AQA Business and Communication Studies GCSE

We are not planning to develop new GCSE Business and Communication Systems or GCSE Applied Business Studies (Double Award) qualifications under government changes to GCSEs.

The last exams for students taking the current qualifications will be in the June 2018 series and there will be no further re-sit opportunity.

As an alternative, you may like to consider either our new GCSE Business Studies qualification or the new GCSE ICT qualification, both of which we are planning to develop for first teaching in September 2017.

The GCSE Business Subjects and Economics suite is composed of six separate qualifications that can be achieved. See our specification at a glance page for a detailed view of the units required for each course.

The courses covered by the specification will develop students' ability to recall, select, communicate and apply their knowledge and understanding of concepts, issues and terminology in a variety of contexts. Through planning and carrying out investigations and tasks they will develop the skills to analyse and evaluate evidence by making reasoned judgements and presenting appropriate conclusions.

The 14 units of this specification are made up of written and practical exams and controlled assessment tasks. There are no prior learning requirements for students wishing to take this specification.

Personal economics for PSHE courses

The short course in Personal Economics has been developed to help centres meet the PSHE requirements for Economic Wellbeing and Financial Capability. Our PSHE leaflet explains more.

Specification

Key dates

• Receive and check in preliminary materials with February and March issue dates for May/June 2016 (late January/February)
• Last date to conduct computer based exam for May/June 2016 Business & Communication Systems 413009