Front Cover

1
Front Cover
AQA AS Business Studies June 2005 Unit 2 3
Revision Toolkit
Chinatown
Exam Technique
2
Contents

• Units 2 and 3
• Break down of the marks
• Knowledge
• Application
• Analysis
• Evaluation
• Exam technique
• Timing
• Question spotting
• How to approach revision
• Using the Tutor2u Case Study Toolkit

3
Units 2 and 3 a different approach

• Unit 2 (BUS2) and Unit 3 (BUS3)
• Questions based on the same pre-released case
  study Wei Foods Ltd
• Each paper out of 53 marks (3 marks in each for
  quality of language)
• Each paper 1 hour
• A combination of 6,8 or 15 mark questions

4
New exams, new techniques, old skills

• 56 of marks available for knowledge and
  application
• Must be able to define all terms
• Must be able to apply all terms to case study
• 24 of marks for analysis (same as Unit 1)
• 20 of marks for evaluation
• Must evaluate in the 15 mark questions

5
Knowledge

• 28 of marks
• Read the question and define all the terms in the
  question
• E.g. Explain two benefits to Wei Foods Ltd of
  introducing a system of flow production (6)
• Flow production is the manufacture of a product
  along a continuous production line
• Identify a relevant content point to answer the
  question
• (in this example two benefits of flow production
  are required)
• One benefit of introducing flow production is
  that it allows Wei Foods Ltd to produce high
  volumes of products quickly.
• Another benefit is that it allows Wei Foods Ltd
  to gain from economies of scale.

6
Application

• 28 of marks
• Application is about referring the definitions,
  business understanding and analysis to the case
  study
• E.g. Flow production was used in the
  Northampton factory in order to produce the high
  volumes needed to meet the supermarkets
  contract.
• Tips on getting application marks
• Consider issues that are unique to Wei Foods Ltd,
  e.g. how competitive is the market, what is the
  predominant management style, who are the
  customers / suppliers, what size is the company
  how well does it cope with growth, what is the
  cash flow / profit situation etc
• Put your answer in the context of THIS company
  (Wei Foods Ltd)
• Just using the company name is not good enough
  if you can replace Wei Foods Ltd with any other
  company name, and the answer still makes sense,
  then you will not gain application marks.
• You can use quotes form the case-study but
  sparingly.

7
Analysis

• Overview
• 23 of the marks
• Command words are Analyse, Explain why and
  Examine
• Analysis uses business theory to develop a line
  of argument
• It is looking for CONSEQUENCES, CAUSES and
  EFFECTS of a particular content point
• E.g. the technical economies of scale gained by
  introducing flow production will allow Wei Foods
  Ltd to lower their unit costs and therefore
  increase their profit margins.
• Good language to use
• Because, therefore, as a result, so, this leads
  to,
• THINK
• Why is the point I have made important or
  significant for Wei Foods Ltd?
• Make a point and then think so what?

8
Evaluation (1)

• Overview
• 20 of the marks
• Command words are Evaluate, Discuss and to what
  extent
• Only evaluate in the 15 mark questions
• Need to show judgement, an understanding of the
  underlying issues and ability to draw a
  conclusion.
• Weigh up two sides of an argument and consider
  any other factors that may affect the outcome of
  what you have said.
• E.g. Discuss potential benefits of flow
  production
• Success of flow production will depend on the
  skills and attitudes of the workers because if
  they are not willing or able to adopt new working
  practices then it is unlikely that productivity
  levels will improve.
• Good phrases to use
• Success depends on because
• On balance
• only be effective if.

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Evaluation (2)

• E.g. Discuss the possible effects of new
  technology to Wei Foods Ltd.
• New technology can reduce units costs because
  (analysis)however it can be expensive to install
  and take valuable time to retrain the workers.
  This meant large costs in the short run for Wei
  Foods Ltd. On balance though Wei Foods Ltd may
  benefit from the new technology because they are
  focused on the long term profitability of the
  business and are willing to give up short term
  profits to install the technology and make
  themselves more efficient. Much depends on how
  desperate the companys shareholders are for
  quick returns.
• Green shows the start of an evaluative answer
  looking at both sides, and giving reasons for
  this point.
• Blue shows judgement weighing up the upsides
  against the downsides and concluding that new
  technology could be beneficial AND WHY
• Note that weight has been given to the answer
  with the introduction of the idea of long term
  objectives.

