Economics and Business Studies
These two subjects will not be offered before Year 10, but they are both excellent subjects in their own right and many pupils will study one or both of them for IGCSE.
These two subjects will not be offered before Year 10, but they are both excellent subjects in their own right and many pupils will study one or both of them for IGCSE.
BUSINESS STUDIES
The aims of the syllabus are the same for all students. These aims are set out below and describe the educational purposes of a course in Business Studies for the IGCSE examination. They are not listed in order of priority.
The aims are to enable students to:
- 1. Make effective use of relevant terminology, concepts and methods and recognise the strengths and limitations of the ideas used
- 2. Apply their knowledge and critical understanding to current issues and problems in a wide range of appropriate contexts
- 3. Distinguish between facts and opinions, and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data in order to help build arguments and make informed judgements
- 4. Appreciate the perspectives of a range of stakeholders in relation to the environment, individuals, society, government and enterprise
- 5. Develop knowledge and understanding of the major groups and organisations within and outside business and consider ways in which they are able to influence objectives, decisions and activities
- 6. Develop knowledge and understanding of how the main types of business and commercial institutions are organised, financed and operated and how their relations with other organisations, consumers, employees, owners and society are regulated
- 7. Develop skills of numeracy, literacy, enquiry, selection and employment of relevant sources of information, presentation and interpretation
- 8. Develop an awareness of the nature and significance of innovation and change within the context of business activities
Teachers should note that not all of the above aims are necessarily subject to formal assessment.
There will be a chance to do coursework worth 20% of the final mark for the IGCSE course.
ECONOMICS
The aims of the syllabus are the same for all students. The aims are set out below and describe the educational purposes of a course in Economics for the IGCSE examination. They are not listed in order of priority.
The aims are to enable candidates to:
- 1. Develop a sound knowledge and understanding of economic terminology and principles and elementary economic theory;
- 2. Develop basic economic numeracy and literacy and the ability to handle simple data including graphs and diagrams;
- 3. Use the tools of economic analysis in particular situations;
- 4. Identify and discriminate between differing sources of information and to distinguish between facts and value judgements in economic issues;
- 5. Employ economic skills, with reference to individuals, groups and organisations in order to understand better the world in which they live;
- 6. Participate more fully in decision-making processes, as consumers and producers and as citizens of the local, national and international community;
- 7. Develop an understanding of the economies of developed and developing nations and of the relationships between them; and to appreciate these relationships from the perspective of both developed and developing nations.
All assessment for IGCSE Economics will be by examination.
Click here for the Economics Department e-magazine. Produced by Pupils studying Economics as part of their IB Diploma, the magazine contains commentaries on current economic topics.