Edexcel GCSE Business (2017) | Pearson qualifications

Pearson Edexcel GCSEs Business (2017)

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April 2023 Business update

Subject update | Wed Apr 05 13:45:00 UTC 2023

Welcome to this April update!

In this month's update you are invited to join our team of examiners, and, for the first time, we are inviting NQTs to apply.

Ofqual has produced a Student Guide which you may wish to share with your learners.

There are no Igniting Enterprise webinars this month but we do have two in May (both advertised below) and the Be The Future social enterprise challenge is now up and running with a deadline in June.  

We are continuing to produce weekly case studies for both GCSE and A level, and these have been catalogued below.  There are also five Igniting Enterprise webinars available to use with your learners.

Read more

In this month's update:

Regular features:
PJF May 4 2023

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PJF May 18 2023

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Key dates
Date Activity
4 May Igniting Enterprise - Curtis Thompson
18 May Igniting Enterprise - Josh Wintersgill
25 April   GCSE network: preparing students for exams
17 August   Results Day for A level and IAL
24 August   Results Day for GCSE and International GCSE

 

 
Business AA recruitment

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Examiner vacancies for Business

 

 

 

We are currently recruiting Associates for GCSE and A level Business, and we are looking for experienced teachers and teachers who are completing their initial training years as newly qualified teachers.

Associates are teachers we contract and pay to mark or moderate Pearson qualifications. By working as an Associate on a qualification, it provides teachers with a deeper insight into the requirements of the specification, which can allow them to provide more knowledgeable support to both colleagues and learners.

In addition, the Associate roles provides an excellent personal development opportunity, with regular training events, networking with different teachers, and the chance to progress to more senior Associate roles, which allows a deeper understanding of the wider qualification development processes.

If any teachers at your centre are interested in working as an Associate on the qualifications below, they can apply using the links in the tables, depending on their personal circumstance.

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2023_BTF

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Be The Future is a social enterprise challenge that addresses a social or environmental issue. The challenge is run in partnership with the Peter Jones Foundation.  The closing date is 9 June 2023.

Find out more about the 2023 Be The Future Challenge

Meet the 2022 winners

Circular economy [GCSE 2.1.4; A level 1.3.1]

A ‘circular economy’ is one in which products continue to be reused, refurbished and broken down so that parts and materials are used for as long as possible.

Download a lesson on the circular economy.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Be The Future challenge links to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These activities provide a starting point to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and the interconnected nature of our world.

Download teaching resources for the SDGs

 

 

The 2023 exam series
Ofqual Student Guide 2023

This guide provides students with information about this year’s arrangements for qualifications regulated by Ofqual (which includes BTEC qualifications).
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Summer 2023 support

The Summer 2023 support page provides updates and information from Ofqual and the Department for Education (DfE) relating to the summer 2023 exam arrangements for GCSE, AS and A level.

This includes information on

  • grade boundaries
  • contingency days
  • a letter from Ofqual

Visit the Summer 2023 support page
2023 exam dates

Our May/June 2023 timetables are available on our website.

Take a look at the final timetables

Go to the Business exam times

 

 

GCSE Business

 
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For help with:

  • free support and networking
  • free resources
  • paid-for resources from Pearson
  • paid-for resources from Hodder
  • other paid-for resources
GCSE Lion

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For help with:

  • recorded feedback training
  • building your own question papers (examWizard)
  • the key command verbs
  • grade boundaries and statistics
25 April GCSE network: Preparing students for exams

This network will look at several activities in order to help prepare your students for the upcoming exams. We will look at techniques to help them recall knowledge and also look at exam techniques. We will tell you about all the resources that Pearson has available and are also hoping to hear from other organisations who can let you know about the materials that they have available.
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A new resource map for GCSE

This resource map aims to match your needs as a teacher to a resource which can help tackle this need.  It will tell you what resources are available.

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Peter Jones Igniting Enterprise series

Webinar 1

Paul Gilligan, CEO and co-founder of the Magical Mushroom Company, shares his thoughts about innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable futures.

Webinar 2

Priscilla Israel, COO and co-founder of STICKY, shares her thoughts about digital technology changing the face of transactions, innovation and
entrepreneurship.

