GCSE Business Subjects and Economics

Summary of changes to content

• Business Studies B
 Teacher Resource Bank - GCSE Business Subjects and Economics - Changes to content: Business Studies B - Version 1.0

Comparing the new specification with AQA’s current GCSE Business Studies specification B (3133)
This summary is sectioned as it appears in the 3133 specification.
Cross-referencing with the new specification full GCSE Business Studies is achieved using the notation 3.1(1) etc. 3.1(1) means the
corresponding subject content can be found in Section 3.1 in Unit 1.

What’s new? What’s the same? What’s gone?

External environment and business

• Enterprise Culture has a focus on • External costs and benefits 1.3 (2) • External factors
setting up a business as an
entrepreneur 1.1(1)

The ownership and control of business

• Not for profit and social enterprises • Sole traders, partnerships, limited • Co-operatives and public sector
1.1(1) companies and PLC’s 1.4(1) 1.2(2) ownership
• Franchise 1.1(1)
• Growth and objectives 1.2(2)
• Economies and diseconomies of scale
5.2 (2)

Aims and objectives of business

• Aims and objectives 1.2(1), 1.3(2)

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 Teacher Resource Bank - GCSE Business Subjects and Economics - Changes to content: Business Studies B - Version 1.0

What’s new? What’s the same? What’s gone?

The management of people within a business

• Organisational structure 4.1(2) • Management of change

• Recruitment & training 4.1(1) 4.2(2) • Communication, co-ordination and
• Motivation & management 4.2(1) control
4.2(2) • Industrial relations
• Legislation 4.3(1)

Accounting and finance

• The purpose of business planning
1.3(1)
• The main sections within a business
start-up plan 1.3 (1)
• Uncertainty and risk for start-up
businesses 1.3 (1)
• Support and advice available to
business 3.1 (1)
• The Sources of finance available • Break even analysis
3.1(1) 3.1(2)
• Business planning 1.3(1)
• P/L accounts & balance sheets –
interpretation – use of current, acid
test, gross, net profit ratios 3.2(2)
• Types of costs 3.2(1) and 3.2(2)
• Interpreting a cash flow statement
3.3(1)

Production

• Customer service 5.2(1) • Job and batch production (5.1)1 • Kanban

• Internet and e-commerce 2.2(1)
• Inclusion of service industries 5.1(1)
• Flow production (5.1)2
• Lean production (5.1)2
• Quality control (5.1)1 (5.3)2
• Location factors (but now includes
overseas’ location) (1.5)1 (1.4)2
• Economies and diseconomies of scale
(5.1) 2

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 Teacher Resource Bank - GCSE Business Subjects and Economics - Changes to content: Business Studies B - Version 1.0

What’s new? What’s the same? What’s gone?

Marketing

• Pricing methods more in keeping • Market research 2.1(1) • SWOT analysis

with the relationship between
demand and price 2.2 (1)
• Internet selling 2.2 (1)
• Reasons for market research 2.1(1) • External Constraints
• Importance of the Marketing Mix
Section 2 both (1 ) and (2)
• Product life cycle 2.1(2)
• Distribution 2.4(2)

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