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A-LevelFrom£39.99/mo

A Level Business Studies

A Level Business Studies is a Level 3 qualification, awarded here by AQA under specification 7132, made up of three written papers. Papers 1, 2 and 3 are each 2 hours long, marked out of 100, and each carries 33.3 per cent of the A level. There is no coursework or non-exam assessment.

Add to Basket: From £39.99/moSee pricing
  • 12 to 18 monthsDuration
  • OnlineStudy Method
  • Up to 56 UCAS points UCAS ptsPoints Available
  • Start any timeStart Date
Accredited qualificationUK awarding body
Start anytimeNo fixed term dates
Tutor supportExpert tutors, 7 days
14-day money backRefund if not loved
A Level Business Studies at a glance
Qualification levelRQF Level 3
Qualification number7132
UCAS pointsUp to 56 UCAS points UCAS points
Typical study time12 to 18 months
Study methodOnline
Start dateStart any time
Pay monthly£39.99 per month
Pay annually£719.91

This course is for you if…

  • ✓You are 18 or over and want a recognised full A level rather than an access or equivalence route.
  • ✓You need a Level 3 qualification for a business, management, marketing, finance or HR degree.
  • ✓You want to retake or take Business Studies properly after leaving school without it.
  • ✓You run or want to run your own business and want the theory to sit behind the practice.
  • ✓You are supporting a home-educated learner who needs a mainstream awarding body.
  • ✓You can attend an approved exam centre for three written papers in a May or June series.

Your career after this course

  • ✓You want a qualification with no in-person examinations. Three written papers must be sat at an approved centre.
  • ✓You want a coursework-heavy qualification. AQA 7132 is 100 per cent examined.
  • ✓You need a qualification finished in a few weeks. Exams run on an annual May or June cycle.
  • ✓You are looking for a short introductory business course rather than a two-year Level 3 qualification.
About this qualification

What you'll learn

A Level Business Studies asks you to think like a manager. You learn how businesses are organised, how they make decisions across marketing, operations, finance and human resources, and how they set and pursue a long-term strategy. The course develops the analytical, quantitative and evaluative skills that universities and employers expect at Level 3.

The programme leads to AQA specification 7132, the AQA Advanced Level GCE in Business, Ofqual accreditation number 601/4336/8. Everything is assessed by external written examination. There is no coursework, controlled assessment or non-exam component.

RQF Level 3UCAS Up to 56 UCAS pointsOnline12 to 18 months100% onlineSelf-paced
What you'll need

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements. AQA confirms that specification 7132 carries no previous learning requirements and that entry requirements are at the discretion of the centre. You do not need GCSE Business, or any GCSEs, to enrol.

AQA recommends that students have skills in numeracy and written communication equivalent to GCSE grade 4 in English and Maths, because Paper 2 is heavily data-response and Papers 1 and 3 both require timed extended writing. You should be 18 or over, able to read substantial amounts of text independently, and able to travel to an approved exam centre in May or June. If you are planning on university progression, remember that most degree courses also ask for GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above alongside your A levels.

Not sure if you qualify?

Our admissions team can talk you through your options.

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Assessment

How you're assessed

AQA assesses 7132 through three written papers. Paper 1 is 2 hours, 100 marks and 33.3 per cent of the A level, with three compulsory sections: fifteen multiple-choice questions worth 15 marks, short-answer questions worth 35 marks, and two essays worth 25 marks each, chosen one from two in each of two sections. Paper 2 is 2 hours, 100 marks and 33.3 per cent, made up of three compulsory data-response questions of around 33 marks each. Paper 3 is 2 hours, 100 marks and 33.3 per cent, built around one compulsory case study followed by around six questions.

All three papers assess the full specification content, so revision must be synoptic across all ten topic areas. There is no coursework, controlled assessment or non-exam component. Written exams are sat in person at an approved centre in the May or June series.

01

Portfolio-based

Coursework and a written portfolio. No traditional written exams.

