IB Business
Management,
case-study ready.
IB DP Business Management HL and SL — full coverage of strategy, marketing, operations and finance, plus the pre-seen case study (Paper 1) technique and the HL-only Business Research Project (25% of grade).
The IB's applied business qualification. Strong foundation for business, management, marketing and entrepreneurship degrees worldwide.
Business Management is applied strategy, not theory.
IB Business Management is one of the most popular IB Group 3 subjects for students heading into business, management and entrepreneurship. It is also one of the most underserved in classroom teaching — because the decisive parts of the course (the pre-seen case study on Paper 1 and the HL Business Research Project on the IA) demand sustained, structured coaching that most schools cannot provide at scale.
Paper 1 is the pre-seen case
Paper 1 is unusual — students receive a detailed case study before the exam, and the exam questions relate to that specific case. Preparation means memorising the case, generating all likely questions, and drafting answers in advance. Most schools do not drill this enough. We do.
The HL Business Research Project
For HL students, the IA is a 2,000-word Business Research Project worth 25% of the final grade — the highest IA weighting of any IB subject. A strong BRP can add 2 full points to the predicted grade. We coach this separately, in parallel with syllabus content.
The full content we cover in 1:1 lessons.
Every Times Edu Business Management mentor maps lessons directly to the official IB subject guide — nothing on the final exam is a surprise.
Introduction to Business
Nature, roles, stakeholders, external environment.
Human Resource Management
Motivation, leadership, organisational structure.
Finance & Accounts
Sources of finance, costs, accounts, ratios, cash flow.
Marketing
4Ps, segmentation, branding, international marketing.
Operations Management
Production, quality, lean, location, research.
Pre-seen Case Prep
Systematic analysis of the Paper 1 case study before exam day.
BRP Research
Primary research design for the HL-only Business Research Project.
IA / BRP
SL 1,800-word commentary · HL 2,000-word research project (25%).
Every paper and every IA, mapped.
IB assessment mixes exam papers with the Internal Assessment — and the IA is where most schools lose marks. Here is the full breakdown.
Pre-seen Case Study
Questions based on a case study released to candidates before the exam.
Unseen Case + Data
Unseen case study with structured questions including quantitative analysis.
Social Enterprise (HL only)
Pre-seen stimulus on a social enterprise scenario — HL only.
Business Research Project (HL) / Commentary (SL)
HL 2,000-word research-based project (25%); SL 1,800-word commentary (30%).
Why even strong students lose IB points here.
These are the three traps we see most often in diagnostic sessions with new IB Diploma Business Management students — and every one is fixable with focused coaching.
Under-preparing the pre-seen
Paper 1 is a free 60 marks if you prepare the case systematically. Students who read it once and hope for the best cap at grade 4.
Generic BRP topic
The HL BRP requires a genuine business research question. "Should McDonald's expand?" is not a research question. "How does Grab's pricing strategy affect rider retention in HCMC?" is.
Weak financial analysis
Ratios, break-even, investment appraisal and cash-flow forecasting all appear on Paper 2 and lose students marks when rushed.
Across HL and SL.
Paper 1 scared me until my mentor made me prepare the case systematically. By exam day I had pre-written answers for every likely question. Scored 55/60 on Paper 1 alone.
What families always ask about IB Business Management.
Have a specific question about your child's situation? Book a free 60-minute diagnostic and our IB specialist will answer every one.
How do you prepare the Paper 1 pre-seen case?
We start as soon as the case is released (typically 3–4 months before exams). Every lesson covers one angle: stakeholders, strategy, marketing, operations, finance, external environment. By exam week students have answered every likely question at least once.
Is the HL Business Research Project as important as people say?
More important than most families realise. At 25% of the final grade, it is the single highest-weighted IA in the entire IB Diploma. A 22/25 BRP can rescue a 4-grade exam. A 12/25 BRP can sink a 7-grade exam.
Is BM harder than Economics at IB?
Different. BM is more applied and case-study driven; Economics is more theoretical and diagram-heavy. Students who enjoy strategic thinking prefer BM; students who prefer abstract modelling prefer Economics. Both are similarly achievable at grade 7.
Can you coach the IA at draft stage?
Yes — this is one of our most common IA interventions. We rebuild drafts against each criterion over 4–6 sessions, focusing on research methodology, analysis depth and recommendation justification.
Ready to turn IB Business Management into a full 7?
Your child's free 60-minute Business Management diagnostic includes a full topic-by-topic gap analysis, a realistic grade prediction, an IA review and a personalised roadmap through to final May exams. Worth $60 — free for the first 50 families this intake.