How to get an A or A* in A-Level Business Studies

A-Level Business Studies is one of the most widely chosen subjects in sixth form, but securing top marks is far from easy. In 2024, only 16.2% of students achieved an A or A*, making it one of the toughest subjects to excel in.

Whether you’re just starting or already deep into your studies, our comprehensive guide will help you build effective strategies to revise, practise, and perform at your best.

Tip: Maximise your chances of achieving an A or A* in A-level Business Studies with personalised, one-to-one lessons. Many of our Online A-level Business Studies Tutors are graduates from leading UK universities and bring deep subject expertise, proven revision strategies, and a sharp understanding of what examiners are really looking for.

Understanding A-Level Business Studies

A-Level Business Studies opens the door to understanding how real businesses operate, from growth strategies to decision-making. It’s a subject that pushes you to think deeply and apply what you’ve learned to real-world challenges.

You’ll explore a wide range of topics, including:

• Core areas like business, management, finance, marketing, and human resources

• How to understand business strategies and apply them to real-world scenarios

• The ability to interpret data, write arguments, and offer well-structured evaluation

Ready to achieve an A or A*? With our Online A-level Business Studies Tutors, you can get tailored help from specialists who understand your exam board inside-out. In fact, 81% of our students go up a whole grade, so our tutors know what it takes to turn solid revision into top grades.

Effective Revision Tips for A-Level Business Studies

Achieving top marks in A-Level Business Studies takes more than just reading the textbook. It requires smart revision techniques, consistent study sessions, and an ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. The following strategies will help you strengthen your analytical skill and maximise your marks in every business studies exam.

Create a Revision Plan That Matches Your Learning Style

Not all students revise the same way, and that’s perfectly okay. The key is finding a structure that works with your learning style while covering the full curriculum.

• Break down the syllabus into topics like marketing, finance, operations, and business strategy.

• Allocate time each week using a revision timetable, making sure to include time for both theory and evaluation-based questions.

• Use flashcard packs, mind maps, or colour-coded notes to reinforce key business concepts and improve attention retention.

• Remember: Our A-Level Business Tutors can help you tailor your revision plan to specific exam board requirements and units, ensuring no part of the A Level Business Studies course is left out.

Make Active Learning a Core Part of Your Study Sessions

Passive reading won’t get you an A or A* in A-level Business Studies. For effective revision, you need to engage your mind with tasks that force you to recall, apply, and explain.

• Use active learning strategies such as teaching topics to someone else, writing mini essays from memory, or tackling past paper questions without notes.

• Practise data and information visualisation by interpreting charts, graphs, and business reports  (important for your A-level Business Studies exam).

• Review real-world scenarios and apply models like Ansoff’s Matrix or SWOT to analyse strategic decisions made by companies.

• Go through past exam papers during your revision sessions to gain a deeper understanding of the subject.

Use a Variety of Revision Resources to Reinforce Your Understanding

The most successful Business A-level students rely on a mix of resouces to reinforce understanding and tackle difficult topics from different angles.

• Read from your core textbook, but also include online resources, business blogs, and reliable news sources like BBC Business to explore how businesses apply theory in the real world.

• Listen to a podcast about current business trends or corporate decision-making to link course content with real-world business scenarios. Marketplace Morning Report gives you a daily roundup of global business news.

• Supplement your knowledge with tools like educational technology platforms and revision resources made for your specific exam board.

Struggling with a specific topic like accounting or investment appraisal? A Level Tutors Spires™ can help explain difficult areas tailored to your learning style. This is especially useful for complex or quantitative parts of the Business Studies A Level syllabus.

Methods for Exam Success & Top Grades in A Level Business

Getting top grades in A-Level Business Studies takes more than subject knowledge. It’s about learning how to decode questions, manage your time, write with purpose, and tackle numerical problems with clarity. With well-structured revision, you can gain the edge you need to excel in any business exam.

Decode the Exam Question

One of the biggest challenges in A Level exams is understanding what the question really wants. Examiners use precise wording, and misinterpreting a command word can cost you top marks.