Each webinar has been divided up into short snippets which relate to an aspect of the specification.

Webinar 3

Richard North, President of the Wow Stuff company, shares his insights into the competitive world of product innovation in the toy industry.  

Webinar 4

Ria Sejpal, Founder & Creative Director of the sustainable fashion company Lilabare, shares her passion for local, regenerative and circular fashion systems.  

Webinar 5

Emma Sweeting, Founder of Sweetings Greetings share insights into the world of personalised art products that bring delight to customers.  

Go to the Igniting Enterprise webinars

 
FT 4 Schools case studies

New case studies uploaded on Tuesday mornings using the Financial Times as the main source.

There are already nineteen case studies available.
  Case study Topic areas - Theme 1 Topic areas - Theme 2
1 Philips   2.5.1 Organisational structures
2.5.4 Motivation
2.4.2 Understanding business performance
2.4.1 Business calculations
2.3.3 Managing quality
2 Deliveroo 1.4.3 The marketing mix
1.5.4 The economy and business
1.5.5 External influences		 2.2.2 Price
2.3.2 Working with suppliers
3 Tik Tok 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business
1.1.3 The role of business enterprise
1.2.1 Customer needs
1.2.3 Market segmentation
1.4.2 Business location
1.5.2 Technology and business

2.2.4 Place

2.3.4 The sales process
4 Adidas 1.1.3The role of business enterprise
1.2.4 The competitive environment
1.4.3 The marketing mix
1.5.3 Legislation and business		 2.1.4 Ethics, the environment and business
2.2.1 Product
2.2.3 Promotion
5 Joules 1.1.2 Risk and reward
1.2.4 The competitive environment
1.5.4 The economy and business
1.5.5 External influences		  
6 BP 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business
1.5.2 Technology and business		 2.1.2 Changes in business aims and objectives
2.1.3 Business and globalisation
2.1.4 Ethics, the environment and business
2.3.1 Business operations
2.5.2 Effective recruitment
2.5.3 Effective training and development
7 Amazon 1.5.4 The economy and business 2.1.2 Changes in business aims and objectives
2.4.2 Understanding business performance
2.5.2 Effective recruitment
8 Primark 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business
1.3.2 Business revenues, costs and profits
1.5.4 The economy and business
1.4.2 Business location
1.5.2 Technology and business		 2.1.2 Changes in business aims and objectives
2.1.4 Ethics, the environment and business
2.2.4 Place
9 NHS   2.5.1 Organisational structures
2.5.2 Effective recruitment
2.5.4 Motivation
10 Ford 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business
1.1.3 The role of business enterprise
1.2.1 Customer needs
1.2.4 The competitive environment
1.5.2 Technology and business
1.5.5 External influences		 2.1.4 Ethics, the environment and business
2.2.1 Product
2.3.1 Business operations
11 Halfords 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business
1.1.3 The role of business enterprise		 2.1.1 Business growth
2.1.2 Changes in business aims and objectives
2.5.2 Effective recruitment
12 Wilko 1.3.2 Business revenues, costs and profits
1.3.3 Cash and cash-flow
1.3.4 Sources of business finance
1.4.2 Business location
1.5.4 The economy and business		 2.4.1 Business calculations
2.4.2 Understanding business performance
13 Boohoo 1.2.4 The competitive environment
1.3.2 Business revenues, costs and profits
1.4.2 Business location
1.5.4 The economy and business		 2.4.1 Business calculations
2.4.2 Understanding business performance
14 Workforce management 1.5.1 Business stakeholders
1.5.3 Legislation and business		 2.1.1 Business growth
2.5.2 Effective recruitment
2.5.3 Effective training and development
15 Office working 1.1.1 The dynamic nature of business
1.2.4 The competitive environment
1.4.2 Business location		 2.1.4 Ethics, the environment and business
2.5.1 Organisational structures
2.5.2 Effective recruitment
16 Diageo 1.2.3 Market segmentation
1.2.4 The competitive environment
1.3.4 Sources of business finance		 2.1.1 Business growth
2.2.2 Price
17 Pandora 1.4.2 Business location
1.4.3 The marketing mix
1.5.4 The economy and business
1.5.5 External influences		 2.2.4 Place
2.2.5 Using the marketing mix to make business decisions
18 Brewdog 1.4.2 Business location
1.5.4 The economy and business
1.5.5 External influence		 2.1.3 Business and globalisation
2.5.4 Motivation
19 Airlines 1.5.3 Legislation and business
1.5.4 The economy and business		 2.1.2 Changes in business aims and objectives
2.1.3 Business and globalisation
2.1.4 Ethics, the environment and business

Go to the FT4Schools GCSE case studies

 
Separate source booklets for GCSE exams

As announced in July the business contexts for GCSE sections B and C, and A level sections A and B will now be given in a source booklet rather than in the exam paper.

