GCE A/L Business Studies study plan

Construct a trial balance from a list of ledger balances and identify the effect of each common error type on it

Prepare an income statement and statement of financial position from a given trial balance for a sole trader

Compute and interpret at least six ratios covering profitability, liquidity and gearing, and explain what each reveals

Distinguish between cash flow and profit by reconciling the two for a simple scenario

Explain the purpose and limitations of ratio analysis when comparing firms of different sizes and industries

Evaluate two investment appraisal methods (payback and average rate of return) on the same project data and justify a recommendation

Explain sources of finance, distinguishing internal from external and short-term from long-term, and match each to a stated business need

Define market segmentation, targeting and positioning and apply them to a named product

Interpret a break-even chart and calculate break-even output, margin of safety and the effect of a price change

Assess how pricing decisions interact with break-even and cash flow constraints

Conduct and write up a mini market research exercise using both primary and secondary data, noting the limitations of each

Construct a marketing mix (4Ps) for a specific product and justify each element

Explain the product life cycle and recommend an extension strategy for a product at maturity

Distinguish niche from mass marketing and evaluate the risks of each for a small firm

Analyse how branding and customer loyalty affect pricing power and demand elasticity

Compare job, batch and flow production and recommend one for a stated output volume and product type

Explain lean production techniques including just-in-time, kaizen and cell production, and state one risk of each

Calculate and interpret labour productivity and capacity utilisation from given figures

Analyse how economies and diseconomies of scale affect unit cost as a firm grows

Explain how external factors (interest rates, exchange rates, regulation, technology) change a firm's cost structure or competitiveness

Distinguish the main recruitment and selection methods and justify a choice for a specified role

Explain motivational theories (at least two) and apply each to a workplace scenario

Describe the main forms of business ownership and evaluate liability, control and finance implications for a start-up

Assess the role of an entrepreneur and the contents of a business plan

Explain how training, appraisal and staff turnover link to productivity and costs

Distinguish aims, objectives, mission and strategy and show how they cascade in one firm

Identify stakeholder groups and analyse a conflict of interest between at least two of them

Explain the difference between limited and unlimited liability with the legal consequences for owners and creditors

Outline the main consumer protection and employment law principles relevant to business decisions

Evaluate an ethical dilemma in business using a structured framework rather than opinion alone

Apply a SWOT analysis and a simple Ansoff matrix to a named firm and justify one strategic option

Explain why businesses resist change and evaluate two methods of managing change

Assess the role of management information systems in decision-making and the risks of poor data quality

Compare communication channels and identify barriers to effective communication in a business context

Explain how e-commerce and digital tools affect cost, reach and competitive advantage

Complete two full timed past-paper-style sessions under exam conditions and mark them against a mark scheme

Identify the three weakest domains from those results and rewrite the relevant notes into condensed revision cards

Practise structuring extended answers with definition, application, analysis and evaluation paragraphs

Recite key definitions and formulas from memory for all ten domains in a self-test

Build a final one-page formula and definitions sheet to use in the last 48 hours before the exam