CIE · IGCSE · Business Studies
CIE IGCSE Business Studies Syllabus
The complete CIE IGCSE Business Studies specification mapped to 161 topics. Click any topic for free revision notes and practice questions.
Analysis of accounts
profitability and liquidity ratios
0 Qs
Balance sheets
structure and interpretation
0 Qs
Break-even analysis
break-even output, margin of safety, break-even charts
0 Qs
Budgets
the purpose and use of budgets, variance analysis
0 Qs
Business activity
factors of production
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the concept of adding value
the purpose of business activity
0 Qs
the role of enterprise and entrepreneurs
Business and the competitive environment
the nature of competition and its effects on business decisions
Business and the economic environment
exchange rates and their effects on businesses
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government economic policies and their effects on businesses
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inflation and its effects on businesses
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interest rates and their effects on businesses
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the business cycle and its effects
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Business and the ethical environment
ethical issues in business and corporate social responsibility
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Business and the legal environment
the impact of government legislation on business activity
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Business costs
fixed, variable, semi-variable and total costs; average costs
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Business finance
needs and sources
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the need for finance and sources of finance for different business situations
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Business growth
internal (organic) and external (inorganic) growth
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Business objectives
common business objectives including profit, growth, market share, survival, social responsibility
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Cash flow
cash flow forecasts and management of cash flow
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the importance of cash flow, cash flow forecasts and management
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Classification of businesses
changes in business activity between sectors
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primary, secondary and tertiary sectors
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Communication in business
methods, barriers and effectiveness
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Enterprise, business growth and size
characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
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internal and external growth
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mergers and takeovers
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methods of measuring business size
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why businesses grow and problems of growth
why some businesses remain small
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External sources of finance
loans, overdrafts, share capital, debentures, leasing, microfinance, crowdfunding
Government influence on business
taxation, subsidies, laws and regulations
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Income statements (profit and loss accounts)
structure and interpretation
0 Qs
structure, interpretation and use
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Internal sources of finance
retained profit, sale of assets, working capital
Lean production
waste reduction, just-in-time, kaizen
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Location decisions
factors affecting the location of business
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Management and leadership
leadership styles — autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire
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the role of management
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Market research
methods, use and interpretation of results
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primary and secondary research methods
primary and secondary research; qualitative and quantitative data
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Market segmentation
methods and benefits of segmenting markets
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Marketing
the role and importance of marketing
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Marketing mix
place
price
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product
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product and packaging
promotion
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Marketing strategy
choosing an appropriate marketing mix and how it changes over time
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Methods of production
job, batch and flow (mass) production
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Motivating employees
motivation theories and methods
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Motivation
financial and non-financial methods of motivation
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motivation theories — Taylor, Maslow, Herzberg
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the importance of a well-motivated workforce
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Operations management
the meaning and importance of production
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Organisation and management
communication in business — methods, barriers and improving communication
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delegation, centralisation and decentralisation
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organisational structure — hierarchies, spans of control, chain of command
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Organisational structure
hierarchy, span of control, delegation and centralisation/decentralisation
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Productivity and efficiency
measuring and improving productivity
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Profitability and liquidity ratios
gross profit margin, net profit margin, return on capital employed, current ratio, acid test ratio
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Quality management
quality control, quality assurance and total quality management (TQM)
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Revenue and profit
calculating revenue, gross profit, net profit and profit margins
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Sources of finance
internal and external sources
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Stakeholders
interests of different stakeholder groups and conflicts between stakeholders
Statement of financial position (balance sheet)
structure, interpretation and use
0 Qs
Stock (inventory) management
the role of stock control, stock control charts
0 Qs
Technology in operations
the use of technology in production and its effects
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The economic environment
business cycle, inflation, exchange rates and interest rates
The marketing mix
place — channels of distribution and e-commerce
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place and distribution channels
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price — pricing strategies and methods including cost-plus, penetration, skimming, competitive, psychological
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price (including pricing strategies and methods)
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product — product life cycle, Boston Matrix, brand
product (including product life cycle and Boston Matrix)
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promotion — advertising, sales promotion, public relations and digital promotion
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promotion (advertising, sales promotion and other methods)
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Training
on-the-job, off-the-job and induction training
Types of business organisation
franchises
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franchises, joint ventures and holding companies
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joint ventures
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multinational companies
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private and public limited companies
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private limited companies and public limited companies
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public sector enterprises
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sole traders and partnerships
Workforce reduction
redundancy, dismissal and methods of downsizing
0 Qs
All topics
Achieving quality production
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Analysis of accounts
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Balance sheets
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Break-even analysis
Budgets and budgetary control
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Business activity
Business and the international economy
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Business objectives
0 Qs
Business objectives and stakeholder objectives
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Business plans
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Cash flow forecasting and working capital
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Classification of businesses
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Costs, scale of production and break-even analysis
Diseconomies of scale
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E-commerce and digital marketing
0 Qs
Economic issues and business
0 Qs
Employment contracts and legal controls on employment
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Enterprise and the role of business in the economy
Enterprise, business growth and size
Environmental and ethical issues
0 Qs
Environmental and ethical issues in operations management
0 Qs
Ethical and environmental considerations in business
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External influences on business activity
0 Qs
Financial Information and Decisions
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Financial rewards and non-financial rewards
0 Qs
Globalisation and international trade
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Government economic objectives and policies
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Income statements (profit and loss accounts)
0 Qs
Internal and external communication
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Internal and external recruitment; workforce planning
Introduction to Business Studies
Leadership styles
Lean production and quality management
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Legal controls on marketing and consumer protection
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Location decisions
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Location of production decisions
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Market research
0 Qs
Market segmentation and targeting
Marketing
Marketing and market research
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Marketing strategy
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Marketing, competition and the customer
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Motivating workers
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Motivation in theory and practice
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Multinational businesses
Operations Management
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Operations Management, Financial Information and Decisions
Organisation and management
People in Business
Production of goods and services
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Profitability and liquidity ratios
Public sector enterprises and privatisation
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Recruitment and selection of employees
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Recruitment, selection and training of employees
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Recruitment, selection and training of workers
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Scale of production and economies and diseconomies of scale
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Scale of production and economies of scale
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Stakeholders in business
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Supply chain management and inventory (stock) control
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Technology in production and operations
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The nature and purpose of marketing
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The nature and purpose of production
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The nature of business activity
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The role of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs
The role of finance in business
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The role of human resources in business
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Trade unions and employer–employee relations
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Trade unions and their role in business
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Training and development of employees
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Types of business organisation
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Understanding Business Activity
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