Syllabus

Cambridge O Level
Business Studies 7115
Use this syllabus for exams in 2026.
Exams are available in the June and November series.

This syllabus is not available in all administrative zones.

Please check the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/7115 to see if this syllabus is
available in your administrative zone.

Version 1
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
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Contents

Why choose Cambridge International?......................................................................... 2

1 Why choose this syllabus? ......................................................................................... 4

2 Syllabus overview ........................................................................................................ 7

Aims 7
Content overview 8
Assessment overview 9
Assessment objectives 10

3 Subject content ..........................................................................................................12

4 Details of the assessment ........................................................................................ 25

Paper 1 – Short Answer and Data Response 25
Paper 2 – Case Study 25
Command words 26

5 What else you need to know .................................................................................... 27

Before you start 27
Making entries 28
Accessibility and equality 28
After the exam 29
How students and teachers can use the grades 30
Changes to this syllabus for 2026 31

Important: Changes to this syllabus

The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2023. There are no significant changes which affect
teaching.
Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2020 are still suitable for use with this
syllabus.
 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026.

1 Why choose this syllabus?

Key benefits
Cambridge O Level is typically for 14 to 16 year olds and is an internationally recognised qualification. It has
been designed especially for an international market and is sensitive to the needs of different countries.
Cambridge O Level is designed for learners whose first language may not be English, and this is acknowledged
throughout the examination process.

Our programmes promote a thorough knowledge and understanding of a subject and help to develop the skills
learners need for their next steps in education or employment.

Cambridge O Level Business Studies is accepted by universities and employers as proof of an understanding
of business concepts and techniques across a range of different types of businesses. Learners will be able to:
• understand different forms of business organisations, the environments in which businesses operate and
business functions such as marketing, operations and finance
• appreciate the role of people in business success.

They will also gain lifelong skills, including:

• the ability to calculate and interpret business data
• communication skills needed to support arguments with reasons
• the ability to analyse business situations and reach decisions or judgements.

Our programmes balance a thorough knowledge and understanding of a subject and help to develop the skills
learners need for their next steps in education or employment.

Our approach in Cambridge O Level Business Studies encourages learners to be:

Cambridge
learner

School feedback: ‘Cambridge O Level has helped me develop thinking and analytical skills
which will go a long way in helping me with advanced studies.’
Feedback from: Kamal Khan Virk, former student at Beaconhouse Garden Town Secondary School, Pakistan, who
went on to study Actuarial Science at the London School of Economics

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Why choose this syllabus?

International recognition and acceptance

Our expertise in curriculum, teaching and learning, and assessment is the basis for the recognition of our
programmes and qualifications around the world. The combination of knowledge and skills in Cambridge
O Level Business Studies gives learners a solid foundation for further study. Candidates who achieve grades
A* to C are well prepared to follow a wide range of courses including Cambridge International AS & A Level
Business.

Cambridge O Levels are accepted and valued by leading universities and employers around the world as
evidence of academic achievement. Cambridge students can be confident that their qualifications will be
understood and valued throughout their education and career, in their home country and internationally. Many
universities require a combination of Cambridge International AS & A Levels and Cambridge O Levels or
equivalent to meet their entry requirements.

Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/recognition

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Why choose this syllabus?

Supporting teachers
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development so that you can give your students the best possible preparation for Cambridge O Level. To find
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Find out more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/support

Support for Cambridge O Level

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026.

2 Syllabus overview

Aims
The aims describe the purposes of a course based on this syllabus.

