General feedback
Students should:
- read the question carefully to ensure that they do not miss important components of the question
- have a clear understanding of key words in the question and recognise the intent of the question and its requirements
- use the first page of the answer booklet for an extended response to develop a plan to assist in the logical sequencing of information
- engage with what the question is asking rather than presenting a pre-prepared response
- relate to the question throughout the response rather than just at the beginning
- sustain their judgements, where appropriate, throughout the response with a clear connection to the question
- use relevant business terms and concepts, where appropriate, to support their response
- apply relevant business case study/studies and contemporary business issues where appropriate
- present a sustained, logical and cohesive response that addresses the question where appropriate
- review their response to ensure that it addresses the question requirements.
Section II
Question 21
In better responses, students were able to:
- address the question by applying operations theory to the stimulus business situations
- provide the positive effects of economies of scale for both the business and consumers (b)
- provide reasons why both staff and management might be resistant to change with reference to the stimulus (c).
Areas for students to improve include:
- addressing the question directly and supporting the response with relevant theory
- ensuring responses referenced the stimulus business situations
- providing how and why staff and management might be resistant to the change referenced in the stimulus (c).
Question 22
In better responses, students were able to:
- address the question by applying human resource theory to the stimulus business situation (b)
- use the information in the stimulus to demonstrate understanding of human resource issues (b)
- provide clear links between relevant social influences and the changes in participation rates provided in the stimulus (c).
Areas for students to improve include:
- providing detail in responses rather than general statements
- showing understanding of issues in human resource management (b)
- ensuring that the relationship between relevant social influences and the data provided is evident (c).
Question 23
In better responses, students were able to:
- provide the features of the post maturity phase of the product life cycle (a)
- show how a niche market approach would specifically improve sales for this business (b)
- provide detailed reasons why a specific global marketing strategy would be useful for the expansion referenced in the stimulus provided (c).
Areas for students to improve include:
- providing specific theory from the marketing topic rather than making general statements
- ensuring responses specifically reference the stimulus business situation
- understanding the difference between the product life cycle and the economic cycle
- directly addressing the specific question and supporting statements with references to the stimulus provided.
Question 24
In better responses, students were able to:
- demonstrate understanding of the use of specific financial statements (a)
- demonstrate understanding of the conflicts between financial objectives (b)
- demonstrate understanding of the impacts of specific limitations of financial reports and relate these to stakeholders (c).
Areas for students to improve include:
- understanding specific finance theory rather than making general statements
- developing detailed understanding of the features and purpose of each financial statement
- addressing the key words of the question when explaining the impacts of finance.
Section III
Question 25
In better responses, students were able to:
- provide an outline of the challenges of global costs, skills and supply and effectively relate these challenges to both recruiting and retaining staff
- make accurate and detailed comparisons between the use of debt and equity
- identify a specific and appropriate source of finance and provide comprehensive reasons in favour of using this source of finance to fund the business’s expansion
- structure the response using appropriate business report features and apply relevant terminology and concepts.
Areas for students to improve include:
- improving the structure of the business report when outlining the challenges of global costs, skills and supply and relating these to retaining staff
- addressing the term ‘compare’, rather than only providing a description or outline or debt and equity finance
- identifying a specific source of finance rather than referring to debt and equity generally
- applying the hypothetical business situation more effectively to the challenges of global costs, skills and supply.
Section IV
Question 26
In better responses, students were able to:
- engage with the question by providing a clear and detailed judgement
- demonstrate understanding of how marketing influences can impact business success both negatively and positively
- identify syllabus specific influences and apply these to business case studies.
Areas for students to improve include:
- demonstrating better knowledge and understanding of the marketing influences
- understanding how to make a judgement regarding business success
- applying relevant and detailed case studies information consistently throughout the response.
Question 27
In better responses, students were able to:
- provide a clear and detailed judgement by showing how influences on operations impact business success
- apply case studies to inform their judgement on operational influences that affect business success
- provide logical, structured and comprehensive arguments using business terminology and concepts.
Areas for students to improve include:
- using relevant business terminology that effectively conveys a clear and informed judgement relating to influences on operations and business success
- structuring a response that addresses key components of the question and in particular, business success.
- applying relevant and detailed case study(s) information consistently throughout the response.
