Types of questions in Business Studies exams

In A-Level Business Studies examinations, different types of question are used to assess your abilities and skills. Unit tests mainly use structured questions requiring both short answers and more extended answers.

These questions are often linked directly to a given context, requiring you to read and study the stimulus material (a paragraph or short article about a real or imagined business situation.

Short-answer questions

These are occasionally set at A Level. A short-answer question may test recall or it may test understanding. Short-answer questions often have space for the answers printed on the question paper.

Here is an example (a brief answer is shown below):

To what extent does taking out a franchise reduce the benefits of being an independent sole trader? [6] WJEC Specimen Paper

Benefits may be reduced: e.g., a loss of independence in decisionmaking; reduced profits (royalties payable to franchisor); dependent on general success of franchisor rather than own ability/success.

Structured questions

Structured questions are in several parts. The parts usually have a common context and they often become progressively more difficult and more demanding as you work your way through the question. A structured question may start with simple recall, then test  understanding of a familiar or an unfamiliar situation. Most of the

practice questions in this book are structured questions, as this is the main type of question used in AS Level Business Studies exams.

Here is an example of a structured question that becomes  progressively more demanding.

Under the terms of the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy the

landing of cod in the United Kingdom is to be substantially reduced.

(a) Using supply and demand diagrams predict the likely effect of this

measure on:

(i) the price and quantity of cod sold; [3]

(ii) the market for plaice. [3]

(b) Discuss the effects that this measure might have on stakeholders in the fishing industry. [9] WJEC Specimen Paper

When answering structured questions, do not feel that you have to complete one question before starting the next. The further you are into a question, the more difficult the marks are to obtain. If you run out of ideas, go on to the next question.

You need to respond to as many parts to questions on an exam paper as possible.

You will not score well if you spend so long trying to perfect the first questions that you do not reach later questions at all. 

Extended answers

In AS Level Business Studies, questions requiring more extended answers may form part of structured questions, or may form separate questions (sometimes linked to a case study). These questions are often used to assess your abilities to communicate ideas, relate your knowledge to the case study in the question, and put together a logical argument.

The ‘correct' answers to extended questions are often less well-defined than those requiring shorter answers. Examiners may have a list of points for which credit is awarded up to the maximum for the question.

The quality of your written communication will be assessed in all questions.

Marks will be allocated for legible text with accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar, and for a clear, well-organised answer in which you use specialist terms effectively.

Coursework

Coursework may form part of your A Level Business Studies course, depending on which specification you study. You are normally asked to investigate some aspect of business activity. An example of coursework is as follows: you are asked to study how and why a firm has reorganised its manufacturing or service business. In undertaking this coursework, you could consider:

• the reasons behind the reorganisation
• the reorganisation plan
• staff resistance to change
• the change in communications
• how successful the reorganisation has been.

Your coursework will be assessed using the Business Studies assessment objectives described above. Assessment of your coursework includes the use you have made of the key skills you have developed during the course.