A-level BusinessDRAFT 7138
Get ready for the future of A-level Business
A new direction for A-level Business is in development – modern, relevant and designed to reflect the evolving business landscape. While you should continue teaching the current specification for now, this new draft offers a glimpse of what’s coming and how it could support you and your students in the future.
With a clear structure, real-world examples, and thoughtfully designed assessments, our aim is to create a qualification that helps students build the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in today’s environment, whether they’re heading to university, apprenticeships, or straight into the workplace.
Download the draft AS and A-level Business (7137 -7138)
Use our current specification for your next exams in 2026
Continue using the current specification content for your next year 12 cohort taking exams in 2026.
What’s in the draft specification?
In addition to core business concepts, the proposed 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
While still in development, our proposed 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
Resources to explore (and keep an eye on)
We’re sharing draft support materials to help you start thinking ahead, including:
- Sample assessment materials (SAMs)
- Summary of changes guide
- Teaching handbook (draft)
- Switching guide
- Co-teaching guide
- Subject-specific vocabulary list
- Teaching guides and schemes of work (draft)
- Commentary booklets and sample responses
These materials are for familiarisation only and should not be used to plan or deliver lessons at this stage.
Upcoming training and events
Join us in the coming months to find out more about the proposed specification and the thinking behind it.
- Launch meetings – get an overview of what’s new and why
- Prepare to teach events – a first look at how the proposed content could be assessed
- On-demand e-learning modules – short, accessible ways to explore key features in your own time
Key information
We’ll keep you informed every step of the way, with our team here to support you throughout the process.
Contact our Business team

Rebecca Crumpton
Subject Lead - Business, Economics and Accounting

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