The Business Studies department strives to offer a positive student centred learning environment, where all students will be challenged, but will also receive enough support so that they will all achieve their full potential.

We tailor our courses so that they are relevant to the students lives, and that are truly global in there outlook. We anticipate that our students will become future leaders and opinion formers of their communities; we aim to give them the skills to prepare them for this, and allow them to think creatively and to solve problems by considering a range of views.

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IGCSE Business Studies

An introductory level course for those new to Business studies.  Students study modules in Business organisation, marketing, HRM, finance, and operations management.

Course Summary
During the IGCSE Business Studies course use is made of real firms which all students are familiar with. These are studied to try and emphasise the importance and relevance of classroom learning, as well as to raise interest levels. This is a subject that is constantly evolving and some areas of study are:

• The nature and purpose of Business activity
• Business organisational structure - how a business grows, etc.
• Business finance - where finance comes from, how it is spent and how it is controlled
• Communication in business
• Employee, employer, human resource management - how to motivate and lead workers
• Marketing - finding out what customers want and then ensuring that they actually buy it

Assessment Summary
IGCSE Business Studies is assessed by final exams. There is no coursework component.

• Paper 1 - Short-answer questions; counts for 50% of final grade
• Paper 2 - Provides a business case study - students are required to analyse and interpret information and answer in greater length than in Paper 1; all of the questions relate to the case study; counts for 50% of final grade.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Business and Management
The IB Business and Management course takes the concepts and theories studied at IGCSE and takes them to further depth. The course looks at 5 main topic areas with a 6th for Higher Level incorporated as part of the 5 core areas.

Topic 1 - Business Organization and Environment and External Influences
Topic 2 - Marketing
Topic 3 -  Accounts and Finance
Topic 4 - Human Resources
Topic 5 - Operations Management
Topic 6 - Business Strategy * Higher Level Only

Economics
The IB Economics course takes the concepts and theories studied at IGCSE and takes them to further depth. The course looks at 5 main topic areas each going into further depth for Higher Level students.

Topic 1 - Introduction to Economics
Topic 2 - Microeconomics
Topic 3 - Macroeconomics
Topic 4 - International Economics
Topic 5 - Development Economics

Assessment Information

Higher Level

External Assessment - 75%

Paper 1 - 40%
A 2 ¼ hour paper based on a pre-seen case study covering all 6 topics. In Section A students answer 2 out of 3 structured questions. In Section B students answer a compulsory structured question. In Section C students answer a compulsory structured question.

Paper 2 - 35%
A 2 ¼ hour paper based on all 6 topics of the syllabus. In Section A students answer 1 out of 2 structured questions. In Section B students answer 2 out of 3 structured questions.

Internal Assessment - 25%

A 30-hour research project addressing a real life issue facing a firm or organisation analysing a decision to be made by  the organisation.

Standard Level

External Assessment - 75%

Paper 1 - 35%
A 1 ¼ hour paper based on a pre-seen case study covering all 6 topics. In Section A students answer 2 out of 3 structured questions. In Section B students answer a compulsory structured question.

Paper 2 - 40% A 1 ¾  hour paper based on all 6 topics of the syllabus. In Section A students answer 1 out of 2 structured questions. In Section B students answer 2 out of 3 structured questions.

Internal Assessment - 25%

A written commentary based on 3 to 5 supporting documents about a real life issue facing an organisation.

Economics

Higher Level

External Assessment - 80%

Paper 1 - 20%
A one hour paper where students answer 1 extended response question from a choice of 4. The question is divided into 2 parts and covers more than one area of the syllabus.

Paper 3 - 40%
A two hour paper based on all five areas of the syllabus. Students must answer 3 structured questions from a choice of 5.

Internal Assessment - 20%

Students produce a portfolio of four commentaries on contemporary economic issues.

Standard Level

External Assessment - 75%

Paper 1 - 25%
A one hour paper where students answer 1 extended response question from a choice of 4. The question is divided into 2 parts and covers more than one area of the syllabus.

Paper 2 - 50%
A two hour paper based on all five areas of the syllabus. Students must answer 3 structured questions from a choice of 5.

Internal Assessment - 25%

Students produce a portfolio of four commentaries on contemporary economic issues

Previous Events

Year 10 IGCSE Business Studies students visited Standard Chartered Bank in Bandar

On Monday 10th March a group of Year 10 IGCSE Business Studies students visited Standard Chartered Bank in Bandar. We were welcomed by staff from Finance, Marketing and Public Relations.

We were first given a presentation about the history of Standard Chartered Bank worldwide and locally in Brunei. There was then a question and answer session where students were quizzed about what they had learned so far with many winning goody bags. Students were then handed out wrist bands in support of the Banks environment Aims including their latest initiative "The greatest race on earth"

The students then went on a tour of the Bank and some were lucky enough to see the vault, while others relaxed in the VIP banking area and enjoyed the numerous facilities available. There were lots of questions as we looked around the bank and some students were given the opportunity to open accounts.

Overall, it was a very informative morning and we thank the staff of Standard Chartered Bank for their kind hospitality.