Introducing the pilot in GCSE Business

The Edexcel GCSE Business Pilot is made up of an Enterprise core unit (Unit 1) with several different pathways either in how to develop a business further, business communications, economics or applied business. The pilot is characterised by the principles of active investigation and the use of ICT in real business contexts. Unit 1 is assessed via an on screen examination; a practice mock exam is supplied on a CDROM. First teaching of the pilot began in September 2006.

The specification is divided into six units of content. There are five pathways within the specification.

  • Short course in Business Studies: unit 1
  • GCSE Business (Business Studies): units 1 and 2
  • GCSE in Business (Business and Economics): units 1 and 4
  • GSCE in Business (Business and Communications Systems): units 1 and 3
  • GCSE in Business (Applied Double Award): units 1, 3, 5, and 6


Unit Number and Title Content Summary 
Unit 1: Introduction to Small Business This section covers the key issues and skills involved in enterprise. This section provides a framework for looking at the marketing, financial, human and operational issues in starting and running a small business. 
Unit 2: Building a Business This section looks at the issues that arise when developing from a small to medium-sized business, and incorporates key external factors such as the economy, the environment and ethical behaviour. 
Unit 3: Business Communications This section features the practical problems of an organisation’s internal and external communication, and the opportunities provided by modern ICT packages. 
Unit 4: Introduction to Economic Understanding This section raises a series of issues and problems of economic understanding, to provide a broad national and international perspective. 
Unit 5: People and Business This applied unit focuses on the skills and attitudes individuals need in order to succeed in the workplace. 
Unit 6: Change in Business This applied unit emphasises the dynamic nature of business and the need to respond effectively to changes caused by internal and external factors. 


Teachers are supported through the provision of teacher guidance notes in the specification, learning resources (through an email service) and a teacher handbook providing a scheme of work and a list of teaching resources per topic.

This innovative qualification has been developed after extensive consultation with teachers, advisors and those with specialist knowledge. We are pleased that the Qualification & Curriculum Authority has supported this development.

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