How to Achieve an A* in A-Level Business

Achieving an A* in A-Level Business is a highly commendable goal, but it’s not out of reach with the right preparation and mindset. The key to securing top marks is a balanced mix of understanding the core concepts, applying real-world knowledge, and perfecting exam technique. Whether you're studying for AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or another exam board, here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to achieve an A* in A-Level Business.

Know the Specification Inside Out

The first step towards A* success is understanding the exact requirements of the syllabus. The specification from your exam board (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, etc.) is your roadmap to success.

• Highlight Key Topics: As you cover each topic, mark it in the specification to ensure that you're hitting every part of the curriculum.
• Focus on Assessment Objectives (AO): The examiners are looking for you to demonstrate a mix of knowledge (AO1), application (AO2), analysis (AO3), and evaluation (AO4). Be mindful of these when preparing.
• Structure Your Revision: Use the specification to guide your revision sessions. Cross-reference it with your textbook and class notes to ensure comprehensive coverage of all areas.

By breaking down the specification, you not only organise your studies, but you also ensure you aren’t missing out on key content.

Perfect Your Exam Technique

Knowing the content is essential, but exam technique is what will push your grade into the A* territory.

• Understand Command Words: It’s crucial to know what the examiner is asking. Words like analyse, evaluate, and assess require different responses. Familiarise yourself with these command terms and practise how to approach each one.
• Structure Your Answers: Clear, logical structures are crucial. For most questions, the PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) structure works well. This helps you stay focused and ensures you hit all the key points required in your answer.
• Contextual Application: Examiners appreciate answers that apply theory to real-world situations. Don’t give generic responses. Link everything back to current businesses or real-world examples whenever possible.
• For Evaluation Questions: Always present a balanced argument with well-justified conclusions. This means weighing up the pros and cons of each point and coming to a reasoned, well-supported judgment.

Apply Real Business Knowledge

The most successful candidates are those who show a deep understanding of how business theory connects with the real world.

• Read Business News: Make it a habit to read reputable business news outlets such as the Financial Times or the BBC Business. This will keep you up to date with key trends and case studies you can use in your answers.
• Use Real-World Examples: Support your responses with examples of well-known firms like Apple, Amazon, or Tesco. This demonstrates your ability to apply business theory to actual businesses.
• Link Current Events to the Curriculum: Whenever you come across something relevant in the news (such as inflation, sustainability, or ethical dilemmas), jot it down and link it to the topics you're studying. For instance, understanding how businesses adjust pricing strategies during periods of inflation is a valuable insight.

By applying real-world knowledge, you demonstrate that you are not only learning the theory but can also connect it with the practicalities of business.

Revise Actively, Not Passively

Passive revision, like just reading through your notes, is not enough. Active revision is key to retaining and understanding the material.

• Use Flashcards: These are perfect for memorising key definitions, formulas, and theories. Quiz yourself regularly to reinforce your knowledge.
• Practice with Quizzes: Revision World has a number of topic specific exam style questions and quizzes for you to test your knowledge with.
• Mind Maps: Create mind maps to understand connections between different areas of business. For instance, how finance relates to operations, or the interplay between marketing and human resources.
• Practice Papers: Time yourself when doing past exam papers. This helps you get used to the pressure of the exam and improves your speed and accuracy. Revision World offers all the available past exam papers.
• Teach Someone Else: Explaining concepts to a friend or family member can help solidify your understanding and highlight any gaps in your knowledge.

Active revision ensures you retain more information and can apply it effectively under exam conditions.

Plan Your Time Wisely

Time management is essential for maximising your revision and ensuring you’re covering all necessary areas.

• Create a Revision Timetable: Use online tools like Revision World to create a revision schedule. Set aside time for each subject, breaking topics into manageable chunks.
• Regularly Review Topics: It’s easy to forget earlier content, so be sure to review Year 12 material as well as Year 13 content. A consistent review of past topics ensures retention and helps build a foundation for more complex ideas.
• Balance is Key: While focusing on weaker areas is important, don’t neglect your strengths. Regularly refresh your knowledge of all topics.

A well-planned schedule allows for a balanced approach, reducing last-minute cramming and stress.

Master the Quantitative Skills

A-Level Business includes a significant amount of maths, so it's essential to be comfortable with numerical skills.

• Key Areas: Focus on break-even analysis, financial ratios (liquidity, profitability), and investment appraisal methods such as Payback Period, ARR, and NPV.
• Practice Questions: The best way to improve is to practise. Work through a variety of quantitative problems to build confidence and speed.
• Use Real Business Data: If possible, apply these techniques to real businesses (e.g., calculating break-even points for a small business, or analysing financial statements of large corporations).

Mastering these skills will help you tackle the mathematical elements of the exam with ease and accuracy.

Learn from Mark Schemes & Examiners' Reports

One of the most overlooked tools in revision is reviewing mark schemes and examiner reports.

• Mark Schemes: Go through past papers and carefully annotate the mark schemes. This will help you understand what the examiner is specifically looking for in your answers.
• Examiners’ Reports: These reports outline common student mistakes and offer advice on how to improve. Read through them to identify areas where students often lose marks, so you can avoid making the same errors.

By learning from past mistakes, you’ll improve your ability to meet the examiner’s expectations.

Ask for Feedback and Act on It

Feedback is invaluable. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel unsure about any areas.

• Practice Essays: Submit practice essays to your teacher for marking and ask for detailed feedback. Focus on areas of improvement, not just marks.
• Use Model Responses: Compare your answers to model answers to see how yours can be improved. This will give you a better understanding of what is expected at the highest level.

Taking constructive criticism seriously and acting on it will significantly improve your answers.

Stay Calm and Positive

A positive mindset can be the difference between success and stress. The A-Level Business exam is challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase everything you’ve learned.

• Focus on Well-being: Sleep, eat well, and take regular breaks to avoid burnout.
• Don’t Panic: It’s okay if you don’t know everything. Focus on applying the knowledge you do have well. Quality is more important than quantity in exams.

A calm and positive approach will not only help you perform better, but it will also make the revision process more enjoyable.

Final Tips for A* Success

• Link theory to context: Always use real-world examples to strengthen your answers.
• Evaluate with depth: Don’t settle for surface-level evaluation. Dive deep into the pros and cons, and provide well-reasoned conclusions.
• Don’t memorise essays: Essays should be adaptable. Avoid rote learning; instead, focus on the key concepts and practice how to apply them to different questions.
• Practise writing under pressure: The more you practice writing timed answers, the better you'll become at managing time in the actual exam.
• Stay up-to-date with current business affairs: Keep track of the latest business news, as real-world examples will always help enrich your responses.

With the right approach, strategic revision, and a confident mindset, achieving an A* in A-Level Business is not only possible but entirely within reach!