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A-Level Business Exam Hacks: What Students Frequently Forget

  • Teaching Business
  • Jul 24
  • 2 min read

The top things students leave blank, get wrong, or butcher completely—and how to fix them before the exam.


You’ve marked the same question 28 times, and 21 students still can’t calculate capital employed. If you’ve ever shouted “We did this last week!” at your whiteboard, you’re not alone. Here are the most commonly forgotten concepts in A-Level Business—and how to stop your students from blanking when it matters.


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Top 5 Things Students Commonly Forget


1. How to Use Business Formulas (Properly)

  • Students forget to label answers or write correct units

  • Mix up margin vs. markup

  • Hack: Create formula posters or mnemonic aids (link to our FREE formula revision sheet)



2. Evaluation ≠ Repeating the Same Point Twice

  • They waffle. They guess. They define things instead of evaluating.

  • Hack: Teach the “So What?” rule—every paragraph should lead to a consequence or judgement

  • Download our FREE “evaluation scaffolding” sentence starters PDF.



3. Ratio Analysis? What Ratio Analysis?

  • Many forget what the ratios mean—even if they remember how to calculate them

  • Hack: Give them contextual scenarios (e.g. “If liquidity is 1.3:1, what might this mean for a struggling business?”)

  • See our financial ratio teaching packs for more insight.




4. Globalisation vs. Glazed Eyes

  • Big topic, low retention—especially global ethics or MNC impacts

  • Hack: Use case studies—real brands help it stick

  • Bonus: See our Globalisation topic PowerPoints



5. Reading the Question Like a Human

  • They answer “discuss” as if it means “write every fact you know”

  • Hack: Practice breaking down verbs: “assess,” “to what extent,” “justify”

  • Consider downloading our FREE exam command word cheat sheet



Conclusion: Turn Forgettable into Unforgettable

You don’t need 42 new lessons. Just sharper revision. Addressing these blind spots now means fewer blank stares in the exam hall—and fewer sighs when you mark their scripts.

Call to Action: Browse our A-Level Business bundles for slides, worksheets, and revision tools that actually work.



 
 
 

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