We have reformatted the 2021 and 2022 exam papers to allow learners to see the new paper format which will be used from 2023 and to allow learners  to experience the new style for mock exams.

Go to the reformatted GCSE papers

 
GCSE topic booklets

These booklets offer a basic template for teachers and learners and include:

  • specification content
  • key terms
  • a case study
  • exam-style questions
  • explanations of command verbs

The booklets can be customised by adding images, a school logo, and further questions.  If you look on the qualification page you will see that there are two files for Topic 1.4.1.  One of them has been customised to provide an example of how this can be done.

They really are an excellent resource.

Go to the new Topic Booklets

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May/June 2023 exam series
GCSE 2023 TT

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Results Day: 24 August 2023

 

 

 

International GCSE

Business
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For help with:

  • free support and networking
  • free resources
  • paid-for resources
     
Classroom Picture

For help with:

  • building your own question papers (examWizard)
  • the key command verbs
  • grade boundaries and statistics
     
Modular International GCSEs

International GCSE Business is in the last group of subjects to make a modular route available to learners from September 2025.

This means that we will have both a modular and a linear route to achieve this qualification.

If you are happy with the linear approach, there is no need to move to the modular route; our linear International GCSEs will continue to be offered and taken widely by learners around the world. ​

However, if you believe the modular route will be of benefit to your learners, this will be available from September 2025 with the first exams in May/June 2026.
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Training - new to International GCSE Business

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Business: Welcome to Pearson

This online training is designed for teachers who are new to delivering the International GCSE Business specification.

Module 1 focuses on teaching the course and will give you an understanding of the content of the qualification and how to cover it, course/lesson planning, understanding the assessment and preparing students for it, and a brief overview of support from Pearson available to teachers.

Module 2 will give you an understanding of how the content is assessed by reviewing the assessment objectives and mark schemes, practise applying the mark schemes using exemplar student work, as well as an understanding of how marks were determined.  

 

Module 1: 3 October 2023 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Register for Module 1

Module 2: 10 October 2023 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Register for Module 2
Training - delivery and assessment

Understanding assessment and improving delivery in International GCSE Business

In this training delegates will:

- Be introduced to the idea of assessment objectives: what are they and why they are used when writing examination papers.

- Analyse recent question papers and learn which types of question match the different assessment objectives.

- Investigate different assessment objectives, considering how questions that use a levels-based mark scheme have been answered by looking at feedback from previous exam series.

- Discuss strategies for teaching to try and make sure students can access questions targeting different assessment objectives.

Module 1: 26 September 2023 at 08:00 - 10:00 GMT

Register for Module 1

Module 2: 28 September 2023 at 08:00 - 10:00 GMT

Register for Module 2
May/June 2023 exam series
GCSE 2023 TT

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Results Day: 24 August 2023
November 2023 exam series

We're introducing a regular International GCSE November series, first running in November 2023. This series is being introduced to best meet the needs of students requiring International GCSE exam opportunities outside of the full May/June series and it will include International GCSE Business.

The timetable is below.
Nov 2023 Prov TT IG BUs

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A level

Business
AL Bus

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Classroom Picture

For help with:

  • free support and networking
  • free resources
  • paid-for resources from Pearson
  • paid-for resources from Hodder
  • other paid-for resources
     
Classroom Picture

For help with:

  • recorded feedback training
  • building your own question papers (examWizard)
  • the key command verbs
  • grade boundaries and statistics
     
Help shape the future of Pearson Business resources

Pearson want to give teachers the chance to have their say on Business GCE resources! Therefore, if you would be interested in taking part in a 45-minute chat with our Publishing Manager, and giving some feedback on the 2015 GCE Business Student Book, please sign up below!