• Break down the question into components: is the focus on evaluation, application, or analysis?

• Look for key signals like “assess,” “justify,” or “evaluate” — these hint at how much depth and structure your answer needs.

• Top A-level students use the mark scheme to guide their essay structure, making sure every paragraph earns marks and applies business principles.

Read the A-Level Business Studies Examiner Reports

If you want to improve your exam technique, examiner reports are a goldmine. Written by the people who mark your papers, these reports give real insight into what an A or A* answer looks like. 

They highlight:

• Common mistakes students make (e.g. failing to apply context or misinterpreting the question)

• What top-band answers include (like strong evaluation and clear chains of reasoning)

• Topics or question types students struggled with in that exam series

• How marks were awarded and lost across different questions

How to use examiner reports effectively:

• After you complete a past paper, read the examiner report for that exact paper.

• Highlight specific examiner comments about what good answers did (and where weaker answers went wrong).

• Compare your own response to the feedback and ask:
  
  → Did I use the case study effectively?
  → Was my evaluation balanced and well-developed?
  → Did I show a clear line of reasoning throughout?

• Keep a log of the key advice that keeps coming up across multiple reports to refine your exam technique.

• If your exam board provides exemplar student answers with commentary, read those too. Seeing what a full-mark answer looks like (with examiner notes) is one of the best ways to achieve an A or A* in A-Level Business Studies. 

Work on Numeracy and Problem Solving Skills

While writing matters, mathematics plays a vital role in business studies, and many students lose marks by rushing or skipping numerical elements.

• Practise calculations such as break-even analysis, net profit margin, and return on investment regularly.

• Always explain what your answer means in context — that’s where the problem-solving and application skills come in.

• Past exam papers and structured walkthroughs with a teacher or tutor can help refine your approach.

Real improvement, comes not from guessing, but from reviewing past mistakes and learning from them. Mastering Business Studies takes time and effort, but with these helpful tips and techniques, you’ll achieve your academic goals faster. Work one-to-one with our Online Business Tutors to identify areas for improvement and tackle them with the right approach.

Build Effective Time Management Skills

Time is one of your most valuable resources in the business studies exam. Without good pacing, even strong answers can be cut short. That’s why reviewing past papers is so important.

• During revision sessions, simulate full exams to practise writing under timed conditions. After you finish, go through your answers in a different colour pen to highlight the marks you missed. Make sure to note down recurring topics and questions.

• Plan how much time to spend on each question using the number of marks as a guide.

• Use spare minutes at the end to review key points — especially data interpretation and evaluation sections.

Applying effective time management techniques allows you to approach the paper with confidence. Strategic revision makes all the difference when it comes to educational assessments like A-level business exams.

Find a Tutor for A Level Business Studies

Working with a specialist tutor can be the turning point for students aiming to achieve top grades in A-Level Business Studies. This dense subject covers everything from complex business theory to financial modelling and strategy, and having the right guidance can make that content far more manageable and engaging.

Why find a Business Studies Tutor?

Spires’ tutors are trained to support students through every stage of their academic journey, using their deep experience, practical insights, and a clear understanding of exam expectations.

The right tutor can:

• Break down complex business ideas into easy-to-understand explanations

• Strengthen your critical thinking and communication skills through focused feedback

• Provide structured walkthroughs of practising past papers using exam board mark schemes

• Reinforce a solid understanding of business concepts using real-life examples and case studies

• Tailor revision support to your needs with curated resources and proven strategies

Expert Support Tailored for You

Spires tutors are handpicked not just for their qualifications, but for their ability to connect with students and deliver results. Many are graduates from top UK universities, including Russell Group institutions, and understand exactly what it takes to excel in A-Level Business.

• Lessons are flexible, online, and built around your schedule

• Tutors help build confidence, fill knowledge gaps, and prepare for the real exam environment

• You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the subject, not just memorise content

Maximise your potential with Spires Online Tutors. From boosting exam performance to developing lifelong confidence, our Online Business Studies Tutors are here to help you succeed in the world of business.

What Are the Key Areas I Should Focus on When Studying for A-Level Business Studies?

