3. Proposed assessment structure

Introduction

Assessment of student performance in the Business syllabus will reflect the new emphasis of the course. In order to address the aims and objectives of the new course a variety of questioning techniques will be used. The style and structure of questions and the examination has also been changed to incorporate the integrated nature of the course content and to reflect the links between the objectives of the syllabus, the course content and the specific learning outcomes. All of these considerations have been adopted on the basis of what is attainable by students who have completed a two year, school-based course of study.

Leaving Certificate Business will be assessed in relation to syllabus objectives initially through a written terminal examination.

The exarnination will be offered at two levels with two separate examination papers, for Ordinary and Higher levels.

A variety of questioning techniques will be used and a flexible approach will be taken to the style of questioning in the written examination.

The paper at Higher level will examine the areas common to both levels and also those parts of the outcome s designated higher level only (HL)

Higher level candidates will be required to demonstrate a greater depth of knowledge and understanding of the content and issues as well as a proficiency in skills, applications and analysis.

The Ordinary level paper will refer only to those outcomes of the syllabus common to both levels. Ordinary level candidates will be required to demonstrate proficiency in skills and applications.

Assessment objectives

The examinalion will assess the candidates' ability to:

• recall knowledge in relation to the syllabus content
• use this knowledge in numerical and diagrammatic form
• demonstrate within the context of the business syllabus, appropriate terminology, concepts, procedures, principles and practical numerical calculations
• recognise, select, interpret and apply data
• demonstrate an understanding of the complex and changing situations within business organisations
• analyse business information and communicate this analysis in an accurate and logical manner.

Examination structure and marking scheme

The examination will be a written terminal examination. The examination is to be marked out of 400 marks. There will be one paper at two levels, Ordinary and Higher. The Ordinary level examination comprises two sections and is of two hours thirty minutes duration. The Higher level paper examination comprises three sections and is of three hours duration.

Overview of proposed assessment

1. Assessment structure

Terminal written examination
400 marks
Two papers Higher and Ordinary

2. Higher Level paper

Time: Three hours
Marks: 400
Three Sections: 1, 2 and 3
Note: Candidates must attempt all three sections

3. Ordinary Level paper

Time: Two and a half hours
Marks: 400
Two Sections: 1 and 2

Assessment grid

Higher level examination structure

The Higher level paper examination comprises three sections and is of three hours duration.

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Notes on Higher Level Paper

Higher level Section 1

Section 1 of the examination may be drawn from any area of the syllabus.

Higher level Section 2

For examination purposes a rota system is recommended for the course content of the applied business question in Section 2.

There are seven units in the course and each year three of these units will be used as the basis for formulating the applied business question. This will give candidates a specific focus in their approach to the examination.

With the syllabus being implemented in 1997, the first year of examination will be 1999.

In year 1 (1999) Units 1, 2 and 3 will be the areas on which the applied business question will be based.

In the second year of the examination (2000) Units 2, 3 and 4 will be the areas on which the applied business question will be based and so on.

The applied business question design will be generally focused on the higher level learning outcomes as listed in the syllabus document.

Higher level Section 3

For examination purposes, the new syllabus is set into three broad categories with allocated weightings for each:

• People in Business 10%
• Enterprise 60%
• Business Environment 30%

For the purposes of the terminal written examination at both levels these three categories have been divided into two parts for the examination.

Part I: People in Business and Business Environment 40%
Part II: Enterprise 60%

Part I: Candidates must attempt at least one question from this part, and not more than two.

Syllabus Weighting: 40%
Total Questions: 3
Marks per Question: 60 marks
Questions which must be attempted: 1 (minimum)

Part II: Candidates must attempt at least two questions from this part, and not more than three.

Syllabus Weighting: 60%
Total Questions: 4
Marks per question: 60 marks
Questions which must be attempted: 2 (minimum)

Note: Candidates must attempt at least one question from Part I and at least two questions from Part II and one other question from either grouping.

Ordinary Level Paper

The Ordinary level examination comprises two sections and is of two hours thirty minutes duration.

Ordinary level

Time: Two and a half hours
Marks: 400
Two Sections: 1 and 2

Note: Candidates must attempt both sections

Ordinary level overview

Section 1

Total Marks: 100 marks
Questions which must be attempted: 10
Total number of Questions: 15
Marks per Question: 10 marks
Format: short answer questions
Percentage of the examination: 25%

Section 2

Total Marks: 300 marks
Questions which must be attempted: 4 (restriction on options)
Total number of Questions: 8
Marks per Question: 75 marks
Format: Variety of questioning techniques
Percentage of the examination: 75%

Ordinary Level Section 2

The proposed examination weightings of the syllabus are People in Business 10%.
Enterprise 60% and Environment is 30%.

Part I
Candidates must do at least one question from this part. (and not more than two)

Syllabus Weighting: 40%
Questions which must be attempted: 1 (minimum)
Total Questions: 3
Question marks: 75 marks

Part II
Candidates must do at least two questions from this. (and not more than three).

Syllabus Weighting: 60%
Questions which must be attempted: 2 (minimum)
Total Questions: 5
Question marks: 75marks

Note: Candidate must attempt at least one question from Part I and at least two questions from Part II and one other question from either part.

Section 1 at both Ordinary and Higher levels should be presented in the form of an Answer Book - i.e. questions to be answered and returned with the candidate's answer book.