Syllabus

Cambridge IGCSE™
Business Studies 0450
Use this syllabus for exams in 2023, 2024 and
2025. Exams are available in the June and
November series. Exams are also available in the
March series in India only.
Version 1
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Contents

1 Why choose this syllabus?.....................................................2

2 Syllabus overview..............................................................5
Aims 5
Content overview 6
Assessment overview 7
Assessment objectives 8

3 Subject content................................................................10

4 Details of the assessment....................................................22

Paper 1 Short Answer and Data Response 22
Paper 2 Case Study 22
Command words 23

5 What else you need to know.................................................24

Before you start 24
Making entries 25
After the exam 26
How students and teachers can use the grades 26
Grade descriptions 26
Changes to this syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025 27

Important: Changes to this syllabus

For information about changes to this syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025, go to page 27.
The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2020. There are no significant changes which
affect teaching.
Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2020 are still suitable for use
with this syllabus.
Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024
and 2025.

1 Why choose this syllabus?

Key benefits
Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds, although
it can be taken by students of other ages. It is tried, tested and trusted.

Students can choose from 70 subjects in any combination – it is taught by over 4800 schools in over 150
countries.

Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies is accepted by universities and employers as proof of an

understanding of business concepts and techniques across a range of different types of businesses.
Learners will be able to:
 understand different forms of business organisations, the environments in which businesses
operate and business functions such as marketing, operations and finance
 appreciate the role of people in business success.

They will also gain lifelong skills, including:

 the ability to calculate and interpret business data
 communication skills needed to support arguments with reasons
 the ability to analyse business situations and reach decisions or judgements.

Our programmes balance a thorough knowledge and understanding of a subject and help to develop
the skills learners need for their next steps in education or employment.

Our approach in Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies encourages learners to be:

Cambrid
ge
learne
r

‘The strength of Cambridge IGCSE qualifications is internationally recognised and has

provided an international pathway for our students to continue their studies around
the world.’
Gary Tan, Head of Schools and CEO, Raffles International Group of Schools, Indonesia

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 Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Why choose
this syllabus?

International recognition and acceptance

Our expertise in curriculum, teaching and learning, and assessment is the basis for the recognition of
our programmes and qualifications around the world. The combination of knowledge and skills in
Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies gives learners a solid foundation for further study. Candidates who
achieve grades A* to C are well prepared to follow a wide range of courses including Cambridge
International AS & A Level Business.

Cambridge IGCSEs are accepted and valued by leading universities and employers around the world as
evidence of academic achievement. Many universities require a combination of Cambridge
International AS & A Levels and Cambridge IGCSEs or equivalent to meet their entry requirements.

UK NARIC, the national agency in the UK for the recognition and comparison of international
qualifications and skills, has carried out an independent benchmarking study of Cambridge IGCSE and
found it to be comparable to the standard of the reformed GCSE in the UK. This means students
can be confident that their Cambridge IGCSE qualifications are accepted as equivalent to UK
GCSEs by leading universities worldwide.

Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/recognition

‘Cambridge IGCSE is one of the most sought-after and recognised qualifications in the
world. It is very popular in Egypt because it provides the perfect preparation for
success at advanced level programmes.’
Managing Director of British School in Egypt BSE

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Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Why choose
this syllabus?

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Cambridge
Learning and revision IGCSE
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Results
responses  Principal examiner reports for
 Learner guides teachers
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schemes

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 Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024
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2 Syllabus overview

Aims
The aims describe the purposes of a course based on this syllabus.

