What does it take to get a H1 in Higher Level Business?
Chris Webb, a past pupil from The Institute of Education who achieved a H1 in Leaving Cert higher level business, shares his top revision tips.
Be familiar with the language used
One of the most important tips I can give you is to be familiar with the way questions are phrased on the exam paper. Pay particular attention to the different verbs such as evaluate, explain, illustrate etc. at the beginning of questions. Knowing the differences between what the examiner is asking for with each of these words is key to gaining full marks for your answers.
The ABQ
The ABQ section of the paper is worth a huge 20% so pay particular attention to the units being asked. Always be sure to read the questions before reading the text, then underline or highlight any phrases you think you will need in your answer. Quoting from the text is essential in this part of the paper.
Short questions
Make sure you go back over the previous years’ papers, as these question are repeated year after year.
Practice exam technique
This is a three hour paper but you have a lot to do in that time. Take three or four minutes at the start of the exam to look over the long questions and see which ones you are going to answer. Do the ABQ first.
Make sure to have all your answers in the ABQ and long questions well-structured as this will make your answers clear for the examiner. Always state your point with a heading and then give a clear explanation of your answer.
Time management
Be strict with yourself on time management. Allow 25-28 minutes to answer each long question. Leave the short questions until last, and allow 20 minutes.
Sample Notes
Students who attend The Institute of Education are provided with exclusive, exam-focussed study notes to support their home study and revision. Below are a sample of the high-quality business notes they receive.
Reaction to 2019 Business Exam
Each year, our exceptional teachers give their take on the Leaving Certificate higher level exam papers. Read what Keith Hannigan, business teacher at The Institute of Education, had to say about the 2019 exam below.
Reaction to Leaving Certificate 2019 Business (Higher Level) by Keith Hannigan, business teacher at The Institute of Education.
An excellent paper, with a really great choice of questions. Students who studied past papers and worked hard will be richly rewarded. Students will be delighted with this paper.
Short Questions
There was a lovely selection of short questions here, with something for everyone.
Section 2 | Applied Business Question
There was a nice, topical question on enterprise and the benefits of being an entrepreneur. Students would have been hoping for this question and it was more than fair.
There were also lovely questions on management activities and the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act. If students had practised with past papers they would have been very pleased here.
Section 3 | Part 1 | Long Questions
Question 1 focused on the procedures to set up a strike, which was very topical.
Question 2 was a lovely question about the environment, and how companies can be more green. Again this was a great question and nice and topical. It’s lovely to see that the business subject took on the idea of how a company can be more environmentally friendly.
Question 3 was a lovely question that didn’t tackle Brexit head on, but instead focused on the benefits of continuing to trade within the Eurozone.
Section 3 | Part 2 | Long Questions
Students would have loved Question 4, which focused on leadership and motivation, a topic that they are usually strong on.
Question 5 was on the consequences of a fall in sales in relation to a topical company, Vodaphone.
Question 6 focused primarily on marketing, in relation to a Fitbit watch. Again, this was an excellent question.
Question 7 asked students to consider the launch of a new fizzy drink and how you would set the price for it. This was a lovely question.
Top Tips
Keith Hannigan, business teacher at The Institute of Education, shares his secrets to success in the exam.
Practice
Practice as many past questions as you can. Sometimes questions that have appeared on the exam before come up again. Only allow yourself the exact time to answer them that you will have in the exam.
Use past papers and the marking scheme
Use examinations.ie to source all the past exam papers and more importantly, the marking schemes.
During the exam
Develop a plan for timing in the exam. Aim to get the short questions and the ABQ done in 70 minutes. Do not go over this.
Read the questions in the exam very carefully to make sure that you give the examiner the precise information required.