Anyone who takes part gets a £30 Amazon voucher after as a thank you for your time and input.

Sign up!

 
New to Business A level? - Training in June with Ian Marcouse

Three-Day Course For Teachers New To Business A Level

This course is a serious attempt to prepare teachers to deliver Business Studies for the first time. It includes direct instruction on how to teach elasticity, accounts & ratios, investment appraisal, ethics and many other key topics.

Plenty of exam questions and student answers are looked at to establish the right level – A Level.

Delegates receive a memory stick with a wealth of Ian Marcouse’s resources. Now in its 23rd year, it is used regularly by top-performing schools and colleges.

An unsolicited email from a recent delegate “I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the last 3 days, I have learnt so much and look forward to taking everything I have learnt into the class room.” J. Hyland, Northgate School

June 26th – 28th 2023: Cavendish Conferences, Central London or Online (run over 5 days) or Mem stick only.

How to book:

Email: marcouse@btopenworld.com. Price: £399. Memory stick only is £199. All items VAT-free. Full BACS and company details are included on every invoice.
Peter Jones Igniting Enterprise series

Webinar 1

Paul Gilligan, CEO and co-founder of the Magical Mushroom Company, shares his thoughts about innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable futures.

Webinar 2

Priscilla Israel, COO and co-founder of STICKY, shares her thoughts about digital technology changing the face of transactions, innovation and
entrepreneurship.

Each webinar has been divided up into short snippets which relate to an aspect of the specification.

Webinar 3

Richard North, President of the Wow Stuff company, shares his insights into the competitive world of product innovation in the toy industry.  

Webinar 4

Ria Sejpal, Founder & Creative Director of the sustainable fashion company Lilabare, shares her passion for local, regenerative and circular fashion systems.  

Webinar 5

Emma Sweeting, Founder of Sweetings Greetings share insights into the world of personalised art products that bring delight to customers.  

Go to the Igniting Enterprise webinars

 
FT 4 Schools case studies

New case studies uploaded on Tuesday mornings using the Financial Times as the main source.

There are already nineteen case studies available.
  Case Study Theme 1 Theme 2 Theme 3 Theme 4
1 Nestle 1.2.1 Demand
1.3.5 Marketing strategies		 2.3.1 Profit
2.5.1 Economic influences		 3.4.3 Shareholders versus stakeholders  
2 Transatlantic Travel 1.1.1 How competition affects the market
1.1.2 Market positioning
1.3.2 Ways to build a brand
 		 2.5.1 Exchange rates    
3 Heinz 1.1.1 Market share

 2.3.1 Ways to improve profitability
 3.1.4 Impact of external influences  
4 Instagram
 1.3.2 Branding and promotion 2.5.2 Legislation 3.4.4 Business ethics  
5 Primark       4.3.1 Marketing
4.3.3 Cultural factors
4.4.2 Ethics
6 Next 1.4.1 Approaches to staffing 2.3.2 Business failure
2.4.3 Stock control		 3.2.2 Mergers and takeovers    
7 Amazon 1.4.2 Recruitment, selection and training 2.2.1 Sales forecasting
2.3.1 Profit
2.4.1 Production, productivity and efficiency		    
8 Chicken 1.2.2 Factors that lead to a change in supply
1.2.3 Markets
 2.2.3 Break even 3.1.4 Impact of external influences 4.1.2 International trade and business growth
9 Honda 1.1.1 The market
1.3.3 Pricing strategies
     4.2.4 Reasons for global mergers and Joint ventures
10 Renault 1.1.3 Market positioning
1.3 Marketing mix and strategy		 2.3.1 Profit
2.5.1 Economic influences		    
11 AnMouf 1.2.1 Demand
1.2.3 Markets
   3.1.4 Impact of external influences  
12 Asda
 1.3.4 Distribution
1.4.1 Approaches to staffing
1.4.2 Recruitment, selection and training
1.4.3 Organisational design		      
13 Amazon Warehouses 1.4.1 Approaches to staffing
1.4.3 Organisational design
     4.4.1 Impact of MNCs on the local economy
14 Twitter 1.4.1 Approaches to staffing
1.4.4 Motivation in theory and practice		 2.5.2 Employee legislation    
15 Doc Martens   2.3.1 Profit
2.5.1 Economic influences		   4.3.1 Marketing
4.2.3 Assessment of a country as a production location
16 Halfords 1.3.5 Marketing strategy 2.5.1 Economic influences 3.1.4 Impact of external influences 4.1.5 Trading blocs
4.2.5 Global competitiveness
17 Women entrepreneurs 1.5.2 Entrepreneurial motives and characteristics
1.5.6 Moving from entrepreneur to leader		      
18 Food shortages 1.2.2 Supply
1.2.3 Markets
     4.1.5 Trading blocs
19 Online to Offline shopping 1.3.4 Distribution
1.3.5 Marketing strategy		 2.5.3 The competitive environment 3.1.2 Theories of corporate strategy
3.2.2 Mergers and takeovers		  