The aims are to enable students to:

• apply their knowledge and critical understanding to current issues and problems in a wide range of
business contexts
• make effective use of relevant terminology, concepts and methods, and recognise the strengths and
limitations of the ideas used in business
• distinguish between facts and opinions, and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data in order to help build
arguments and make informed judgements
• appreciate the perspectives of a range of stakeholders in relation to the business environment, individuals,
society, government and enterprise
• develop knowledge and understanding of the major groups and organisations within and outside business,
and consider ways in which they are able to influence objectives, decisions and activities
• develop knowledge and understanding of how the main types of businesses are organised, financed and
operated, and how their relations with other organisations, consumers, employees, owners and society are
regulated
• develop skills of numeracy, literacy, enquiry, selection and use of relevant sources of information,
presentation and interpretation
• develop an awareness of the nature and significance of innovation and change within the context of
business activities
• acquire a foundation for further study of business or other subjects.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is an education organisation and politically

neutral. The contents of this syllabus, examination papers and associated materials do not endorse
any political view. We endeavour to treat all aspects of the exam process neutrally.

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Syllabus overview

Content overview
1 Understanding business activity
This section introduces the underlying ideas and concepts of business and includes the purpose and
nature of business activity and how businesses can be classified. Enterprise and entrepreneurs, and why
some businesses grow while others remain small are further important issues. How business size can
be measured, types of business organisation, business objectives and stakeholder objectives are the
concluding topics.

2 People in business
The focus is the functional area of human resources and includes the importance and methods of
motivating a workforce. How businesses are organised and managed and the methods of recruitment,
selection and training of employees are also considered. Finally, the section covers the importance and
methods of effective internal and external communication.

3 Marketing
This section includes the role of marketing, the distinctions between niche and mass markets and the
techniques of market segmentation. The methods and importance of market research are covered. The
central role of the marketing mix, i.e. the four Ps, is made clear. Marketing strategies to influence consumer
decisions at home and in new foreign markets are the final topics in this section.

4 Operations management
The focus is the functional area of production and includes the meaning and methods of production and
how productivity can be increased. The different costs of production and break-even analysis are covered.
The section concludes with the importance and methods of achieving quality in the production process
and location decisions of businesses.

5 Financial information and decisions

This finance and accounting section covers the need for and sources of business finance, cash-flow
forecasting and working capital. Simple income statements are covered as well as statements of financial
position and the analysis of accounts including why and how accounts are used.

6 External influences on business activity

This section focuses on different external influences on business activity and how these impact on a
business. It includes government influences on economic, environmental and ethical issues and how they
impact on the functional areas of businesses. In addition, the international economy including globalisation
and its effects on businesses and governments, multinational businesses and exchange rates are important
issues. Legal constraints are an external influence to be considered but these influences are covered in the
relevant functional areas above, as well as in this last section.

This O Level syllabus shares content with other Business Studies syllabuses. For further support
see the School Support Hub for IGCSE Business Studies. Textbooks endorsed to support IGCSE Business
Studies are suitable for use with this syllabus.

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Syllabus overview

Assessment overview
All candidates take two components. Candidates will be eligible for grades A* to E.

All candidates take: and:

Paper 1 1 hour 30 minutes Paper 2 1 hour 30 minutes

Short Answer and Data Response 50% Case Study 50%
80 marks 80 marks
Four questions requiring a mixture of short Four questions based on a case study, provided
answers and structured data responses as an insert with the paper
Candidates answer all questions Candidates answer all questions
Externally assessed Externally assessed

Information on availability is in the Before you start section.

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Syllabus overview

Assessment objectives
The assessment objectives (AOs) are:

AO1 Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of facts, terms, concepts, conventions, theories and
techniques commonly applied to or used as part of business behaviour.

AO2 Application
• apply knowledge and understanding of facts, terms, concepts, conventions, theories and techniques.

AO3 Analysis
• distinguish between evidence and opinion in a business context
• order, analyse and interpret information in narrative, numerical and graphical forms, using appropriate
techniques.

AO4 Evaluation
• present reasoned explanations, develop arguments, understand implications and draw inferences
• make judgements, recommendations and decisions.

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Syllabus overview

Weighting for assessment objectives

The approximate weightings allocated to each of the assessment objectives (AOs) are summarised below.