The aims are to enable students to:

 apply their knowledge and critical understanding to current issues and problems in a wide range of
business contexts
 make effective use of relevant terminology, concepts and methods, and recognise the strengths and
limitations of the ideas used in business
 distinguish between facts and opinions, and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data in order to
help build arguments and make informed judgements
 appreciate the perspectives of a range of stakeholders in relation to the business environment,
individuals, society, government and enterprise
 develop knowledge and understanding of the major groups and organisations within and outside
business, and consider ways in which they are able to influence objectives, decisions and
activities
 develop knowledge and understanding of how the main types of businesses are organised,
financed and operated, and how their relations with other organisations, consumers, employees,
owners and society are regulated
 develop skills of numeracy, literacy, enquiry, selection and use of relevant sources of information,
presentation and interpretation
 develop an awareness of the nature and significance of innovation and change within the context of
business activities
 acquire a foundation for further study of business or other subjects.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is an education organisation and politically

neutral. The contents of this syllabus, examination papers and associated materials do not
endorse any political view. We endeavour to treat all aspects of the exam process
neutrally.

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Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Syllabus overview

Content overview
1 Understanding business activity
This section introduces the underlying ideas and concepts of business and includes the purpose
and nature of business activity and how businesses can be classified. Enterprise and entrepreneurs,
and why some businesses grow while others remain small are further important issues. How
business size can be measured, types of business organisation, business objectives and
stakeholder objectives are the concluding topics.

2 People in business
The focus is the functional area of human resources and includes the importance and methods
of motivating a workforce. How businesses are organised and managed and the methods of
recruitment, selection and training of employees are also considered. Finally, the section covers the
importance and methods of effective internal and external communication.

3 Marketing
This section includes the role of marketing, the distinctions between niche and mass markets
and the techniques of market segmentation. The methods and importance of market research are
covered. The central role of the marketing mix, i.e. the four Ps, is made clear. Marketing strategies
to influence consumer decisions at home and in new foreign markets are the final topics in this
section.

4 Operations management
The focus is the functional area of production and includes the meaning and methods of
production and how productivity can be increased. The different costs of production and break-
even analysis are covered. The section concludes with the importance and methods of achieving
quality in the production process and location decisions of businesses.

5 Financial information and decisions

This finance and accounting section covers the need for and sources of business finance, cash-flow
forecasting and working capital. Simple income statements are covered as well as statements of
financial position and the analysis of accounts including why and how accounts are used.

6 External influences on business activity

This section focuses on different external influences on business activity and how these impact on
a business. It includes government influences on economic, environmental and ethical issues
and how they impact on the functional areas of businesses. In addition, the international
economy including globalisation and its effects on businesses and governments, multinational
businesses and exchange rates are important issues.
Legal constraints are an external influence to be considered but these influences are covered in the
relevant functional areas above, as well as in this last section.

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 Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Syllabus overview

Assessment overview
All candidates take two papers. Candidates will be eligible for grades A* to G.

All candidates take: and:

Paper 1 1 hour 30 Paper 2 1 hour 30 minutes

minutes Short Answer and Data Response Case Study 50%
50%
80 marks 80 marks
Four questions requiring a mixture of Four questions based on a case study,
short answers and structured data provided as an insert with the paper
responses
Candidates answer all
Candidates answer all questions
questions Externally
Externally assessed
assessed

Information on availability is in the Before you start section.

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Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Syllabus overview

Assessment objectives
The assessment objectives (AOs) are:

AO1 Knowledge and understanding

 demonstrate knowledge and understanding of facts, terms, concepts, conventions, theories and
techniques commonly applied to or used as part of business behaviour.

AO2 Application
 apply knowledge and understanding of facts, terms, concepts, conventions, theories and techniques.

AO3 Analysis
 distinguish between evidence and opinion in a business context
 order, analyse and interpret information in narrative, numerical and graphical forms, using
appropriate techniques.

AO4 Evaluation
 present reasoned explanations, develop arguments, understand implications and draw inferences
 make judgements, recommendations and decisions.

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Syllabus overview

Weighting for assessment objectives

The approximate weightings allocated to each of the assessment objectives (AOs) are summarised below.

