Article
Sample assessment materials
A-level Business (New)7138
Now accredited
Join one of our launch Curriculum Connect sessions to find out more about the key changes, review the sample assessment materials and learn more about our enhanced support package.
This isn’t
Business as usual
Our new AS & A-level Business stand out from the crowd.
Give your students qualifications built for the future
Since our specification was last updated in 2013, the world of business has changed dramatically, and so have we.
Reimagined for today’s world and tomorrow’s careers, our fresh, modern, and engaging specification empowers students with relevant content and student friendly assessment, ensuring they gain the knowledge and skills they need for the workplaces of the future.
First teaching from September 2026.
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What’s in the specification?
In addition to core business concepts, the content includes themes designed to reflect current and emerging trends, such as:
- the impact of digital technology across business functions
- customer relationship management
- productivity, performance and efficiency beyond manufacturing
- quality of products and services, including delivery, complaints and customer experience
- supply chain transparency, codes of conduct and third-party audits
- environmental impact of operational decisions
- equality, diversity, belonging and inclusion
- developing people: purpose, value and challenges of acquiring, managing and developing talent
- employee wellbeing, including mental health and flexible working
- environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting
- ethical issues in today’s business landscape
- disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
What we’re aiming for in the assessment design
Our approach to assessment includes:
- specific topics assessed on specific papers – supporting clearer, more focused preparation
- a simplified approach to command words – helping students understand what’s required at different levels of response
- consistent paper structure – building student confidence and familiarity
- a practical approach to assessing quantitative skills in real-world business contexts.
Why our new A-level Business is the right choice for your students
We’re the only exam board offering a modern specification with real-world relevance, updated content, streamlined assessments, and an enhanced exam experience.
This is business like never before.
Streamlined assessments
Exam papers will include real world relevance and future-focused curriculum, along with clear mark schemes, making them more straightforward for examiners.
Better exam experience
Including fewer question types, more time per mark and simplified command words.
Real world content
Up to date topics that are modern and relevant to today’s world.
Everything you need from us, for first teach in 2026
Comprehensive support, clear guidance, and high-quality resources. All designed to help you deliver our new specification with confidence.
Partnering with tutor2u to bring you even more support
We’re thrilled to be partnering with tutor2u to bring you a comprehensive suite of free topic resources designed to enhance your lessons and support our new AS & A-level Business specification.
These resources, created by tutor2u, will make it easier than ever to pick up and deliver the new qualification with confidence.
Join the beta phase of tutor2u's innovative business simulations
We’re excited to be launching the BETA testing phase of tutor2u’s new business focused interactive simulations, which offer fun, hands-on ways to bring key A-level Business concepts to life in the classroom.
By directly targeting decision-making and problem-solving through hands-on exploration of entrepreneurship and risk, this simulation gives learners the opportunity to engage with real-world business concepts.
Ready to unlock your inner entrepreneur? Join the test phase today.
The new AQA AS and A-level Business specification is superb. It is relevant, forward-thinking, and designed with teachers and students firmly in mind. It tackles the big issues businesses face today, from ESG to AI, making it incredibly engaging. When you add in the straight forward and consistent approach to assessment, the detailed approach to marking support, and comprehensive teaching resources from the start, the new specification is a great choice for A-level Business.”
Jim Riley, CEO and Co-Founder of tutor2u
Resources coming in spring 2026
- Summary of changes guide
- Switching guide
- Teaching handbook
- Item commentary booklets
- Answers and commentaries for new SAMs
- Co-teaching guide
- A-level scheme of work
- Teaching guides
- Subject specific vocabulary
- Prepare to teach events – a detailed look at the papers, focusing on the new content and how it will be assessed.
The new assessments give students more time to consider data, they have longer per mark. It’s great that students have assessments for critical analysis and working with a set of data, this supports all students and stretches higher attainers.”
University of Liverpool
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Rebecca Crumpton
Subject Lead - Business, Economics and Accounting
Stephanie Oldfield
Product Manager - Business, Economics and Accounting
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