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Unit 4 exam technique

Edexcel IAL Business · WBS14 Global business

WBS14 is a 2-hour, 80-mark paper based on sources about real global businesses. Knowing what each command word demands and how the levels are awarded is worth a grade. This lesson uses recent mark schemes and an examiner report.

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Paper structure

Section A (40 marks): short and extended-response questions on a source booklet, typically Explain or Calculate or Construct (4), Discuss (8) and two Assess (12) questions.
Section B (20 marks): one Evaluate essay based on sources.
Section C (20 marks): one Evaluate essay based on sources.

Questions may draw on Units 1 to 3, and the accounting ratios are not given in the exam.

Command word	Marks	What it needs
Define	2	A precise definition
Calculate	4	Formula, correct data, answer with units; show working
Construct	4	An accurately labelled diagram
Explain	4	Knowledge 1, application 2, analysis 1
Analyse	6	Chain of reasoning, no evaluation
Discuss	8	Chain of reasoning in context with brief assessment of competing arguments
Assess	12	Balanced, contextualised assessment leading to a supported judgement
Evaluate	20	Full reasoning, competing arguments, conclusion with a recommendation or solution

Command words from the specification

Calculations

In the June 2024 series paper (4 marks), candidates calculated a dairy firm's gross profit margin: K1 for the formula (revenue - cost of sales) / revenue x 100, up to 2 marks for selecting the right data, and 1 for the answer to 2 decimal places. An answer with no working scored 4 marks if written as 36.32% but only 3 if the % sign was missing. The October 2023 series examiner report also noted marks lost for missing percentage signs.

Application and analysis

The October 2023 series examiner report said definitions in Section A earn no marks, and the two application marks on 4-mark questions were often missed. Use the extract: names, figures, countries and products. Weak answers copied the case study or gave generic points. Build chains: point, because, which leads to, so, in this case...

Assess and Evaluate: reaching the top level

Level 4 for 12-mark Assess (9 to 12 marks) needs accurate knowledge supported throughout by the context, a coherent chain of reasoning, a balanced and well-contextualised assessment using quantitative or qualitative information, and awareness of competing arguments leading to a supported judgement (October 2024 series mark scheme).

Level 4 for 20-mark Evaluate (15 to 20 marks) adds well-developed chains showing a range of causes or effects, full awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments, and an effective conclusion that proposes a solution and/or recommendations.

Plan: 2 or 3 developed arguments, at least 1 or 2 counter-arguments, then a conclusion that answers the question, says what it depends on (product, market, time scale, the firm's finances) and recommends. The examiner report criticised conclusions that only repeat earlier points.

Worked example

Plan a 20-mark answer to 'Evaluate whether a skills shortage is the most limiting factor on international competitiveness' (June 2024 series).

Define international competitiveness and skills shortage.
Arguments for: higher wages and unit costs; lower productivity and quality; slower innovation; use the extract statistic that 54% of surveyed digital firms had lost competitive advantage.
Counter-arguments: other factors such as exchange rates, regulation, supply chain disruption; firms can train, automate or recruit abroad.
Conclusion: judge which is most limiting for this industry and why, what it depends on (sector, time scale), and recommend actions.

Answer: Balanced, contextual argument and a conclusion with a recommendation.

Key idea: 80 marks in 2 hours: Section A 40 marks, two 20-mark essays. Show formulas and units in calculations. Apply every answer to the context. 12-mark Assess needs a supported judgement; 20-mark Evaluate needs a conclusion with a recommendation or solution.

Check yourself

In the June 2024 series paper, revenue was 1,918,238 and cost of sales 1,221,579 (EUR, as given in the extract). Calculate the gross profit margin to 2 decimal places.
Show answer
36.32 %. (1,918,238 - 1,221,579) / 1,918,238 x 100 = 36.32%.
Section A is worth 40 marks and Sections B and C 20 marks each. What is the total for the paper?
Show answer
80 marks. 40 + 20 + 20 = 80.
The paper lasts 120 minutes for 80 marks. How many minutes should a 12-mark question take at the same rate?
Show answer
18 minutes. 1.5 minutes per mark x 12 = 18 minutes.
What does a Level 4 answer to a 20-mark Evaluate question need that a Level 4 Assess answer does not explicitly require?
- A conclusion that proposes a solution and/or recommendations
- Use of the business context
- A chain of reasoning
- Accurate knowledge
Show answer
A conclusion that proposes a solution and/or recommendations. The 20-mark descriptor asks for an effective conclusion with a solution or recommendations.
According to the October 2023 series examiner report, what earns no marks in Section A answers?
- Using figures from the extract
- Chains of reasoning
- Definitions of terms
- Correct units in calculations
Show answer
Definitions of terms. Defining terms wastes time in Section A.
A candidate writes 36.32 with no working for a 4-mark gross profit margin question where the answer is 36.32%. According to the mark scheme, how many marks?
- 3
- 4
- 2
- 0
Show answer
3. The answer without the % sign scored 3 of 4.
What does 'application' mean in a WBS14 mark scheme, and how do you earn it?
Show answer
Application means using the business context: refer to the named business, its country, products and data from the extract rather than making generic points.. Application marks reward using the case material.
What should the conclusion of a 20-mark Evaluate answer include?
Show answer
A justified judgement that answers the question directly, says what the answer depends on, and makes a recommendation or proposes a solution for the business.. Conclusions must judge and recommend, not summarise.

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Sources

Last updated 8 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.