Assessment objectives as a percentage of the qualification

Assessment objective Weighting in IGCSE %

AO1 Knowledge and understanding 40

AO2 Application 20

AO3 Analysis 25

AO4 Evaluation 15

Total 100

Assessment objectives as a percentage of each component

Assessment objective Weighting in components %

Paper 1 Paper 2

AO1 Knowledge and understanding 50 30

AO2 Application 20 20

AO3 Analysis 20 30

AO4 Evaluation 10 20

Total 100 100

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Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 syllabus for 2023, 2024
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3 Subject content

This syllabus gives you the flexibility to design a course that will interest, challenge and engage your
learners. Where appropriate you are responsible for selecting topics, subject contexts, resources and
examples to support your learners’ study. These should be appropriate for the learners’ age, cultural
background and learning context as well as complying with your school policies and local legal
requirements.

In all of the following, candidates are required to apply their understanding to a variety of simple
business situations. Candidates should be able to make simple decisions based upon the analysis
and evaluation of information provided.

1 Understanding business activity

1.1 Business activity
1.1.1 The purpose and nature of business activity: 
Concepts of needs, wants, scarcity and
opportunity cost
 Importance of specialisation
 Purpose of business activity
 The concept of adding value and how
added value can be increased

1.2 Classification of businesses

1.2.1 Economic sectors in terms of  Basis of business classification, using
primary, secondary and tertiary examples to illustrate the classification
sectors:  Reasons for the changing importance of
business classification, e.g. in developed
and developing economies

1.2.2 Classify business enterprises between

private sector and public sector in a
mixed economy

1.3 Enterprise, business growth and size

1.3.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship: 
Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
 Contents of a business plan and how
business plans assist entrepreneurs
 Why and how governments support
business start-ups, e.g. grants, training
schemes

1.3.2 The methods and problems of  Methods of measuring business size, e.g.
measuring business size: number of people employed, value of
output, capital employed (profit is not a
method of measuring business size)
 Limitations of methods of measuring
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business size

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1.3 Enterprise, business growth and size continued

1.3.3 Why some businesses grow and others
 Why the owners of a business may
remain small:
want to expand the business
 Different ways in which businesses can grow,
e.g. internal/external
 Problems linked to business growth
and how these might be overcome
 Why some businesses remain small

1.3.4 Why some (new or established) businesses fail:

 Causes of business failure, e.g. lack of
management skills, changes in the business
environment, liquidity problems
 Why new businesses are at a greater risk of failing

1.4 Types of business organisation

1.4.1 The main features of different
 Sole traders, partnerships, private and
forms of business organisation:
public limited companies, franchises and
joint ventures
 Differences between unincorporated
businesses and limited companies
 Concepts of risk, ownership and limited liability
 Recommend and justify a suitable form
of business organisation to
owners/management in a given situation
 Business organisations in the public sector,
e.g. public corporations

1.5 Business objectives and stakeholder objectives

1.5.1 Businesses can have several objectives
 Need for business objectives and the
and the importance of them can
importance of them
change:
 Different business objectives, e.g.
survival, growth, profit and market
share
 Objectives of social enterprises

1.5.2 The role of stakeholder groups  Main internal and external stakeholder groups
involved in business activity:
 Objectives of different stakeholder groups
 How these objectives might conflict with
each other, use examples

1.5.3 Differences in the objectives of private

sector and public sector enterprises

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2 People in business
2.1 Motivating employees
2.1.1 The importance of a well-motivated workforce: 
Why people work and what motivation means
 The benefits of a well-motivated
workforce: labour productivity, reduced
absenteeism and labour turnover
 The concept of human needs, e.g.
Maslow’s hierarchy
 Key motivational theories: Taylor and Herzberg

2.1.2 Methods of motivation: 

Financial rewards, e.g. wage,
salary, bonus, commission and
profit sharing
 Non-financial methods, e.g. job
enrichment, job rotation, teamworking,
training, opportunities for promotion
 Recommend and justify appropriate
method(s) of motivation in given
circumstances

