IGCSE Business Studies (0450)
Suggested Textbooks
- Houghton, M. (2012) Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies Revision Guide ISBN 978 1107661622
- Houghton, M. (2011) Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies Teachers Resource CD Rom ISBN 978 0521122122
- Nuttall, C. & Houghton, M. (2010) Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies Coursebook with CD Rom Second Edition ISBN 978 0521122108
- Garrett, L., Dransfield, R., Needham, D., & King, J. (2010) Business Studies for IGCSE ISBN 978 1408506479
- Titley, B. (2011) Complete Business Studies for IGCSE and O Level (with student CD) ISBN 978 0198311086
- Jones, R. (2010) Heinemann IGCSE Business Studies ISBN 978 0435991203
- Borrington, K. & Stimpson, P. (2006) IGCSE Business Studies ISBN 978 0340926499
- Borrington, K., Stimpson, P., Vasey, P. (2002) IGCSE Business Studies CD Rom ISBN 978 0719572692
- Stimpson, P. & Borrington, K. (2005) IGCSE Study Guide for Business Studies ISBN 978 0719579011
CIE will update the suggested resources on the website, so please check
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-business-studies-0450/support-material/
(You DO NOT need to have every book, but it is really useful to have one or two CIE endorsed books).
Syllabus
To have most success at passing the CIE examinations, it is important to read through the syllabus for the year that the student is taking the examination. It can be accessed on the CIE website at
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-business-studies-0450/
CIE Past Papers
1. Past papers for IGCSE Business Studies can be obtained from the CIE website under the specific subject at
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-business-studies-0450/past-papers/
There are examiners’ reports, question papers and marking schemes for one of the previous year’s exam sessions.
2. If you want more past papers, go to the CIE website and click on the publications tab. There are usually three years' worth of past papers, examiners' reports and marking schemes. For minimal cost, you get a CD-Rom with all the papers in your specific subject. Check here for the latest publications catalogue:
http://www.cie.org.uk/profiles/teachers/orderpub
Websites
(Online resources can be a great way to supplement learning or make learning more interesting. Please let me know if any links are broken.)
www.thetimes100.co.uk/
There are plenty of case studies on this site, with an index to help search for particular topics. The case studies tend to be UK-based, but students can compare with their own country and sketch their own case studies.
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/business/
BBC Bitesize is an excellent revision site that contains revision notes and questions for the student to test their knowledge.
www.bized.co.uk/
This is an A Level site, but it can be a good resource or reference site for teachers and students.
www.tutor2u.net/
Though not specifically for CIE examinations, this site is a great resource for students and teachers. There is plenty of information here for the students to recap or consolidate knowledge from the course, and the site is quite visual. As there is so much here, it might be more efficient for teachers to guide students to a particular section.
www.businessstudiesonline.co.uk/
This site has been designed and maintained by a UK teacher. There are quizzes, useful terms and links to other useful sites. This is a good reference tool for teachers and students.
www.igcsebusinessstudies.com/
There is a lot of information on this site, so it can either be used for reference by students or teachers, or the work can be used as class work. It is worth looking through, and keeping as a resource.
www.enterprise-zone.co.uk/
This colourful site has sections for teachers and students, and is well worth a visit. Case studies include Google, Capital One and Merrill Lynch. There are worksheets and activities that can be completed by the students as part of their knowledge building for business studies.
www.smallbusinessnotes.com/
An American-based site, this is aimed at people who want advice on how to start up and run a business. It can provide useful reference material for teachers and students.
www.score.org/
A brilliant site, for me, as I worked on getting my small educational business off the ground. This non-profit organisation is geared towards helping small businesses with mentorship, information, advice and other tools. It is worth a look for real-world advice for businesses.
www.tradingeconomics.com/
Trading Economics provides its users with accurate information for 232 countries including historical data for more than 300.000 economic indicators, exchange rates, stock market indexes, government bond yields and commodity prices. It is a useful reference for statistics.
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
Another useful reference source of information on countries around the world, including economies, government, geography and so on. Worth having as a resource, for teachers and students.
www.startups.co.uk/
From the CIE website, this website provides information for businesses (in the UK) who want to set up in business. Includes information on a range of issues including marketing and finance plus some useful stories about entrepreneurs.
http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm
International Monetary Fund website - useful as a reference or resource guide, but stacked with information so be sure what you are looking for!
http://www.revisionstation.co.uk/
This looks like a useful website with revision material and content for Business Studies, Accounting and Law. It is created by one teacher and has plenty of free resources, so have a look around.
http://www.revisionguru.co.uk/
Another good site for revision notes or background reading, produced by an experienced teacher of Business Studies and Economics.
http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/
Up-to-the minute news reports from the US and the UK. For Business Studies, there are so many resources that can add to case studies, or real-world examples of terms and concepts found in Business Studies.
http://www.economist.com/
Another great go-to website with relevant material for teachers and motivated students who want to have up-to-the minute information to balance their Business Studies course.