AQA_2024: A-level Business - Paper 3
Business 3
(Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)
Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signat ure
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
BUSINESS
Paper 3 Business 3
Thursday 6 June 2024 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials For Examiner’s Use
For this paper you must have:
a calculator Question Mark
the Insert. 1
2
Instructions
3
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. 4
Answer all questions. 5
You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 6
outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of TOTAL
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).
Do all rough work in this answer book. Cross through any work you do
not want to be marked.
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
,For A-level Business Paper 3 (Business 3), focus on the following key areas:
1. Strategic Decision-Making:
Strategic Analysis: Understand the tools businesses use to assess their current position, such as
SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, and Porter’s Five Forces. These tools help evaluate external and
internal factors that affect business strategy.
Strategic Choice: Study how businesses select strategies (e.g., cost leadership, differentiation,
focus strategy) based on the outcomes of their analysis.
Strategic Implementation: Learn how businesses implement strategies effectively by aligning their
operations, resources, and organizational structure with their strategic objectives.
2. Business Objectives and Strategic Aims:
Types of Objectives: Understand the variety of objectives businesses may set (e.g., profit
maximization, market share growth, social responsibility), and how these vary depending on
business size, market conditions, and ownership type.
SMART Objectives: Ensure you know how to apply SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Relevant, Time-bound) criteria to business objectives to make them realistic and measurable.
3. Marketing Strategy:
Market Segmentation and Targeting: Study how businesses divide markets into segments based on
various criteria (demographic, geographic, psychographic) and select target segments. Understand how
businesses position themselves in the market to gain a competitive advantage.
4. Operations Management:
Production and Capacity: Study the differences between job production, batch production, and flow
production, and their impact on business efficiency and cost management.
Quality Management: Understand concepts like Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma as
ways to improve quality and minimize errors.
5. Human Resources Management:
Leadership and Motivation: Understand the impact of different leadership styles (e.g., autocratic,
democratic, laissez-faire) on employee morale and productivity. Study motivation theories like
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, and McGregor’s Theory X and
Theory Y.
Human Resource Development: Study the importance of employee training, development, and
performance management. Understand how HR practices contribute to building a motivated and skilled
workforce.
6. Financial Decision Making:
Sources of Finance: Be familiar with different methods of financing a business, including equity, debt,
and internal sources (retained earnings). Understand the advantages and disadvantages of each
source and when they are appropriate.
IB/G/Jun24/G4004/E6 7132/3
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Answer all questions. box
Read the case study in the Insert.
0 1 Analyse how Speed-e-Puds Ltd benefits from operating with a high level of capacity
utilisation.
[12 marks]
IB/G/Jun24/7132/3
, 3
Do not write
outside the
box
Extra space
Turn over ►
IB/G/Jun24/7132/3
Business 3
(Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)
Please write clearly in block capitals.
Centre number Candidate number
Surname
Forename(s)
Candidate signat ure
I declare this is my own work.
A-level
BUSINESS
Paper 3 Business 3
Thursday 6 June 2024 Morning Time allowed: 2 hours
Materials For Examiner’s Use
For this paper you must have:
a calculator Question Mark
the Insert. 1
2
Instructions
3
Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page. 4
Answer all questions. 5
You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write 6
outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
If you need extra space for your answer(s), use the lined pages at the end of TOTAL
this book. Write the question number against your answer(s).
Do all rough work in this answer book. Cross through any work you do
not want to be marked.
Information
The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 100.
,For A-level Business Paper 3 (Business 3), focus on the following key areas:
1. Strategic Decision-Making:
Strategic Analysis: Understand the tools businesses use to assess their current position, such as
SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, and Porter’s Five Forces. These tools help evaluate external and
internal factors that affect business strategy.
Strategic Choice: Study how businesses select strategies (e.g., cost leadership, differentiation,
focus strategy) based on the outcomes of their analysis.
Strategic Implementation: Learn how businesses implement strategies effectively by aligning their
operations, resources, and organizational structure with their strategic objectives.
2. Business Objectives and Strategic Aims:
Types of Objectives: Understand the variety of objectives businesses may set (e.g., profit
maximization, market share growth, social responsibility), and how these vary depending on
business size, market conditions, and ownership type.
SMART Objectives: Ensure you know how to apply SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Relevant, Time-bound) criteria to business objectives to make them realistic and measurable.
3. Marketing Strategy:
Market Segmentation and Targeting: Study how businesses divide markets into segments based on
various criteria (demographic, geographic, psychographic) and select target segments. Understand how
businesses position themselves in the market to gain a competitive advantage.
4. Operations Management:
Production and Capacity: Study the differences between job production, batch production, and flow
production, and their impact on business efficiency and cost management.
Quality Management: Understand concepts like Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma as
ways to improve quality and minimize errors.
5. Human Resources Management:
Leadership and Motivation: Understand the impact of different leadership styles (e.g., autocratic,
democratic, laissez-faire) on employee morale and productivity. Study motivation theories like
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, and McGregor’s Theory X and
Theory Y.
Human Resource Development: Study the importance of employee training, development, and
performance management. Understand how HR practices contribute to building a motivated and skilled
workforce.
6. Financial Decision Making:
Sources of Finance: Be familiar with different methods of financing a business, including equity, debt,
and internal sources (retained earnings). Understand the advantages and disadvantages of each
source and when they are appropriate.
IB/G/Jun24/G4004/E6 7132/3
, 2
Do not write
outside the
Answer all questions. box
Read the case study in the Insert.
0 1 Analyse how Speed-e-Puds Ltd benefits from operating with a high level of capacity
utilisation.
[12 marks]
IB/G/Jun24/7132/3
, 3
Do not write
outside the
box
Extra space
Turn over ►
IB/G/Jun24/7132/3