2.2 Organisation and management

2.2.1 Draw, interpret and understand
 Simple hierarchical structures: levels of
simple organisational charts:
hierarchy, span of control, chain of command
e.g. tall/short
 Roles and responsibilities of directors,
managers, supervisors, other employees in
an organisation and inter-relationships
between them

2.2.2 The role of management: 

Functions of management, e.g.
planning, organising, coordinating,
commanding and controlling
 Importance of delegation; trust versus control

2.2.3 Leadership styles:  Features of the main

leadership styles,
e.g. autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire
 Recommend and justify an appropriate
leadership style in given circumstances

2.2.4 Trade unions:  What a trade

union is and the effects of
employees being union
members

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2.3 Recruitment, selection and training of employees

2.3.1 Recruitment and selecting employees: 
Recruitment and selection methods
 Difference between internal recruitment
and external recruitment
 Main stages in recruitment and
selection of employees
 Recommend and justify who to employ in
given circumstances
 Benefits and limitations of part-time
employees and full-time employees

2.3.2 The importance of training and the  Importance of training to a business

methods of training: and to employees
 Benefits and limitations of induction
training, on-the-job training and off-the-
job training

2.3.3 Why reducing the size of the workforce  Difference between dismissal and
might be necessary: redundancy with examples
 Understand situations in which
downsizing the workforce might be
necessary, e.g. automation or reduced
demand for products
 Recommend and justify which
employees to make redundant in
given circumstances

2.3.4 Legal controls over employment  Legal controls over employment contracts,
issues and their impact on employers unfair dismissal, discrimination, health and
and employees: safety, legal minimum wage

2.4 Internal and external communication

2.4.1 Why effective communication is
 Effective communication and its
important and the methods used to
importance to business
achieve it:
 Benefits and limitations of different
communication methods including those
based on information technology (IT)
 Recommend and justify which
communication method to use in given
circumstances

2.4.2 Demonstrate an awareness of  How communication barriers arise

communication barriers: and problems of ineffective
communication; how communication
barriers can be reduced or removed

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3 Marketing
3.1 Marketing, competition and the customer
3.1.1 The role of marketing: 
Identifying customer needs
 Satisfying customer needs
 Maintaining customer loyalty
 Building customer relationships

3.1.2 Market changes:  Why

customer/consumer spending patterns
may change
 The importance of changing customer needs
 Why some markets have become
more competitive
 How businesses can respond to
changing spending patterns and
increased competition

3.1.3 Concepts of niche marketing  Benefits and limitations of both

and mass marketing: approaches to marketing

3.1.4 How and why market  How markets can be segmented, e.g.
segmentation is undertaken: according to age, socio-economic grouping,
location, gender
 Potential benefits of segmentation to business
 Recommend and justify an appropriate
method of segmentation in given
circumstances

3.2 Market research

3.2.1 The role of market research and methods used:
 Market-orientated businesses (uses of market
research information to a business)
 Primary research and secondary
research (benefits and limitations
of each)
 Methods of primary research, e.g.
postal questionnaire, online survey,
interviews, focus groups
 The need for sampling
 Methods of secondary research, e.g.
online, accessing government
sources, paying for commercial
market research reports
 Factors influencing the accuracy of
market research data

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3.2.2 Presentation and use of market  Analyse market research data shown in
research results: the form of graphs, charts and diagrams;
draw simple conclusions from such
data

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3.3 Marketing mix

3.3.1 Product:  The limitations and
benefits of developing new products
 Brand image; impact on sales and
customer loyalty
 The role of packaging
 The product life cycle: main stages and
extension strategies; draw and interpret a
product life cycle diagram
 How stages of the product life cycle can
influence marketing decisions, e.g.
promotion and pricing decisions

