AQA GCSE Business sample questions and answers (8132)
Guide overview All 6 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
30 sample questions and answers
Taken from every topic of AQA GCSE Business, specification 8132. The full guide has 659.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Business in the Real World
151 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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What a business is and why people start one
What is a business opportunity?
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A business opportunity is a gap in the market that a new business could fill. An example is a product customers want but cannot easily buy. -
Goods, services, needs, wants and factors of production
What are the factors of production?
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The factors of production are the resources needed to make goods and services. The four factors are land, labour, capital and enterprise. -
Business sectors, entrepreneurs and a changing business environment
How do the three sectors link together in making a product such as bread?
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A farmer grows wheat in the primary sector, and a bakery makes bread in the secondary sector. A supermarket sells the bread in the tertiary sector. -
Sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and not-for-profit organisations
What are the drawbacks of being a sole trader?
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A sole trader has unlimited liability and may find it hard to raise finance. The owner often works long hours with no one to share the load. -
Business aims and objectives
How is market share calculated?
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Market share is the business's sales divided by total market sales, multiplied by 100. A firm selling £2 million in a £20 million market has a 10% market share.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Influences on Business
96 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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E-commerce and digital communication
Why has e-commerce increased the competition faced by high-street shops?
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Online sellers often have lower costs and can charge lower prices. Shoppers can compare prices on their phones before buying in a shop. -
E-commerce and digital communication
How can a business use digital communication with its suppliers?
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A business can place orders and share stock levels with suppliers online. Faster ordering helps keep stock at the right level. -
Ethics, the environment and sustainability
What are the drawbacks of ethical behaviour for a business?
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Ethical sourcing and higher wages increase costs and can reduce profit. Higher prices may lose customers who care mainly about price. -
Ethics, the environment and sustainability
How are consumers taking more environmental responsibility in their buying decisions?
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Many consumers recycle and choose products with less packaging. Some consumers are willing to pay more for goods made sustainably. -
Interest rates, employment and consumer spending
How do higher interest rates affect consumer spending?
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Mortgage and loan repayments rise, leaving households with less to spend. Savings accounts pay more, so people save more and spend less.
Paper 1
Business Operations
79 questions in the guide, across 5 subtopics. More from this topic
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Job, flow and lean production
What are the disadvantages of flow production?
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A production line needs a large investment in machinery at the start. Repetitive work can bore staff, and one breakdown can halt the whole line. -
Job, flow and lean production
What is lean production?
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Lean production is a set of methods that aim to cut waste of every kind in production. Waste includes materials, time, space and effort. -
Managing stock: just in time and just in case
How does just in time stock management work?
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A business holds almost no stock and orders supplies to arrive exactly when needed. Deliveries are small and frequent. -
Managing stock: just in time and just in case
Why does JIT depend on reliable suppliers?
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A late or faulty delivery can halt production because no buffer stock is held. Suppliers must deliver the right quantity and quality on time, every time. -
Suppliers, procurement, logistics and supply chains
Why is reliability a factor in choosing a supplier?
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A reliable supplier delivers the right goods on time, every time. Unreliable deliveries can halt production and lose sales.
Paper 1
Human Resources
64 questions in the guide, across 4 subtopics. More from this topic
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Organisational structures, span of control and delegation
What is a tall organisational structure?
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A tall structure has many layers of management and narrow spans of control. Each manager supervises only a few staff. -
Organisational structures, span of control and delegation
What are the benefits of delegation?
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Delegation frees managers to focus on important decisions. Employees gain responsibility and skills, which can motivate them. -
Recruitment, selection and contracts of employment
What is a job description?
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A job description sets out the title, duties and responsibilities of a job. A job description also states who the post holder reports to. -
Recruitment, selection and contracts of employment
What is the difference between full-time and part-time contracts?
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A full-time employee usually works around 35 to 40 hours a week. A part-time employee works fewer hours, such as three days a week. -
Financial and non-financial methods of motivation
What is commission?
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Commission is a payment linked to the value of sales an employee makes, often a percentage. Commission is common for sales staff.
Paper 2
Marketing
164 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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Identifying and satisfying customer needs
Why does satisfying customer needs help a business to be competitive?
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Customers choose the business that best meets their needs. A business that meets needs better than its rivals will win customers from them. -
Market segmentation
What is segmentation by gender?
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Segmentation by gender aims products at men or at women. Razor and cosmetics brands often run separate ranges for each. -
Purpose of market research and primary and secondary research
Why do businesses research their target market?
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Research into the target market shows who the customers are and what they want. The business can then design a product and marketing to suit them. -
Market research methods and interpreting findings
What are the benefits and drawbacks of interviews?
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Interviews give detailed answers and let the researcher explore customers' reasons. Interviews are slow and costly, and the interviewer may influence the answers. -
Pricing methods and factors affecting price
What is a loss leader?
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A loss leader is a product sold at or below cost to attract customers. The business hopes customers will buy other, full-price products at the same time.
Paper 2
Finance
105 questions in the guide, across 6 subtopics. More from this topic
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Sources of finance
What is a bank loan?
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A bank loan is a fixed sum borrowed from a bank and repaid with interest over an agreed period. The repayments must be made whatever the business's profit. -
Sources of finance
Should a small bakery buy a new oven using hire purchase or an overdraft?
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Hire purchase suits the oven better, because it spreads the cost over the oven's working life. An overdraft is expensive and is meant for short-term gaps. -
Cash flow and cash flow forecasts
What are the opening and closing balances in a cash flow forecast?
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The opening balance is the cash a business has at the start of a month. The closing balance is the opening balance plus net cash flow. Each closing balance becomes the next month's opening balance. -
Cash flow and cash flow forecasts
What are the consequences of cash flow problems?
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A business may be unable to pay wages or suppliers, and suppliers may stop deliveries. In the worst case, creditors can force the business to close. -
Financial calculations and average rate of return
How does a price rise affect revenue and profit?
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A price rise increases revenue per unit, but fewer units may be sold. Profit rises only if the extra revenue per unit outweighs the fall in sales.
AQA GCSE Business Active Recall Guide
The other 629 questions, with the answers printed after each section.