AQA GCE Specification 2007 - Littleover Community School

Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced, 2007 examination - Business Studies9.3 Introduction The Subject Content set out below incorporates that of the QCAAS/A Subject Criteria for Business Studies in full.In order that candidates gain a well-rounded understanding ofBusiness Studies, it is essential that each section of knowledge andunderstanding is part of both the AS and A Level specification.However, the A Level specification will further develop higher levelskills and extend beyond the AS in terms of breadth and depth ofknowledge and understanding.The Subject Content is presented in six main teaching and learningmodules, three in the AS and three in the A2. Candidates must coverboth the AS and A2 material if they are studying for the full A Levelqualification.In the Subject Content, the knowledge and understanding is set out ina two-column format. The essential knowledge and understanding isset out on the left-hand side of the page together with a commentaryon the right-hand side of each section indicating the breadth and/ordepth of treatment which is expected. There is no implied hierarchy inthe order in which the essential knowledge and understanding ispresented, nor should the length of the various sections be taken toimply any view of their relative importance. The amount of guidancegiven is dependent on the nature of the topic and holds noimplication for the depth or breadth, or for the amount of teachingtime required.The AS is a sub-set of the A Level with the distinctions between whatis required for the AS and the A Level clearly identified. Knowledgeand understanding for the AS is built on by extension material withinthe A2.The use, preparation and interpretation of business data are inherentthroughout the Subject Content. Candidates should be able tounderstand and apply the mean, median and mode; prepare andinterpret tables, graphs, histograms, bar charts and pie charts; usesimple indexing and moving averages.Good communication is fundamental to the subject. Candidatesshould be able to select when to write in a concise report format andwhen to use extended prose. Written analysis should show a criticalunderstanding of businesses and the environment within which theywork, leading to evaluation and informed judgements orrecommendations.Candidates should, where appropriate, make use of InformationTechnology throughout their study of this specification, using it as atool to aid their understanding of the Subject Content.klm 15