Fast Track A' Level Business Studies Course (AS/A2)

FAST TRACK

A' Level Business Studies (Full AS/A2) 

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain an A Level in Business Studies. Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning A Level in Business Studies is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for the A Level Business Studies exam through home study. What's more, because the distance learning Fast Track A' Level Business Studies (Full AS/A2) course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

Our Fast Track A Level courses are 1 year courses with which you will receive priority tutor support throughout the duration. Upon completion of the course you will receive a certificate awarded by a national awarding body such as Edexcel, AQA and OCR. We also offer UCAS points with these courses which will vary depending on the grade you receive.

FORMAT OF COURSE (Modules Overview)

FAST TRACK AS BUSINESS STUDIES
Why choose Business Studies?

The course has been designed to provide students with an understanding of the following: how businesses work; how the world around them affects decision-making within a business; what leads to change and how businesses respond to these issues; and the range of perspectives that can be taken on business activities.

It also helps develop a range of important and transferable skills: data skills; presenting arguments and making recommendations on the basis of the available evidence; and problem solving.

The Course
The course is divided into two units, each of which is divided into several lessons. All of the lessons have references to the textbook and selected websites. At the end of each lesson is a set of self-check questions. After studying the lesson you should be able to answer these questions. If you struggle with any of them, go back and re-read the relevant section. There are also a number of assignments. At various points you will be asked to complete one of the assignments and send it to your tutor for marking.

Each unit corresponds to a unit as set out in the syllabus and an examination. The lessons also correspond to sections of the units in the syllabus. It is important that you will study the lessons in the right sequence. However you should be aware that business studies is very much an integrated subject – try and see the links between topics as you go along, and remember that this is certainly something the examiner will expect.

Unit 1- Planning and Financing a Business (BUSS1)
(see opposite box for more details)
40% of AS, 20% of A Level
1 hour 15 minutes examination - 60 marks
Short answer questions and extended responses based on a mini case study. Available January and June

Unit 2 - Managing a Business - BUSS2
(see opposite box for more details)
60% of AS, 30% of A Level
1 hour 30 minutes examination - 80 marks
Compulsory, multi-part data response questions.
Available January and June

The full syllabus can be found on the AQA exam board website at www.aqa.org.uk, together with other useful material such as example exam papers.

Studying Business Studies
Business studies is a contemporary and “real world” subject. Business studies students can benefit greatly from drawing on experience of employment, experience as consumers and what they see in the media.

Students need to have gcse level mathematics skills to do well on the course. There is no difficult mathematics but there is a need to have a go at interpreting figures and performing simple calculations.

FAST TRACK A2 BUSINESS STUDIES
The Course

The course is divided into two units, each of which is divided into several lessons. All of the lessons have references to the textbook and selected websites. At the end of each lesson is a set of self-check questions. After studying the lesson you should be able to answer these questions. If you struggle with any of them, go back and re-read the relevant section. There are also a number of assignments. At various points you will be asked to complete one of the assignments and send it to your tutor for marking.

Each unit corresponds to a unit as set out in the syllabus and an examination. The lessons also correspond to sections of the units in the syllabus. It is important that you study the lessons in the right sequence. However you should be aware that business studies is very much an integrated subject – try and see the links between topics as you go along, and remember that this is certainly something the examiner will expect. The knowledge and understanding contained in AS units is also assessed through the A2 course – do not see these AS units as wholly separate.

The Units are divided up as follows:

Unit 3 - Strategies for Success (BUSS3)
25% of A Level
1 hour 45 minutes examination - 80 marks

Questions requiring extended answers based on an unseen case study drawing upon knowledge from AS units.
Available January and June

Unit 4 - The Business Environment and Managing Change (BUSS4)  
25% of A Level
1 hour 45 minutes examination - 80 marks

Pre-release research tasks leading to the first section of a two section examination. The second section will consist of choice of essays. All questions will be essay style and synoptic therefore drawing upon knowledge from all four units.

Studying Business Studies
Business studies is a contemporary and “real world” subject. Business studies students can benefit greatly from drawing on experience of employment, experience as consumers and what they see in the media. Students need to have gcse level mathematics skills to do well on the course. There is no difficult mathematics but there is a need to have a go at interpreting figures and performing simple calculations.

HOME STUDY SUPPORT

Your tutor will support you with your project formulation and give you guidance with appropriate topics and ideas.

You will be provided with comprehensive online materials designed to provide you with everything required to complete your course of study. You will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact a Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

Your tutor will give you various resource sites to visit and there is extra material in the student support portal. In addition there are several supporting texts books for this course but again this depends on which approach you are following and which book best suits your individual needs

Further information can be obtained through AQA. The final assessment criteria and structure is the same regardless of which approach you choose.

COURSE RESOURCES

You will also require the following text books for your course:

Although the course material provides explanations of the whole syllabus you are strongly advised to purchase a copy of the following AS level textbook:

Hall, Jones and others, Business Studies, AS (AQA) 4th edition, (2008), Causeway Press. ISBN 978-1-4058-9220-9

Sections of the book will be set out as recommended reading in places within the course material.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

For each module there are two or three formal tutor-marked assessments which, when completed, should be sent to your tutor, via e-mail or conventional post. All of the information within the units is written in line with the requirements of the examination board specification and the demands of the examination.

All units are broken down into clear subject topics, and students should spend the amount of time studying for each topic as advised by their course tutor. Each topic module has been written for ease of understanding and topic coverage may be of different length and difficulty depending on the level of detail and information required. You will need to study the modules in the sequence provided.

The AS and A2 modules link together and assessment is all done by examination as there is no coursework option.

What's Included
Learning documentation, Online Resources and Tutor support for 2 years.

Tutor support for two years. Students are required to arrange and pay for examinations, students should note exam dates for the syllabus via the exam board website. Details of examination dates and examination enrolment deadlines are included in the 'Student Welcome Pack'.

HOME STUDY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Basic English reading and writing skills, as full tutor support is given. This course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about Business Studies and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 12 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

COURSE FEES

The enrolment fee for the A' Level Business Studies (Full AS + A2) home study course is £456.25 (inc VAT), though for a limited time we are offering you the opportunity to pay only £365 (inc VAT) which is a 20% discount if you enrol online and pay in full.

You can also opt for our Easy Payment Plan and enrol online today by paying a deposit of £91.25 and then 4 equal payments of £91.25 per month. The first instalment is paid about a month after you receive your course.

QUALIFICATION

AS/A2 - A level in Business Studies. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

Specification: AQA (Full A Level) 2130, AQA (AS) 1131 and AQA (A2) 2131

www.aqa.org.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION 

Please note that included in your course fee is your registration to the online student community, and a licence to print your study materials. Please also be aware that the licence is for one print only, so ensure that you have enough paper and ink to print the full course materials if required.

You will need to having one of the following packages to access your online course:

Windows:
Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 - Acrobat Reader 4.0 and above

Macintosh:
Mac OS X, Mac OS 9.2 - Acrobat Reader 4.0 and above

In the student 'On Campus' you are also able to take part in the student chat room and forums as part of our online student community.

After enrolling online you will receive your username and password to access the On Campus area within 5 working days. You will also receive your personal student number via email.

Students are required to arrange and pay for their examinations and manage the course work element if the subject requires this. Students must check the relevant examination board website for further information and final examination sitting dates for the specification.

POSTAGE & PACKING

Get FREE UK delivery when purchasing distance learning courses online. We will deliver your course materials direct to your door upon enrolment so you can get started straight away and plan your studies around your other commitments.