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Evaluation (3)

• Good language to use
• Be uncertain use terms like might, may, could.
  E.g. this might mean that sales fall
• Contradict/argue use words like but, however,
  on the other hand E.g. this might mean that sales
  fall BUT it is less likely because of the IED of
  the product
• Use words like if to consider other possible
  decisions/outcomes e.g. if competitors decide to
  drop prices then
• A good way to start evaluating is to say it
  depends onbecause (must justify/back-up what
  you have said)
• Write a conclusion
• A conclusion does not summarise what has been
  said before, it merely uses the points to show
  why this conclusion has been made.

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Timing

• ONE HOUR not a long time!
• Spend no more than 24 minutes on the first 20
  marks
• Spend 36 minutes on the last two questions
• If you run out of time on a question, start the
  next one (leave some space), you will score
  quicker marks
• MAXIMISE TIME TO MAXIMISE MARKS

12
Question spotting

• DONT DO IT
• Better to spend revision time understanding the
  key themes and learning the definitions

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In the exam (1/2)

• A possible way of approaching each paper
• Read all the questions
• Note the mark allocations and put down estimated
  times remember 36 minutes needed for the last
  two questions
• Underline/highlight the business studies terms in
  each question and then the question words
• Brainstorm the longer mark questions (only for a
  few moments though) jot down the sort of ideas
  you might be using in each question. This means
  that you might think of something else as you are
  writing another answer and you can add it in.

14
In the exam (2/2)

• A possible way of approaching each question
• Even for the longer answer questions two well
  developed points are normally sufficient so dont
  panic if you cant remember lots of reasons
• Define/explain any business studies term
• Think quality, not quantity develop points with
  language like because, therefore, so
• NO to lists, lots of ANDS and ALSOS and also
  attempted jokes examiners are grumpy cheer
  them up with good business studies answers
• KEEP LOOKING BACK TO THE QUESTION WHEN ANSWERING
  (every paragraph at least) enhances chance of
  analysis marks
• CHUNKY PARAGRAPHS FOR EACH POINT then leave a
  gap gives the examiner a big clue you are onto
  the next point.

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How to approach revision

• Make a plan
• Try to revise at the same time of day as the exam
• Revise in one hour blocks (same amount of time as
  the exam)
• Test your knowledge by writing out as much as you
  can about a theme or specification area (use
  Themes planner or Glossary)
• Practice questions (use Question and Answer pack)

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Using the tutor2u toolkit (1/5)

• The toolkit includes
• Fully analysed and evaluated glossary following
  the AQA Unit 2 and 3 specifications
• Introduction to the new units and how to approach
  the papers (this tool)
• Presentation on main themes
• Presentation on data analysis which includes a
  guide to the more difficult parts of Unit 3
  External Influences
• The case study studied a running commentary on
  the text, next to the text
• Longer style questions with suggested answers
• Interactive questions to test your knowledge of
  the case study and definitions

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Using the tutor2u toolkit (2/5)

• Fully analysed and evaluated glossary following
  the AQA Unit 2 and 3 specifications with
  hyperlinks
• Use this to gain a thorough understanding of the
  material covered in the specifications. Learn
  the terms and think carefully about the
  application/analysis and evaluation. Print out,
  write on them and make them your own guide to
  revision.
• Introduction to the new units and how to approach
  the papers (this tool)
• Understand what the units are aiming to test and
  how you can maximise your revision efforts in the
  exam with key ideas about technique.
• It would be useful to use this in conjunction
  with the specimen paper.

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Using the tutor2u toolkit (3/5)

• Presentation on main themes
• All the questions set in the exam will be based
  on the main themes in the case study. This
  presentation helps identify the core themes and
  some of the ideas behind them. Good to read
  after looking through the case study for the
  first time and just before the exam.
• Presentation on Data analysis which includes a
  guide to the more difficult parts of Unit 3
  External Influences
• All the tables explained and conclusions drawn.
• Another view on the key economic factors used in
  Business Studies

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Using the tutor2u toolkit (4/5)

• The case study studied a running commentary on
  the text, next to the text
• Thoughts, ideas and comments on the text as you
  read it. Helps demystify some of the expressions
  as well as putting into context some of the
  themes being talked about
• Longer style questions with suggested answers
• You cannot question spot, but you can be prepared
  to answer questions such as these
• Remember the advice about the number of points
  you need to make in an answer the suggestions
  are more than enough points to make
• Also remember that the examiner is looking for
  you to answer the specific question set, not give
  an answer to one of the suggested questions we
  have given you (sorry)

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Using the tutor2u toolkit (5/5)

• The toolkit can be printed out, mucked about and
  thought about. It needs you to discuss it and
  challenge it.
• BUT you must LEARN the fundamental terms, be
  prepared to explain them in the context of the
  case study and draw conclusions.
• The toolkit gives you the wherewithal to tackle
  the exam, but you need to provide the sweat and
  the brains.