Applied Business Advanced Level GCE

GCE Applied Business awards are part of a new suite of vocationally focused GCEs and replace the VCE Business. These new awards incorporate an extremely wide range of AS and A2 level units. These are flexibly structured to offer plenty of choice. Each Applied Advanced level is related to a broad area of the world of work and is designed to allow a student to progress on to a course in Higher Education or a responsible level of employment. Business is a popular and successful Sixth Form Advanced choice at St George’s.

What will I learn?

The Applied Business GCE enables you to develop creative and analytical thinking through investigating businesses and markets, analysing business systems, proposing improvements to business activities, proposing developments to products, investigating the importance of financial forecasting and producing business plans.

The mandatory or compulsory units balance knowledge and understanding of large commercial and public sector organisations with that of smaller businesses both in the UK and globally. The optional units provide further opportunities for you to develop an understanding of business skills and the economic and social environment in which businesses operate. You also have the opportunity to specialise in, for example, a financial, human resources, management or marketing pathway.

The use of IT is integral to the course. Key skills in Communication, Application of Number and IT continue to be important aspects of study.

At Advanced level, Business and Vocational Studies offer Applied Business GCEs in:

AS three unit award (single AS)

AS six unit award (double AS)

Double Award A Level – twelve unit award, equivalent to two A Levels, consisting of six AS and six A2 units. Six units are mandatory and six are optional. This course is particularly relevant to students interested in a business related University/ Higher Education course or in following a career in the business sector.

Single Award A Level – six unit award, equivalent to one A Level, consisting of three AS and three A2 units. Five units are mandatory and one is optional. This course offers a business emphasis for those seeking a solid grounding in a range of business activities and provides an opportunity for those studying AS and A levels to gain a business perspective.

The Applied Business course gives a real opportunity to learn about business in the context of real life.

How will I be taught?

Students studying Applied Business GCE courses learn to work responsibly and, with the support of staff, are expected to take control of their own learning. You will learn using a variety of approaches including case studies, involvement of outside businesses and research. Examples of ways you may be asked to learn include:

Working on your own and as part of a team;

Doing short projects and longer assignments;

Looking into processes, products and organising events, designing products and services;

Through business links and work experience.

How will I be assessed?

By a mixture of a portfolio of coursework and external examination:

AS Single Award - two units are assessed through coursework, one through external examination.

AS Double Award - four units are assessed through coursework, two through external examination.

Double Award A Level – You will study 12 units, six mandatory and six optional. Of these eight units are collected in a portfolio, assessed as you go along and then externally moderated; four units are assessed by external examination. Two exams are taken in the Lower Sixth, two in the Upper.

Single Award A Level – You will study six units, five mandatory and one optional. Of these four units are collected in a portfolio, assessed as you go along and then externally moderated; two units are assessed by external examination. One exam is taken in the Lower Sixth, one in the Upper Sixth.

What will I study?

Each Applied Business GCE course is made up of parts called units.

Mandatory units – ie units you MUST do. They cover the essential skills, knowledge and understanding you would need in a broad range of jobs in your chosen vocational area.

Optional units – these give you an opportunity to specialise.

Single AS (three Units) In the Lower Sixth you will study Creating an marketing proposal] Recruitment Understanding the external environment (examination)

Single A Level (three AS, three A2 units) In the Upper Sixth you will also study Strategic decision making A2 (examination) A business plan for an entrepreneur A2 Promotion in action A2

Double AS (six Units) As above plus The impact of customer service (examination) ICT provision in a business Financial providers and products

Full Double Award (12 Units, 2 A Level equivalent)

In the Lower Sixth you will study the Double AS

In the Upper Sixth you will study six A2 units including those listed above.

How can I succeed?