3.3.2 Price:  Pricing methods (benefits

and limitations of different methods), e.g.
cost plus, competitive, penetration,
skimming, and promotional
 Recommend and justify an appropriate
pricing method in given
circumstances
 Understand the significance of price
elasticity: difference between price
elastic demand and price inelastic
demand; importance of the concept in
pricing decisions (knowledge of
the formula and calculations of PED will not be
assessed)

3.3.3 Place – distribution channels: 

Advantages and disadvantages of
different channels, e.g. use of
wholesalers, retailers or direct to
consumers
 Recommend and justify an
appropriate distribution channel in
given circumstances

3.3.4 Promotion:  The aims of promotion

 Different forms of promotion and how
they influence sales, e.g. advertising, sales
promotion
 The need for cost-effectiveness in spending
the marketing budget on promotion

3.3.5 Technology and the marketing mix:  Define

and explain the concept of e-commerce
 The opportunities and threats of e-
commerce to business and consumers
 Use of the internet and social media networks
for promotion
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3.4 Marketing strategy

3.4.1 Justify marketing strategies
 Importance of different elements of the
appropriate to a given situation:
marketing mix in influencing consumer
decisions in given circumstances
 Recommend and justify an appropriate
marketing strategy in given
circumstances

3.4.2 The nature and impact of legal controls  Impact of legal controls on marketing strategy,
related to marketing: e.g. misleading promotion, faulty and
dangerous goods

3.4.3 The opportunities and problems of  Growth potential of new markets in

entering new foreign markets: other countries
 Problems of entering foreign markets,
e.g. cultural differences and lack of knowledge
 Benefits and limitations of methods to
overcome such problems, e.g. joint
ventures, licensing

4 Operations management
4.1 Production of goods and services
4.1.1 The meaning of production: 
Managing resources effectively to
produce goods and services
 Difference between production and productivity
 Benefits of increasing efficiency and
how to increase it, e.g. increasing
productivity by automation and
technology, improved labour skills
 Why businesses hold inventories
 The concept of lean production: how to
achieve it, e.g. just-in-time inventory control
and Kaizen; benefits of lean production

4.1.2 The main methods of production: 

Features, benefits and limitations of job, batch
and flow production
 Recommend and justify an
appropriate production method for
a given situation

4.1.3 How technology has changed and is

changing production methods, e.g.
using computers in design and
manufacturing

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4.2 Costs, scale of production and break-even analysis

4.2.1 Identify and classify costs: 
Classifying costs using examples,
e.g. fixed, variable, average, total
 Use cost data to help make simple cost-
based decisions, e.g. to stop production
or continue

4.2.2 Economies and diseconomies of scale: 

The concept of economies of scale with
examples, e.g. purchasing, marketing, financial,
managerial, technical
 The concept of diseconomies of scale with
examples, e.g. poor communication, lack
of commitment from employees, weak
coordination

4.2.3 Break-even analysis:  The concept of break-

even
 Construct, complete or amend a
simple break-even chart
 Interpret a given chart and use it to
analyse a situation
 Calculate break-even output from given data
 Define, calculate and interpret the
margin of safety
 Use break-even analysis to help make
simple decisions, e.g. impact of higher
price
 Understand the limitations of break-even analysis

4.3 Achieving quality production

4.3.1 Why quality is important and how
 What quality means and why it is
quality production might be
important for all businesses
achieved:
 The concept of quality control and
how businesses implement
quality control
 The concept of quality assurance and
how this can be implemented

4.4 Location decisions

4.4.1 The main factors influencing the location
 Factors relevant to the location decision of
and relocation decisions of a
manufacturing businesses and service
business:
businesses
 Factors that a business could consider
when deciding which country to locate
operations in
 The role of legal controls on location decisions
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 Recommend and justify an
appropriate location for a business
in given circumstances

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5 Financial information and decisions

5.1 Business finance: needs and sources
5.1.1 The need for business finance:  The main
reasons why businesses need finance,
e.g. start-up capital, capital for expansion and
additional working capital
 Understand the difference between short-
term and long-term finance needs

