Is this the same A Level Business as in schools?
Yes. It is the same AQA 7138 specification, the same papers, the same grading and the same certificate as the A Level sat in UK schools and colleges. The only difference is how you study: online, at your own pace, with a named tutor.
How old do I need to be?
Open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. There are no formal entry qualifications.
Do I need GCSE Business first?
No. AQA 7138 assumes no prior study of business; the course starts with what a business is and builds from there. A comfortable grasp of percentages and simple graphs helps with the quantitative skills, which make up about 10% of the marks. This is recommended, not required.
Is this the current AQA specification?
Yes. Lift College teaches the current AQA A Level Business specification 7138, with three written papers of 2 hours and 90 marks each, every paper built around two case studies with five compulsory questions on each. Your tutor tells you if AQA announces changes that affect the series you are aiming for.
When can I sit the exams?
A Levels are examined once a year, in the May/June series. All papers are sat in the same series, and any non-exam assessment is submitted in the same year. On +Exams we enter you and book your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre for the series you are ready for; on Study you can arrange your own entry as a private candidate.
Where will I sit the exams?
At one of the ten Tutors & Exams centres across England: Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Mitcham, Newcastle, Romford, St Neots and Taunton. Use the centre finder on this page to see your nearest. Exams are always sat in person at an approved centre; no A Level can be sat online.
How does paying work?
You pay monthly by subscription, or annually up front at the price shown in the plan card, which saves 15% against paying monthly. Every option starts with a 7-day free trial, there is no contract and no credit agreement, and you can cancel from your account at any time. Every payment is covered by 14-day money back. On +Exams the awarding body entry fee and the Tutors & Exams centre fee are included in the price. We do not offer Advanced Learner Loans, student finance or third-party credit; the subscription is the only way to pay.
What does the Study option include?
The full course, your named UK tutor, marked practice in every unit, mock papers and AI Study Support.
What if I stop paying?
You simply stop studying. There is no contract, no credit agreement and no debt. You can cancel from your account at any time and there is 14-day money back on every payment.
Can I sit the exams as a private candidate?
Yes. Lift College learners are entered as private candidates. On +Exams we handle the entry and book your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre, and the entry and centre fees are included. On Study you can enter yourself at a centre that accepts private candidates; you are responsible for that entry, the fees and any non-exam assessment arrangements.
How long does the course take?
Most learners take 12 to 18 months from enrolment to sitting the exams, studying 8 to 12 hours a week. There is no minimum study time and no term dates: you can go faster if you study more each week, or take longer, and your subscription runs for as long as you need it. Marked work is returned within 5 to 7 working days.
How much does A Level Business Studies cost online with the exams included?
On Lift College's +Exams plan, A Level Business Studies is £89.99 a month or £917.99 a year, with your AQA entry and Tutors & Exams centre fees included and your seat booked for you. The Study plan is £49.99 a month or £509.99 a year; exam entry is only on +Exams.
Can I study A Level Business Studies online and sit the exam as a private candidate in the UK?
Yes. You study AQA 7138 online with a named UK tutor and sit the written papers in person at an approved centre as a private candidate, in the May/June series. On +Exams Lift College makes the entry and books your seat at one of ten Tutors & Exams centres in England, with the fees included; on Study you can enter yourself at a centre that accepts private candidates.