A-Level Business,
case-study
ready.
Cambridge 9609 and Edexcel International A-Level Business — full functional and strategic coverage plus the case-study application technique that defines A* on Paper 3.
The qualification for students heading into business, management and entrepreneurship. Strategy, finance and case-study technique at A* standard.
A-Level Business is applied analysis, not theory.
A-Level Business 9609 is an application-heavy qualification that rewards students who can read a live business case, identify the strategic problem, and construct a reasoned recommendation under time pressure. The theory is manageable; the skill is applying it to unfamiliar scenarios — and this is the skill classroom teaching most often underserves.
Paper 3 is the decider
Paper 3 (A2 Case Study) is where A* students separate from everyone else. The paper gives students a 1,500-word business case and asks them to analyse it across four structured questions worth 20 marks each. Most students write generic theory. A* students weave specific case facts into every paragraph of every answer.
Our coaching
We drill one full case-study paper every week from week 4 onwards. Every answer is marked against the exact examiner criteria: application (quoting the case), analysis (building a logical argument), evaluation (weighing alternatives) and judgement.
The full content we cover in 1:1 lessons.
Every Times Edu Business mentor maps lessons directly to the official syllabus objectives — nothing on the real paper is a surprise.
Business Activity
Enterprise, stakeholders, business objectives, structures.
People in Business
Motivation theory, leadership, HRM, organisational structure.
Marketing
Segmentation, STP, marketing mix, e-commerce, research.
Operations
Production methods, capacity, quality, lean thinking.
Finance & Accounting
Ratio analysis, cash flow forecasting, budgets and investment appraisal.
Strategic Management
SWOT, Ansoff, Porter, Boston Matrix and decision trees.
Business in a Changing World
Globalisation, CSR, ethics, external change and risk.
Paper 3 Case Technique
Application-analysis-evaluation structure for 20-mark questions.
The papers your child will actually sit.
Knowing what each paper tests — and how it is marked — is half the battle. Here is the full breakdown.
Short-Answer (AS)
Structured short-answer questions across AS content.
Data Response (AS)
Data response case study with three-part questions.
A2 Case Study
The most demanding paper. A 1,500-word case with four 20-mark analytical questions.
20-mark Judgement
Every Paper 3 answer requires a final judgement, weighted against the case facts.
Why even strong students lose grades here.
These are the three traps we see most often in diagnostic sessions with new A-Level Business students — and every one of them is fixable.
Generic answers
The Paper 3 mark scheme specifically rewards quoting the case. Students who write textbook theory without citing the case lose the upper half of every answer.
No ratio work
Accounting ratios (current, acid test, ROCE, gearing) appear on every Paper 3. Students who skip them in revision lose 8–10 marks.
Weak evaluation
The final judgement on a 20-mark question must be reasoned. "It depends" is worth 2 marks. "It depends on whether the firm has spare capacity and the opportunity cost of the alternative use of funds" is worth 5.
From AS to final A2.
I went from a C at mocks to an A* at final. Paper 3 used to terrify me. After twelve weeks of case-study drills with Times Edu, I actually enjoyed writing the final paper.
What families always ask about Business.
Have a specific question about your child's situation? Book a free 60-minute diagnostic and our specialist will answer every one.
How is A-Level Business different from A-Level Economics?
Business is more applied and case-study driven; Economics is more theoretical and mathematical. Business rewards students who think about strategy and decision-making; Economics rewards students who think about models and causation. Both are equally respected for business university programmes.
Do I need Maths for A-Level Business?
Not strictly required, but strongly helpful. The accounting and investment appraisal sections of A2 require comfortable arithmetic and ratio manipulation. Students weak at Maths can still reach A but usually plateau at that level.
How much of A-Level Business is essay writing?
The majority of marks on Paper 3 come from extended-response answers (20 marks each). Paper 2 also has multi-mark structured responses. Strong writing technique is essential for A*.
Can you coach the Edexcel International A-Level specification?
Yes. Edexcel WBS has slightly different paper structure but similar content. Your mentor will be matched to whichever board your school uses.
Ready to turn A-Level Business into an A*?
Your child's free 60-minute Business diagnostic includes a full topic-by-topic gap analysis, a realistic grade prediction and a personalised roadmap through to final A2. Worth $60 — free for the first 50 families this intake.