5.1.2 The main sources of finance: 

Internal sources and external
sources with examples
 Short-term and long-term sources with
examples, e.g. overdraft for short-term
finance and debt or equity for long-term
finance
 Importance of alternative sources of capital,
e.g. micro-finance, crowd-funding
 The main factors considered in making
the financial choice, e.g. size and legal
form of business, amount required,
length of time, existing loans
 Recommend and justify appropriate
source(s) of finance in given
circumstances

5.2 Cash-flow forecasting and working capital

5.2.1 The importance of cash and of
 Why cash is important to a business
cash-flow forecasting:
 What a cash-flow forecast is, how a simple
one is constructed and the importance
of it
 Amend or complete a simple cash-flow forecast
 How to interpret a simple cash-flow forecast
 How a short-term cash-flow problem
might be overcome, e.g. overdraft,
delaying supplier payments, asking
debtors to pay more quickly

5.2.2 Working capital:  The concept and

importance of working capital

5.3 Income statements

5.3.1 What profit is and why it is important:  How a
profit is made
 Importance of profit to private sector businesses,
e.g. reward for risk-taking/enterprise, source of
finance
 Difference between profit and cash
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5.3 Income statements continued

5.3.2 Income statements:  Main features of an
income statement,
e.g. revenue, cost of sales, gross profit, profit and
retained profit
 Use simple income statements in
decision- making based on profit
calculations (constructing income
statements will not be assessed)

5.4 Statement of financial position

5.4.1 The main elements of a statement of
 The main classifications of assets and
financial position:
liabilities, using examples

5.4.2 Interpret a simple statement of

financial position and make
deductions from it,
e.g. how a business is financing its activities
and what assets it owns, sale of inventories
to raise finance (constructing statements of
financial position will not be assessed)

5.5 Analysis of accounts

5.5.1 Profitability:  The concept and importance of
profitability

5.5.2 Liquidity:  The concept and importance of

liquidity

5.5.3 How to interpret the financial  Gross profit margin

performance of a business by
 Profit margin
calculating and analysing profitability
ratios and liquidity ratios:  Return on Capital Employed
 Current ratio
 Acid test ratio

5.5.4 Why and how accounts are used:  Needs

of different users of accounts and ratio
analysis
 How users of accounts and ratio results
might use information to help make
decisions, e.g. whether to lend to or
invest in the business

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6 External influences on business activity

6.1 Economic issues
6.1.1 Business cycle:  Main stages
of the business cycle, e.g. growth, boom,
recession, slump
 Impact on businesses of changes in
employment levels, inflation and Gross
Domestic Product (GDP)

6.1.2 How government control over the  Identify government economic objectives,
economy affects business activity and e.g. increasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
how businesses may respond:
 Impact of changes in taxes and
government spending
 Impact of changes in interest rates
 How businesses might respond to these changes

6.2 Environmental and ethical issues

6.2.1 Environmental concerns and ethical
 How business activity can impact
issues as both opportunities and
on the environment, e.g. global
constraints for businesses:
warming
 The concept of externalities: possible
external costs and external benefits of
business decisions
 Sustainable development; how business
activity can contribute to this
 How and why business might
respond to environmental pressures
and opportunities,
e.g. pressure groups
 The role of legal controls over business
activity affecting the environment, e.g.
pollution controls
 Ethical issues a business might face:
conflicts between profits and ethics
 How business might react and respond to
ethical issues, e.g. child labour, paying fair
prices to suppliers

6.3 Business and the international economy

6.3.1 The importance of globalisation:  The
concept of globalisation and the reasons for
it
 Opportunities and threats of
globalisation for businesses
 Why governments might introduce import
tariffs and import quotas

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6.3 Business and the international economy continued

