Skills You Need to Demonstrate (Edexcel A Level Business)

Skills You Need To Demonstrate in Your Responses

Knowledge

• You can gain knowledge marks for recognising and showing understanding key business terms, concepts, formulas, theories, methods and models

• Knowledge can also be demonstrated by making relevant points, such as stating a feature, benefit, drawback or implication

• In this 4-mark response, knowledge has been demonstrated by giving a definition of the key term in the question, as well as giving a correct benefit:

Explain one benefit to Uber of classifying its drivers as independent contractors. [4 marks]

Application

• You can gain application marks in calculations by using key business formulas in an appropriate context

• Application can also be awarded for the use of market data or business information from stimulus material to support a point

• In this 4-mark response, application has been demonstrated by the use of information from the case study to support a point and recognition of the context of taxi/ride sharing roles:

Explain one benefit to Uber of classifying its drivers as independent contractors. [4 marks]

Analysis

• You can gain analysis marks by developing logical chains of reasoning, showing cause and effect, impacts and outcomes

• The best analysis considers consequences and impacts for individuals and organisations of external and internal influences

• In this 4-mark response, analysis has been demonstrated by a coherent X→Y→Z chain of reasoning that shows effect and impact:

Explain one benefit to Uber of classifying its drivers as independent contractors. [4 marks]

Evaluation

• You can gain evaluation marks by showing judgement, weighing up the relative importance of factors, comparing points of view or recommending a course of action

• Top-level evaluation needs to be balanced, which requires both sides of an argument to be considered in context

• In the extracts below, instances of evaluation in the response are highlighted, both within the main body and the concluding paragraph, including:

  • Alternative points of view

  • Recommendations

  • Consideration of likelihood and significance

  • Weighing up impact

Assess the likely impact on Aldi’s costs if staff choose to leave due to poor working conditions. [12 marks]