CCEA GCSE Business Studies (466) Past Papers 2026

Starting a Business

Duration: 1h 30m

Developing a Business

Duration: 1h 30m

Planning a Business (Controlled Assessment, synoptic)

Duration: Booklet A: 12h research; Booklet B: 1h controlled (internally assessed, externally moderated)

Financial ratios — ROCE vs Net Profit Percentage confusion

In Summer 2023, examiners noted 'candidates confusing it with the Net Profit percentage' when asked about ROCE, and that the percentage sign was omitted from ratio calculations. In Summer 2025, candidates showed 'mixed success' with net profit percentage calculation. The distinction between these two ratios and how to comment on them is a consistent area of difficulty.

Unit 2

Cash flow — definition, distinguishing from profit, and completing forecasts

In 2024, 'confusion between cash flow and cash flow forecast and many candidates referred to profit or loss in their answers' made these discriminator questions. In 2025, 'some confusion with a cash flow forecast' was again reported. Completing opening and closing inventory figures and correctly interpreting cash flow data remain challenging.

Unit 2

Economies of scale — naming and explaining specific types beyond bulk buying

In Summer 2023, examiners reported that 'many explained bulk buying and not economies of scale and, whilst nearly all attempted to identify the type of economy of scale, it was generally not well answered'. Candidates defaulted to bulk buying (purchasing economies) without knowing managerial, financial, technical, or marketing economies of scale.

Unit 2

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) — roles of the regulatory body

In Summer 2023, 'some candidates found it difficult to explain two roles of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)'. The same finding appeared in Summer 2025: 'many candidates found it difficult to explain two roles of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to the business'. This is a recurring knowledge gap across multiple years.

Unit 1

Evaluation of public relations and marketing pricing analysis

In 2023, 'some candidates did not score well when evaluating public relations (PR) as a method of promotion' and 'found it difficult to analyse the factors affecting price'. In 2024, candidates 'found it difficult to analyse the impact that competition has on the marketing mix' and struggled with 'legal constraints on promotion by Ofcom'. Marketing evaluation and analysis are consistent discriminator areas.

Unit 1

Business ownership — stakeholder aims and how they differ

In Summer 2023, 'some marks were lost on the ethical issues associated with business aims question' and candidates 'struggled with discussing how the aims of these stakeholders may differ'. The same issue recurred in Summer 2025: 'Some marks were lost on the question, how the aims of the stakeholders may be different, as candidates appeared confused with how they would be different for each of the stakeholders'. This is a multi-year weakness.

Unit 1

Fringe benefits and profit sharing — less common HR topics

In Summer 2023, 'fringe benefits and profit sharing rarely scored full marks and these proved to be discriminator questions'. These are lower-frequency HR methods that candidates often overlook in revision, leading to gaps when they appear on the paper.

Unit 2

Quality standards — ISO 9001, EFQM, and Investors in People

In Summer 2023, candidates 'struggled with batch inventory control and Investors in People'. In Summer 2025, candidates 'struggled with specialisation, EFQM and the quality standard ISO 9001' and 'many candidates found it difficult to identify the quality standard which Taste Sensation was aiming to achieve'. Specific quality standards and accreditation bodies are consistently among the least well-known topics.

Unit 1