Skills You Need To Demonstrate (Edexcel IGCSE Business)

Knowledge and Understanding

• This skill involves showing that you know the key business terms, facts and ideas from the course, and that you can recall them accurately when asked
• When a question tests this skill, it does not expect you to explain, analyse or evaluate - it is simply checking whether you remember and understand the basics

What this involves

• Select: choosing the correct answer from a set of options
• Define: writing the meaning of a business term
• Give: providing a short answer that shows you remember something from the specification
• State: writing a simple fact or short sentence, often linked to information in the question
• Identify: picking out the correct piece of information from data, a graph, or a table

Example

• In this response, knowledge has been demonstrated by stating a valid point

Application

Spec point — 2.2.2

• This skill is about showing that you can take your business knowledge and apply it to a given situation, data or case study
• It involves showing how the knowledge works in practice. This means linking your answer to the context provided in the question (for example, a business, data table, or case study extract)

What this involves

• Calculate: using maths skills to work out an answer from the data given. You must show your workings clearly, even if you use a calculator
• Complete the table: filling in missing values in a table of data by applying the right formula or method
• Outline: giving points about a business concept or issue, and making sure these are connected to the case study or context in the question

Example

• In this response, application has been demonstrated by relating a knowledge point to a business scenario

Analysis and Evaluation

Analysis

• This involves showing that you can **break down a business idea, issue or problem into parts, explain them clearly, **and show how they connect.
• You are moving beyond recalling knowledge or applying it to context and developing** chains of reasoning**

What this involves

• Explain: give a clear statement, then add two linked points of expansion that may build on each other or stem from the same fact
• Discuss: write a longer answer where you explore a business concept or issue more fully
• Analyse: develop a chain of reasoning using a given context by expanding and exploring an issue. Your response will show clear cause-and-effect links

Example

• In this response, analysis has been demonstrated by a chain of linked points that build on a valid point

Evaluation

• This involves showing that you can weigh up different arguments, options or outcomes and reach a justified conclusion.
• You are expected to demonstrate higher-order thinking by recognising both sides, balancing evidence and making a **decision **that is clearly supported
• You need to demonstrate evaluation in 9-mark and 12-mark**** responses

What this involves

• Justify: use the information provided in the question to choose between options, and recommend one, explaining why that option is better, using evidence
• Evaluate: give a balanced argument about a business situation, weighing up advantages and disadvantages or short-term vs long-term effects. You should end with a supported conclusion that directly answers the question

Example

• In this response, evaluation has been demonstrated by weighing up the different options and a supported judgement
• This response shows a full-mark answer that demonstrates all skills