International AS and A-level Business (9625)

A-level Business

Prepare the business leaders of tomorrow with this contemporary approach to business strategy.

Please note: this specification is being withdrawn and replaced with a revised specification (9725) for International AS and A-level Business.

The final exams for AS will be in May/June 2026, and for A2 in May/June 2027. Re-sits will be available for AS in January 2027, and for A2 in January 2028. There will be no exams for this specification (9625) after January 2028. 

Please see our revised specification for International AS and A-level Business (9725) for your cohorts starting from September 2026. We have updated the specification following feedback from teachers. 

International AS and A-level Business (9625)

OxfordAQA International AS/A-level Business (9625) covers the following topics:

AS and A-level:
  • What is business?
  • Marketing
  • Operational performance
  • Human resources
  • Finance
A-level only:
  • Mission, objectives and strategy
  • Analysing the existing internal position of a business
  • Analysing the industry environment
  • Analysing the external environment: political, legal, economic, social, technological, environmental
  • Analysing strategic options: investment appraisal
  • Choosing strategic direction
  • Strategic methods: how to pursue strategies
  • Managing strategic change

OxfordAQA provides all the resources and advice you need to teach the International AS and A-level Business specification effectively.

Please visit our resource area for teachers for more resources and support.

This is a modular qualification, with four papers over the AS and A-level teaching period.

AS Paper 1 – Business and Markets:

  • Any part of section 3.1 of the specification may be assessed
  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 50% of AS-level, 20% of A-level
  • Final exam opportunity May/June 2026 (re-sit January 2027)

AS Paper 2 – Managing Operations, Human Resources and Finance:

  • Any part of section 3.2 of the specification may be assessed
  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 50% of AS-level, 20% of A-level
  • Final exam opportunity May/June 2026 (re-sit January 2027) 

A-level Paper 1 – Business Strategy:

  • Any part of section 3.3 of the specification may be assessed
  • 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 30% of A-level
  • Final exam opportunity May/June 2027 (re-sit January 2028) 

A-level Paper 2 – Business Decision Making:

  • Any part of section 3.3 of the specification may be assessed
  • 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 80 marks
  • 30% of A-level
  • Final exam opportunity May/June 2027 (re-sit January 2028) 

Re-sits 

  • Candidates may re-sit a unit any number of times.
  • The best result for each unit will count towards the final qualification.
  • Candidates who wish to repeat a qualification may do so by re-sitting one or more units.
  • Please note final opportunities for re-sits for this qualification are January 2027 for AS and January 2028 for A2. 

Take a look at our revised specification for International AS and A-level Business (9725). 

You must be an approved OxfordAQA centre to enter students for our exams. Make sure you become an OxfordAQA centre before you start teaching a course.

Course specification
Download here
(PDF, 808KB)