Go to the FT4Schools A level case studies
Separate source booklets for A level exams

As announced in July the business contexts for GCSE sections B and C, and A level sections A and B will now be given in a source booklet rather than in the exam paper.

We have reformatted the 2021 and 2022 exam papers to allow learners to see the new paper format which will be used from 2023 and to allow learners  to experience the new style for mock exams.

Go to the reformatted A level papers
Wording of the levels-based descriptors for 8, 10 and 12 mark questions

From 2023 onwards, the wording of the level-based descriptors for the 8, 10 and 12 mark questions will change to provide transparency in examiners’ marking approach and greater clarity for teachers and students.

These exemplars have been produced, following teacher feedback, to ensure the approach to marking is accessible to both teachers and students in preparation for final course assessment.

The senior team for GCE Business is made up of practising teachers, so we understand how important it can be to share our knowledge, understanding and the practice of marking, especially with respect to answers relating to Levels of Response questions.

Contained in this booklet is a selection of student responses taken from the summer of 2022 series, complete with the level and appropriate marks awarded. After each response is a commentary which should help to explain the level and raw mark awarded.

These selected responses aim to illustrate to teachers and learners the difference between Level 3 and level 4 responses, to clarify examiners’ approach to marking and to help students access the higher mark bands.

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Guidance for centres that have switched from AQA to Edexcel

This document considers:

  • key assessment differences between the specifications
  • key content differences between the specifications

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Anforme books

The Economics Factory now has digital versions of the Anforme A level Business books.

Visit the Economics Factory
May/June 2023 exam series
AL Bus 2023 TT

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Results Day: 17 August 2023

 

 

 

IAL


Business
ial bus

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Classroom Picture

For help with:

  • free support and networking
  • free resources
  • paid-for resources
     
Classroom Picture

For help with:

  • building your own question papers (examWizard)
  • the key command verbs
  • grade boundaries and statistics
     
New to IAL Business

This online training is designed for teachers who are new to delivering the International Advanced level Business specification.

Module 1 focuses on teaching the course and will give you an understanding of the content of the qualification and how to cover it, course/lesson planning, understanding the assessment and preparing students for it, and a brief overview of support from Pearson available to teachers.

Module 2 will give you an understanding of how the content is assessed by reviewing the assessment objectives and mark schemes, practise applying the mark schemes using exemplar student work, as well as an understanding of how marks were determined.

Module 1: 07 November 2023 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Register for Module 1

Module 2: 14 November 2023 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Register for Module 2
Understanding assessment and improving delivery in International A Level Business

This online training is designed for teachers who are delivering the International A Level Business specification.

This training will give you an understanding of how assessments are structured for the qualification and how your teaching can be adapted to help your students’ performance on examination papers.

The training is comprised of two 'standalone' modules which are booked separately.

Module 1: 21 November 2023 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Register for Module 1

Module 2: 28 November 2023 at 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Register for Module 2
May/June 2023 exam series
IAL Bus 2023 TT

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Results Day: 17 August 2023
October 2023 exam series
IAL Bus Oct 2023 TT

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January 2024 exam series
IAL Bus Jan 2024 TT

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Colin Leith

Business

Email :
teachingbusiness@pearson.com
Facebook :
Phone :
+44 (0) 344 463 2535 (Teaching Services team | Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm GMT)
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