Cambridge IGCSE™: Business Studies 0450/22 October/November 2021
Cambridge IGCSE™: Business Studies 0450/22 October/November 2021
Cambridge IGCSE™: Business Studies 0450/22 October/November 2021
Published
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2021 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level
components.
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.
• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit
is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these
features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed
instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question
(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).
Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.
a DO credit answers which are worded differently from the mark scheme if they clearly
convey the same meaning (unless the mark scheme requires a specific term)
b DO credit alternative answers/examples which are not written in the mark scheme if they
are correct
c DO credit answers where candidates give more than one correct answer in one
prompt/numbered/scaffolded space where extended writing is required rather than list-type
answers. For example, questions that require n reasons (e.g. State two reasons …).
d DO NOT credit answers simply for using a ‘key term’ unless that is all that is required.
(Check for evidence it is understood and not used wrongly.)
e DO NOT credit answers which are obviously self-contradicting or trying to cover all
possibilities
f DO NOT give further credit for what is effectively repetition of a correct point already
credited unless the language itself is being tested. This applies equally to ‘mirror
statements’ (i.e. polluted/not polluted).
g DO NOT require spellings to be correct, unless this is part of the test. However spellings of
syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other syllabus terms
with which they may be confused (e.g. Corrasion/Corrosion)
3 Calculation questions:
• The mark scheme will show the steps in the most likely correct method(s), the mark for
each step, the correct answer(s) and the mark for each answer
• If working/explanation is considered essential for full credit, this will be indicated in the
question paper and in the mark scheme. In all other instances, the correct answer to a
calculation should be given full credit, even if no supporting working is shown.
• Where the candidate uses a valid method which is not covered by the mark scheme,
award equivalent marks for reaching equivalent stages.
• Where an answer makes use of a candidate’s own incorrect figure from previous working,
the ‘own figure rule’ applies: full marks will be given if a correct and complete method is
used. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme where necessary and any
exceptions to this general principle will be noted.
4 Annotation:
• For point marking, ticks can be used to indicate correct answers and crosses can be used
to indicate wrong answers. There is no direct relationship between ticks and marks. Ticks
have no defined meaning for levels of response marking.
• For levels of response marking, the level awarded should be annotated on the script.
• Other annotations will be used by examiners as agreed during standardisation, and the
meaning will be understood by all examiners who marked that paper.
Award a maximum of 3 additional marks for each explanation of why PPE may
remain small – one of which must be applied to this context.
For example: The product is specialised and not produced on a large scale (1)
as each piece of playground equipment is made to order (app) so cannot be
mass-produced. (1) Therefore, the business is likely to remain small as it will
produce a limited number of pieces of play equipment when they are ordered.
(1)
Well-justified conclusion.
0 No creditable response. 0
Advantages Disadvantages
1(b)
Recommendation • Sole trader as individually designed playground
equipment has a limited market and therefore
Kaari is likely to keep the business small. She can
be her own boss and keep all the profit without
having to share with any other owners unlike a
partnership. A limited company takes more time
and expense to set up and certain legal formalities
will need to be followed to run the business which
Kaari may not want to follow.
• Partnership as Kaari is carrying out all the
management roles and this may be too much for
just one person. So, she prefers to add another
person who has different skills to help her manage
the business as it grows.
• A larger business may build up more debts and
therefore Kaari might want the benefit of limited
liability to protect her personal assets and ensure
her family of two children are secure.
2(a) Explain two advantages and two disadvantages of using job production. 8
For example: The workers have more varied tasks (1) which makes their jobs
more interesting and they are less likely to leave to find another job. (1)
Well-justified recommendation.
0 No creditable response. 0
Advantages Disadvantages
2(b)
Recommendation • Crowd-funding may have to be chosen if the other
sources are not available to such a small sole
trader business. Kaari may have no other option.
Interest on the bank loan may be high making it
expensive to repay and leasing will not allow PPE
to keep the asset at the end of the lease and it can
be a more expensive way to obtain the asset.
• Bank loan is the best source of finance to use. It is
repayable over several years which can make it
easier to make repayments each month as
revenue from the sale of playground equipment
comes into the business.
• As the business is a sole trader then Kaari is not
able to make a large outlay of cash so choosing
leasing is the best option as this just requires a
repayment each month. Also, maintenance does
not have to be paid by Kaari keeping these costs
down.
3(a) Explain one cost and one benefit for PPE of developing a new product. 8
For example: There may be high costs of carrying out market research (1) to
find out what customers want from a new product. (1) This is needed when
developing a new piece of playground equipment (app) to ensure it will be
attractive to children and therefore be more likely to sell. (1)
3(b) Consider the following three pricing methods PPE could use when 12
launching its new product. Which pricing method should it use? Justify
your answer.
• Cost-plus
• Penetration
• Skimming
Well-justified recommendation.
0 No creditable response. 0
Advantages Disadvantages
3(b)
Advantages Disadvantages
4(b) Using Appendix 2 and other information, consider whether PPE should 12
produce only large items of playground equipment or produce only small
items of playground equipment. Justify your answer using suitable
calculations.
Well-justified conclusion.
0 No creditable response. 0