Business & Economics - Key Stage 5
We offer 2 A-Level courses - Business and Economics. More details on both of these courses can be found in our Sixth Form Course Guide.
Business
You may not have studied any business related subjects before, but that does not matter! What is much more important is that you want to know how to succeed in setting up and running a business and how running a business may be affected by the economy.
Both the AS Level course and A Level course are designed to give you an insight into the world of business in a range of contemporary contexts.
LINEAR AS LEVEL
You will study two themes:
- Theme 1 - Marketing and people
- Theme 2 - Managing business activities
LINEAR A LEVEL
You will study four themes. Themes 1 and 2 are the same as those in the AS Level course.
- Theme 3 - Business decisions and strategy
- Theme 4 - Global Business
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
At least a grade 6 in Economics if studied at GCSE or a grade 6 in English Language if the subject has not been studied before. It is also important that you have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in business and economic affairs and a desire to explore new ideas and communicate them effectively.
AQA A Level Economics (7136)
Do you want the skills to solve some of the biggest challenges our country and the world currently face, such as poverty and climate change, and become an expert in subjects that impact on most people, such as employment and house prices? The Economics course is designed to apply economic theory to support analysis some of these current economic problems and issues. AQA have worked closely with teachers and universities to develop engaging and up-to-date content so that you can relate what you are learning to the world around you – locally, nationally and globally.
You will develop the knowledge and skills needed to understand and analyse data, think critically about issues and make informed decisions. You will also build upon your quantitative skills and appreciate that, when evaluating arguments, both qualitative and quantitative evidence are important.
You will study two units over two years.
Individuals, firms, markets and market failure
Economic methodology and the economic problem
Individual economic decision making
Price determination in a competitive market
Production, costs and revenue
Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly
The labour market
The distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality
The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention markets
The national and international economy
The measurement of macroeconomic performance
How the macroeconomy works: the circular flow of income, AD/AS analysis, and related concepts
Economic performance including growth, inflation, employment and trade
Financial markets and monetary policy
Fiscal policy and supply-side policies
The international economy, globalisation, international trade, the European Union, exchange rates
Assessment
Paper 1: Markets and market failure
Two hours examination based on content 1-8 above
Worth 33.3% of A Level course.
Paper 2: National and international economy
Two hours examination based on content 9-14 above
Worth 33.3% of A Level course.
Paper 3: Economic principles and issues
Two hours examination based on content 1-14
Worth 33.3% of A Level course
The Future
Economics is one of the most popular post 18 degrees and opens the door to a wide range of careers such as investment banking, journalism and law. Economics has a very broad application base: economics graduates can easily find jobs in the civil service, the City, industry or education. Salaries for economics graduates are among the highest of any discipline.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
At least a grade 6 in Economics if studied at GCSE or a grade 6 English Language if the subject has not been studied before. It is also important that you have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in business and economic affairs and a desire to explore new ideas and communicate them effectively.