through a range of internal and external competitions.

This IGCSE course is an excellent foundation for the IB Business and Management or the BTEC International Level 3 in Business course at Post-16.

Syllabus

The syllabus is split into six main units:

Understanding Business Activity
People in Business
Marketing

Operations Management
Financial Information and Decision Making
External Influences on Business Activity

Course Objectives

You will gain experience of what running a business involves, from starting up and expanding to avoiding closure and everything in between.
You will use your problem-solving skills to find solutions to common business problems that real-life businesses find themselves in.
You will apply your Maths and English skills through calculation questions and short essay writing.

Assessment

Paper 1: Short answers and structured data responses (1 hour 30 minutes) - 50% of final marks.
Paper 2: Four questions based on a case study (1 hour 30 minutes) - 50% of final marks.

Post-16 Pathways

BTEC Business: This is a pathway for students who wish to take a more practical and vocational approach to learning. Aside from gaining practical understanding of key theory relating to finance, operations and human resources, students have the opportunity to take part in engaging and interactive projects such as developing their own marketing campaign, pitching for a new business idea, managing an event, planning team-building exercises and planning their own career. The course is linked to real life businesses and is tailored to be relevant to both the local and global context that West Island students live in. Students will develop a broad and balanced range of key employability skills and apply these to real-life business activities.

IB Business Management: This is a concept-based course whereby the main theory is underpinned by the overarching issues of change, culture, ethics, globalisation, innovation and strategy. All theory is examined through the lens of current affairs and recent business examples, both locally and globally. The course is assessed through two external examinations and coursework and the content is designed to complement and expand on, rather than repeat the content of GCSE courses.

Enquiries

For further information, please see Mr Joe Ellis-Rolfe (joe.ellis-rolfe@wis.edu.hk), Head of Business.

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