To prepare for A-level Business Studies, students should study several key areas. These include financial management, accounting, and business structures and functions. Market research and segmentation are important. Finally, understanding the business legal environment is important. Students can strengthen their skills and knowledge in this field by mastering these fundamental concepts and topics.

How do I Craft Well-Structured Answers in my A-Level Business Studies Exam?

A-level business studies requires effective writing and a solid understanding of the subject. First, analyse the question and identify key concepts, theories, and ideas to address. Reading and breaking down the question can accomplish this. After identifying key concepts, organise them logically and clearly using appropriate terminology. Case studies, examples, and relevant data can support arguments and show real-world applications. Strong responses require critical thinking and communication skills.

What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Taking A-Level Business Studies Exams?

When taking A-Level Business Studies exams, it’s important to avoid common mistakes, such as overlooking key details in case studies or misinterpreting exam questions. Misunderstanding the question and providing irrelevant information is one such mistake. Failure to structure responses coherently can lead to muddled answers. Memorisation without understanding can also lead to incorrect or incomplete answers. It’s also important to manage time during exams by giving each question enough time but not too much. Finally, not proofreading can cost marks due to spelling and grammatical errors. Avoiding these mistakes can boost a-level business studies exam scores.

How Can I Effectively Balance Studying for A-Level Business Studies With Other Academic and Extracurricular Commitments?

Juggling academics and extracurriculars is like juggling balls. It takes skill, focus, and time management to complete all tasks. For A-level Business Studies students, a well-structured study plan that accounts for sports teams, music lessons and revision, practice questions, and coursework is essential. Prioritising tasks by importance reduces stress and procrastination. Communicating your schedule with teachers, peers, and family can help you balance competing demands. Finally, setting realistic goals with deadlines can help maintain academic motivation while juggling other obligations.

How Can I Get Started With A-Level Business Studies?

You can get started by downloading the Cambridge IGCSE & A-Level Business Essentials, which will guide you through using the business and understanding the key concepts of A-Level Business Studies.

What Are the Essential Qualifications Needed for A-Level Business Studies?

The essential qualifications needed for A-Level Business Studies are successful completion of IGCSEs and a good grasp of English language, as a lot of writing and reading is involved.

Can I Contact Spires for More Information About A-Level Business Studies?

You can contact us for any queries or information about A-Level Business Studies by visiting our website and filling out the contact form with your questions.

What Are the Benefits of Studying A-Level Business Studies?

Studying A-Level Business Studies not only helps in developing a deep understanding of how businesses work but also enhances your analytical, writing, and independent study skills.

How Can I Maximise My Success in A-Level Business Studies?

You can maximise your success in A-Level Business Studies by regularly revising, listening to business news, and following the syllabus, which aims to ensure a thorough understanding of the subject.

What Is the Significance of Cambridge IGCSE & A-Level Business Essentials in A-Level Business Studies?

The Cambridge IGCSE & A-Level Business Essentials provide interesting business stories, aid in listening to the business news, and significantly improve your grades in A-Level Business Studies.

What Are the Fees Associated With A-Level Business Studies?

The fees for A-Level Business Studies vary based on the organisation providing the qualification and the quantity of subjects you choose to study, it is best to check with the institutions directly for a guarantee.

How Can A-Level Business Studies Benefit My Future Studies at University or in My Career?

A-Level Business Studies can significantly improve your grades and provide you with a solid foundation to study the subject at university or to understand how businesses work in the real world, thus enhancing your career prospects.

Focus your studies with Spires Online A Level Business Studies Tutors. Find a tutor and start your journey to academic success today!

Author Bio:

Shahid Lakha is a distinguished Educational consultant with a robust background in Physics and a progressive career in both the independent education sector and EdTech. As a Co-Founder of Spires he has been enhancing online tutoring excellence since 2016. A dedicated private tutor since September 2011, Shahid educates students in Maths, Physics, and Engineering up to university level. He holds an MSc in Photon Science from the University of Manchester and a BSc in Physics from the University of Bath. This article was fact checked by Karol Pysniak, Spires Co-Founder