6.3.2 Reasons for the importance and
 Benefits to a business of becoming a
growth of multinational companies
multinational and the impact on its
(MNCs):
stakeholders
 Potential benefits to a country and/or
economy where a MNC is located, e.g.
jobs, exports, increased choice,
investment
 Potential drawbacks to a country and/or
economy where a MNC is located, e.g.
reduced sales of local businesses,
repatriation of profits

6.3.3 The impact of exchange rate changes: 

Depreciation and appreciation of an exchange
rate
 How exchange rate changes can affect
businesses as importers and exporters of
products,
e.g. prices, competitiveness, profitability
(exchange rate calculations will not be
assessed)

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4 Details of the assessment

Paper 1 Short Answer and Data Response

Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks

The question paper comprises four questions requiring a mixture of short answers and structured data

responses. The paper assesses content drawn from the entire syllabus.

Each question is introduced by stimulus material. For some questions candidates will need to refer to the
stimulus material in their answers. The stimulus material may include tables, graphs and images.

Candidates answer all questions.

Candidates should be aware of the marks for each part question. These are printed on the question
paper. Candidates should use them as a guide to the amount of detail and length of response
expected and to help them manage their time effectively.

Candidates write their answers on the question

paper. The paper assesses the following assessment

objectives:
AO1: Knowledge and
understanding AO2: Application
AO3:
Analysis AO4:
Evaluation

Paper 2 Case Study

Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks

The question paper comprises four questions based on a case study, provided as an insert with the paper.
The case study includes appendices with data presented in a variety of forms, such as tables, graphs,
newspaper extracts and advertisements.

The paper assesses content drawn from the entire syllabus.

Candidates answer all questions.

Candidates should be aware of the marks for each part question. These are printed on the question
paper. Candidates should use them as a guide to the amount of detail and length of response
expected and to help them manage their time effectively.

Candidates write their answers on the question paper.

The paper assesses the following assessment

objectives: AO1: Knowledge and understanding
AO2:
Application

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AO3:
Analysis AO4:
Evaluation

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Command words
Command words and their meanings help candidates know what is expected from them in the
exams. The table below includes command words used in the assessment for this syllabus. The use of
the command word will relate to the subject context.

Command word What it means

Calculate work out from given facts, figures or information

Consider review and respond to given information
Define give precise meaning
Explain set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things evident /
provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
Identify name/select/recognise
Justify support a case with evidence/argument
Outline set out main points
State express in clear terms

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5 What else you need to know

This section is an overview of other information you need to know about this syllabus. It will help to
share the administrative information with your exams officer so they know when you will need their
support. Find more information about our administrative processes at
www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide

Before you start

Previous study
We do not expect learners starting this course to have previously studied Business Studies.

Guided learning hours

We design Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses based on learners having about 130 guided learning hours
for each subject during the course but this is for guidance only. The number of hours a learner needs
to achieve the qualification may vary according to local practice and their previous experience of the
subject.

Availability and timetables

All Cambridge schools are allocated to one of six administrative zones. Each zone has a specific

timetable. You can view the timetable for your administrative zone at

www.cambridgeinternational.org/timetables

You can enter candidates in the June and November exam series. If your school is in India, you can also
enter your candidates in the March exam series.

Check you are using the syllabus for the year the candidate is taking the exam.

Private candidates can enter for this syllabus. For more information, please refer to the Cambridge Guide
to Making Entries.

Combining with other syllabuses

Candidates can take this syllabus alongside other Cambridge International syllabuses in a single exam
series. The only exceptions are:
 Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Business Studies (0986)
 Cambridge O Level Business Studies (7115)
 syllabuses with the same title at the same level.

Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) and Cambridge O Level syllabuses are at the same level.

Group awards: Cambridge ICE

Cambridge ICE (International Certificate of Education) is a group award for Cambridge IGCSE. It allows
schools to offer a broad and balanced curriculum by recognising the achievements of learners who
pass exams in a range of different subjects.

