EXAM TECHNIQUE: Flashcards
what does paper 1 assess?
-theme 1 & 4
-100 marks
-35% of the qualification total
how many sections of paper 1?
2 sections
section A of paper 1:
-two 4-mark explain or calculate questions
-one 10-mark assess question
-one 12-mark assess question
-one 20-mark evaluate question
extra information about paper 1 section A:
based on a series of unseen extracts, which provide data and information on one or more local, national or global contexts
(section A tends to have a local context)
section B of paper 1:
-two 4-mark explain or calculate questions
-one 10-mark assess question
-one 12-mark assess question
-one 20-mark evaluate question
extra information about paper 1 section B:
all questions are based on a series of unseen extracts, which provide data and information on one or more local, national or global contexts
(section B tends to have a national or global focus)
what does paper 2 assess?
-theme 2 & 3
-100 marks
-35% of the qualification total
how many sections of paper 2?
2: section A and B
section A of paper 2:
-two 4-mark explain or calculate questions
-one 10-mark assess question
-one 12-mark assess question
-one 20-mark evaluate question
section B of paper 2:
-two 4-mark explain or calculate questions
-one 10-mark assess question
-one 12-mark assess question
-one 20-mark evaluate question
paper 3 pre-release:
-focuses on a broad context, such as an industry or market in which businesses operate
-purpose is to let you to do independent learning and research & become familiar with current business issues and trends
TIPS: how to use the prerelease
review past papers and prior pre-release materials
→ consider how the questions asked have been related to the research topic
→ review the origin, nature and range of new sources introduced in the exam
→ try re-phrasing questions to apply to the current research topic
compare the bullet points to the specification
→ do they suggest topic areas that may be covered in exam questions?
use online news sources and reputable data sources to gather information on market trends
→ market size, market growth and market share of key businesses
→ key recent developments that have appeared in the news
→ look at relevant sources used in previous exam papers
→ find opinion pieces on the reasons, implications and benefits/drawbacks of market changes
→ industry data from organisations that represent workers, businesses or investors in the industry
→ find out about HR and operations strategies, lots can be discovered from the recruitment section of company websites, including job profiles
organise your preparation
→ try to summarise your findings into easy-to-manage notes that you can revise before the exam
→ highlighting to draw attention to research points you’d like to be able to quote directly in the exam
→ mind-maps, flash cards or other visual techniques to commit key research items to memory
what does paper 3 assess?
-focused on all four themes studied throughout the course
-100 marks
-30% of the qualification total
-made up of two sections
section A of paper 3:
further unseen quantitative and qualitative stimulus materials related to the industry or market’s broad context are provided at the start of Section A
questions in section A of paper 3:
one 8-mark assess question
one 10-mark assess question
one 12-mark assess question
one 20-mark evaluate question
section B of paper 3:
further unseen quantitative and qualitative stimulus materials related to at least one strand within the context provided, such as a particular business
questions in section B of paper 3:
one 8-mark assess question
one 10-mark assess question
one 12-mark assess question
one 20-mark evaluate question
skills you need to demonstrate in responses:
-knowledge
-application
-analysis
-evaluation
skills you need to demonstrate in responses: knowledge
-understanding key business terms, concepts, formulas, theories, methods and models
-making relevant points, such as stating a feature, benefit, drawback or implication
skills you need to demonstrate in responses: application
-using key business formulas in an appropriate context
-the use of market data or business information from stimulus material to support a point
skills you need to demonstrate in responses: analysis
-developing logical chains of reasoning, showing cause and effect, impacts and outcomes
-the best analysis considers consequences and impacts for individuals and organisations of external and internal influences
skills you need to demonstrate in responses: evaluation
-showing judgement, weighing up the relative importance of factors, comparing points of view or recommending a course of action
-needs to be balanced, which requires both sides of an argument to be considered in context
4 mark question: calculate
(appear in papers 1 and 2 only)
one mark is available for knowledge - formula
three marks available for application
4 mark question: explain
-one mark is available for knowledge
-two marks for application (information from the case study applied to the question)
-further mark is available for analysis
