Qatar International School

Business Studies is offered as an option for students from Year 10 onwards at IGCSE, AS and A Level.

IGCSE Business Studies

What skills and interests do I need?

• an interest in business related issues.
• an ability to learn key business terms.
• the skills to analyse and evaluate issues and question concepts.

What will I be doing during the course?

This course introduces students to the operation and organisation of modern business enterprises. Each feature of a firm is studied with particular emphasis placed on the ability to analyse how firms are affected in different business situations. The main areas of study include Business Organisation, Marketing, Operations Management and Human Resource Management. The course also covers a range of Finance related areas, such as sources of finance, cash flow forecasting, interpretation of final accounts and break even analysis. Finally the External Influences on firms are also studied, and these include topics such as exchange rates, interest rates, legislation and global recession.

The subject attempts to examine the behaviour and tactics of different firms, encouraging students to adapt their learning and understanding according to the business context given. The skill in this course is therefore to be able to analyse and evaluate different business scenarios, and using the theory learned in the classroom.  For instance:

• How has the Sony Corporation been affected by new entrants into the games console market?

• How does a product testing certificate help a business differentiate its products?

• How does the Pizza Hut company motivate its franchisees?
• Assess the impact of the global recession on Qatar Airways.

Where does this course lead?

Many students elect to continue studying Business Studies at AS/A Level (see below) or go on to university, studying it in either the pure form, or through some variation. Courses ranging from Economics, Management, Retailing, E-business, Enterprise, Finance, Accountancy, Law and Administration all heavily draw on the concepts taught in AS Business Studies.

AS/A Level Business Studies

What entry requirement do I need?
IGCSE Business Studies Grade A* - B.

Students, if they wish, can follow a staged assessment route to the Advanced Level (A Level) in Year 13 by taking the AS qualification in Year 12.  Subject to satisfactory performance in the AS (A-C grade) such candidates are then only required to take the final part of the A Level assessment.

Overview of Syllabus

The following summaries (in *.pdf format) are available:

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 to 11)

AS / A Level (Years 12 and 13)

Summaries (in *.pdf format) are also available in the respective Options Booklets, which can be downloaded at right.