Learn more about Cambridge ICE at www.cambridgeinternational.org/cambridgeice

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need to know

Making entries
Exams officers are responsible for submitting entries to Cambridge International. We encourage them
to work closely with you to make sure they enter the right number of candidates for the right
combination of syllabus components. Entry option codes and instructions for submitting entries are
in the Cambridge Guide to Making Entries. Your exams officer has a copy of this guide.

Exam administration
To keep our exams secure, we produce question papers for different areas of the world, known as
administrative zones. We allocate all Cambridge schools to one administrative zone determined by
their location. Each zone has a specific timetable. Some of our syllabuses offer candidates different
assessment options. An entry option code is used to identify the components the candidate will
take relevant to the administrative zone and the available assessment options.

Support for exams officers

We know how important exams officers are to the successful running of exams. We provide them
with the support they need to make your entries on time. Your exams officer will find this support, and
guidance for all other phases of the Cambridge Exams Cycle, at
www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide

Retakes
Candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want to. Information on retake entries is
at
www.cambridgeinternational.org/entries

Equality and inclusion

We have taken great care to avoid bias of any kind in the preparation of this syllabus and related
assessment materials. In our effort to comply with the UK Equality Act (2010) we have taken all
reasonable steps to avoid any direct and indirect discrimination.

The standard assessment arrangements may present barriers for candidates with impairments. Where
a candidate is eligible, we may be able to make arrangements to enable that candidate to access
assessments and receive recognition of their attainment. We do not agree access arrangements if they
give candidates an unfair advantage over others or if they compromise the standards being
assessed.

Candidates who cannot access the assessment of any component may be able to receive an
award based on the parts of the assessment they have completed.

Information on access arrangements is in the Cambridge Handbook at

www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide

Language
This syllabus and the related assessment materials are available in English only.

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After the exam

Grading and reporting
Grades A*, A, B, C, D, E, F or G indicate the standard a candidate achieved at Cambridge IGCSE.

A* is the highest and G is the lowest. ‘Ungraded’ means that the candidate’s performance did not meet
the standard required for grade G. ‘Ungraded’ is reported on the statement of results but not on the
certificate.

In specific circumstances your candidates may see one of the following letters on their statement of results:
 Q (PENDING)
 X (NO RESULT).
These letters do not appear on the certificate.

On the statement of results and certificates, Cambridge IGCSE is shown as INTERNATIONAL GENERAL
CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (IGCSE).

How students and teachers can use the grades

Assessment at Cambridge IGCSE has two purposes:
 to measure learning and
achievement The assessment:
– confirms achievement and performance in relation to the knowledge, understanding and skills
specified in the syllabus, to the levels described in the grade descriptions.
 to show likely future
success The outcomes:
– help predict which students are well prepared for a particular course or career and/or which
students are more likely to be successful
– help students choose the most suitable course or career.

Grade descriptions
Grade descriptions are provided to give an indication of the standards of achievement candidates
awarded particular grades are likely to show. Weakness in one aspect of the examination may be balanced
by a better performance in some other aspect.

Grade descriptions for Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies will be published after the first assessment of
the syllabus in 2020. Find more information at www.cambridgeinternational.org/0450

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Changes to this syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025

The syllabus has been updated. This is version 1, published September 2020.

You must read the whole syllabus before planning your teaching programme.

Changes to syllabus content  We have made some small changes to the wording in section 3
Subject content, for clarity.

Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2020 are still
suitable for use with this syllabus.

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‘While studying Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International A Levels, students broaden their
horizons through a global perspective and develop a lasting passion for learning.’
Zhai Xiaoning, Deputy Principal, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China

Cambridge Assessment International Education

The Triangle Building, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 8EA, United
Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1223 553554 Fax: +44 (0)1223 553558
Email: info@cambridgeinternational.org www.cambridgeinternational.org

Copyright © UCLES September 2020