ABE Level 5 Diploma in

Business Management (QCF)

Qualification specification
Qualification Number: 600/6110/8
Qualification objective
This qualification aims to help learners to develop their understanding of management in the context of general
business.

Why you should consider taking this qualification

The qualification will give you a theoretical understanding of management concepts and an overview of general
business. It will equip you to find employment with junior management prospects in general business or to continue
your professional or academic studies in a related area.

Any other qualification which you must have completed before taking the qualification
This is a stand-alone qualification, but there are entry requirements.
Learners who have passed any ABE Level 4 Diploma (QCF) or ABE Level 3 Certificate (NQF) are eligible to take this
qualification.
Other applicants must have obtained one of the following:
Two level 3 passes (A level standard)
A level 3 qualification, or above, as notified on the NQF or QCF of the United Kingdom or overseas qualifications, as
judged by UK NARIC, to be equivalent in standard to a level 3 qualification in the UK (or higher). Such qualifications
should entail a similar number of learning hours to that of the ABE Level 3 Certificate or Level 4 Diploma and ABE
reserves the right to reject such qualifications if they are deemed to have insufficient subject relationship.
Applications from learners who, although not holding a formal entry qualification, have been in appropriate
employment for at least two years, will be considered on their merits. A signed reference letter from employers
must accompany all such applications.

Any prior knowledge, skills or understanding which you are required to have before taking the qualification
None (provided that you meet the entry criteria listed above).

Units which you must complete before the qualification will be awarded and any optional routes
Learners must pass these six mandatory units:
Quantitative Methods for Business Management
The Business Environment
Financial Accounting
Marketing Policy, Planning and Communication
Organisational Behaviour
Human Resource Management
Learners for the Business Management pathway must pass two of these optional units:
Principles of Business Law
Managerial Accounting
Economics for Business
Managing the Customer Relationship
Entrepreneurship and Business Development
Learners for the Financial Management pathway must pass these two optional units:
Systems Management and Internal Financial Controls
Managerial Accounting

Any other requirements which you must have satisfied before you will be assessed or before the qualification will be
awarded
Learners who have passed 2 units of any ABE Level 4 Diploma (QCF) or Level 3 Certificate (NQF) are eligible to register
for this qualification but they must complete the Level 4 Diploma before they can be awarded the Level 5 Diploma.
This does not apply to eligible learners with other qualifications listed above.

The knowledge, skills and understanding which will be assessed as part of the qualification
How to:
Use practical, theoretical or technological understanding to find ways forward in broadly defined, complex
contexts
Analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant information, concepts and ideas
Be aware of the nature and scope of the area of study
Understand different perspectives, approaches or schools of thought and the reasoning behind them

The method of assessment and associated requirements relating to it

The three-hour written external examinations are held twice a year (usually the first week in June and December). ABE
manages the entire examination process, from its external centres around the world, to invigilation and marking.

The criteria against which your level of attainment will be measured

Refer to the assessment criteria for each unit.

Specimen assessment materials

Past papers are available on the members area of the ABE website.

Specified levels of attainment

Learners who meet the requirements for the qualification will be awarded a pass. The qualification itself is not graded.
For each unit learners will be marked out of 100 and will be graded as follows:
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F

75%+
65% - 74%
50% - 64%
40% - 49%
30% - 39%
15% - 29%
0% - 14%

Higher Distinction
Distinction
Merit
Pass
Marginal Fail
Fail
Unclassified

Learners achieving a pass grade (C or above) will be awarded the appropriate QCF credits for the unit.