02

Submit online

All assignments submitted through your learner dashboard.

03

Tutor feedback

Detailed feedback in 3 to 5 working days. Refine and resubmit until you reach the grade you want.

04

Graded across units

Pass, Merit or Distinction on each unit. Top grades stack to the highest UCAS point total.

Careers

Where this can take you

Typical roles and salary ranges this qualification opens up.

Marketing associate professional

Typical salary range

£29,000 to £46,000

Planning campaigns, analysing customer data and supporting brand and product managers. The range spans the ONS 2024 25th and 75th percentile full-time earnings for marketing associate professionals. Marketing degrees usually ask for two or three A levels, for which Business Studies is a direct fit.

Financial or accounting technician

Typical salary range

£28,000 to £38,000

Preparing management accounts, supporting audits and running finance systems in businesses and public bodies. The range covers the ONS 2024 25th percentile and median full-time earnings for finance and accounting associate professionals. AAT, ACCA and CIMA study routes all accept A Level Business Studies as strong entry preparation.

HR officer or people advisor

Typical salary range

£30,000 to £44,000

Supporting recruitment, employee relations, learning and development and reward. The range covers the ONS 2024 25th and 75th percentile full-time earnings for human resources officers. CIPD and HR degrees value the decision making to improve human resource performance content in AQA 7132.

Business analyst or operations associate

Typical salary range

£35,000 to £58,000

Mapping processes, running data analysis and recommending operational improvements. The range spans the ONS 2024 25th and 75th percentile full-time earnings for business and financial project management professionals. The strategic analysis content in the AQA 7132 synoptic paper is direct preparation.

Pricing

Choose how you want to study

Every option includes the full course, UK tutor marking and study support. The difference is whether your exams are included.

Study

Full tuition, tutor marking and study support. You arrange and pay for your own exams.

£33.92/mo

£406.99 billed annually, save 15%

  • Full course content and tutor marking
  • AI Study Assistant and study support
  • You book and pay for your own exams
Most popular

+Exams

Tuition plus your exam entry and centre fees, booked and paid for by us.

£67.92/mo

£814.99 billed annually, save 15%

  • Everything in Study
  • Exam entry and centre fees included
  • Exam booking handled for you

7-day free trial on every option. Nothing is charged today and you can cancel from your account before the trial ends.

Everything else

What else you should know

Study support and platform

  • You get a personal tutor from day one
  • Log in any time from a phone, tablet or laptop
  • Marking is done in 3 to 5 working days
  • Talk to our support team by phone, email or live chat
  • See your progress and next steps on your dashboard
  • Join the learner community forum when you want to chat to others

Funding and finance

  • Pay monthly to spread the cost with no interest
  • Pay in full and save versus monthly
  • No credit checks and no contract. Pause or cancel anytime
  • We can send funding paperwork to your employer if they sponsor you
  • Our enrolment team will talk you through every option
  • 14 day money back guarantee on every enrolment

Accreditation and recognition

  • Awarded by a recognised UK awarding body
  • Regulated by Ofqual, the same standard as college courses
  • Accepted by UK universities, employers and professional bodies
  • You get a certificate when you finish
  • Listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
  • Independently quality checked through IQA and EQA

How it works

  • Start any time. There are no set term dates or cohorts
  • Study at your own pace around work and family
  • No exams. You complete coursework, a portfolio and assignments
  • Resubmit your work at no extra cost to reach the grade you want
  • Use the optional study planner if you like a bit of structure
  • How long you study is entirely up to you. Most learners spend a few hours each week, but you can do more or less based on your own pace
What learners say

Trusted by thousands of learners

Real feedback from learners studying with Lift College.

The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
Sarah M. · Manchester
Access to HE Diploma
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
James P. · Birmingham
A Level Biology
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Aisha K. · London
Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost, really helped me improve.
David R. · Leeds
CMI Level 5
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
Emma L. · Glasgow
GCSE English
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Tom W. · Bristol
CMI Level 7
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A Level Business Studies
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