Mini practice paper: 8 questions
Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Business Studies syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.
Q1 · Difficulty 1/3
Which promotional method is best described as a non-paid form of communication about a business that appears in the media?
- Sales promotion
- Public relations
- Personal selling
- Direct mail
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Public relations
Public relations involves managing the spread of information about a business, including securing unpaid media coverage such as press releases and news stories. Sales promotion involves short-term incentives to boost sales. Personal selling is a paid, face-to-face sales activity. Direct mail involves sending promotional materials directly to consumers at a cost.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3
A business owned by one person is a:
- plc
- partnership
- franchise
- sole trader
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — sole trader
A sole trader is owned by one person.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3
A manager tells her team: 'I trust you to manage your own projects. Come to me only if you need support.' Which leadership style does this best describe?
- Paternalistic leadership
- Autocratic leadership
- Laissez-faire leadership
- Democratic leadership
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Laissez-faire leadership
Laissez-faire leadership gives employees maximum freedom and autonomy, with the leader adopting a 'hands-off' approach and only intervening when asked. Autocratic leaders control all decisions. Paternalistic leaders guide and protect employees. Democratic leaders actively involve the team in decision-making.
Q4 · Difficulty 2/3
A business is facing an emergency situation requiring an immediate decision. Which leadership style is most appropriate in this context?
- Laissez-faire, to empower employees quickly
- Paternalistic, to protect employee well-being
- Democratic, to gather the best ideas rapidly
- Autocratic, to enable fast decision-making
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — Autocratic, to enable fast decision-making
Autocratic leadership allows the leader to make immediate decisions without the delay of consultation, making it suitable for emergency or crisis situations. Laissez-faire would slow responses by leaving decisions to individuals. Democratic consultation takes time. Paternalistic leadership prioritises welfare over speed.
Q5 · Difficulty 2/3
Costs that do not change with output are:
- variable costs
- total costs
- unit costs
- fixed costs
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — fixed costs
Fixed costs stay the same.
Q6 · Difficulty 2/3
The protection of owners' personal assets is:
- goodwill
- market share
- limited liability
- unlimited liability
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — limited liability
Limited liability protects personal assets.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3
A business pays its workers a fixed amount for each unit they produce, regardless of time worked. What is this method of payment called?
- Piece rate
- Time rate
- Salary
- Commission
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — Piece rate
Piece rate pay is calculated per unit produced, incentivising output. Time rate pays per hour worked. Salary is a fixed annual amount paid regardless of output. Commission is a percentage of sales value, typically used in sales roles.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3
Which leadership style involves the leader making all decisions without consulting employees?
- Paternalistic leadership
- Democratic leadership
- Autocratic leadership
- Laissez-faire leadership
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Autocratic leadership
Autocratic leadership is defined by the leader retaining all decision-making authority without consulting employees. Democratic leadership involves employees in decisions. Laissez-faire gives employees freedom to make their own decisions. Paternalistic leaders make decisions but consider employee welfare.
Pearson Edexcel International IGCSE Business Studies FAQ
What does the Pearson Edexcel International IGCSE Business Studies exam look like?
The Pearson Edexcel International IGCSE Business Studies exam is structured across 2 components. Paper 1: Objective and short-answer questions covering the breadth of the specification. Paper 2: Structured and extended-response questions testing depth of understanding. Total exam time varies by board and tier — typically 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
Can I download a free Pearson Edexcel International IGCSE Business Studies past paper?
Real Pearson Edexcel International past papers are published directly by Pearson Edexcel International on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is Pearson Edexcel International IGCSE Business Studies graded?
See the official board specification for the current grading scale. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.