Assessment objectives as a percentage of the qualification

Assessment objective Weighting in O Level %

AO1 Knowledge and understanding 40

AO2 Application 20

AO3 Analysis 25

AO4 Evaluation 15

Total 100

Assessment objectives as a percentage of each component

Assessment objective Weighting in components %

Paper 1 Paper 2

AO1 Knowledge and understanding 50 30

AO2 Application 20 20

AO3 Analysis 20 30

AO4 Evaluation 10 20

Total 100 100

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026.

3 Subject content

This syllabus gives you the flexibility to design a course that will interest, challenge and engage your learners.
Where appropriate you are responsible for selecting topics, subject contexts, resources and examples to
support your learners’ study. These should be appropriate for the learners’ age, cultural background and
learning context as well as complying with your school policies and local legal requirements.

In all of the following, candidates are required to apply their understanding to a variety of simple business
situations. Candidates should be able to make simple decisions based upon the analysis and evaluation of
information provided.

1 Understanding business activity

1.1 Business activity

1.1.1 The purpose and nature of business activity: • Concepts of needs, wants, scarcity and
opportunity cost
• Importance of specialisation
• Purpose of business activity
• The concept of adding value and how added
value can be increased

1.2 Classification of businesses

1.2.1 Economic sectors in terms of primary, • Basis of business classification, using examples
secondary and tertiary sectors: to illustrate the classification
• Reasons for the changing importance of
business classification, e.g. in developed and
developing economies

1.2.2 Classify business enterprises between private

sector and public sector in a mixed economy

1.3 Enterprise, business growth and size

1.3.1 Enterprise and entrepreneurship: • Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs

• Contents of a business plan and how business
plans assist entrepreneurs
• Why and how governments support business
start-ups, e.g. grants, training schemes

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

1.3 Enterprise, business growth and size continued

1.3.2 The methods and problems of measuring • Methods of measuring business size, e.g.
business size: number of people employed, value of output,
capital employed (profit is not a method of
measuring business size)
• Limitations of methods of measuring business
size

1.3.3 Why some businesses grow and others • Why the owners of a business may want to
remain small: expand the business
• Different ways in which businesses can grow,
e.g. internal/external
• Problems linked to business growth and how
these might be overcome
• Why some businesses remain small

1.3.4 Why some (new or established) businesses • Causes of business failure, e.g. lack of
fail: management skills, changes in the business
environment, liquidity problems
• Why new businesses are at a greater risk of
failing

1.4 Types of business organisation

1.4.1 The main features of different forms of • Sole traders, partnerships, private and public
business organisation: limited companies, franchises and joint
ventures
• Differences between unincorporated
businesses and limited companies
• Concepts of risk, ownership and limited liability
• Recommend and justify a suitable form of
business organisation to owners/management
in a given situation
• Business organisations in the public sector,
e.g. public corporations

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

1.5 Business objectives and stakeholder objectives

1.5.1 Businesses can have several objectives and • Need for business objectives and the
the importance of them can change: importance of them
• Different business objectives, e.g. survival,
growth, profit and market share
• Objectives of social enterprises

1.5.2 The role of stakeholder groups involved in • Main internal and external stakeholder groups
business activity: • Objectives of different stakeholder groups
• How these objectives might conflict with each
other, use examples

1.5.3 Differences in the objectives of private sector

and public sector enterprises

2 People in business
2.1 Motivating employees

2.1.1 The importance of a well-motivated • Why people work and what motivation means
workforce: • The benefits of a well-motivated workforce:
labour productivity, reduced absenteeism and
labour turnover
• The concept of human needs, e.g. Maslow’s
hierarchy
• Key motivational theories: Taylor and Herzberg

2.1.2 Methods of motivation: • Financial rewards, e.g. wage, salary, bonus,

commission and profit sharing
• Non-financial methods, e.g. job enrichment, job
rotation, teamworking, training, opportunities
for promotion
• Recommend and justify appropriate method(s)
of motivation in given circumstances

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

2.2 Organisation and management

2.2.1 Draw, interpret and understand simple • Simple hierarchical structures: levels of
organisational charts: hierarchy, span of control, chain of command
e.g. tall/short
• Roles and responsibilities of directors,
managers, supervisors, other employees in an
organisation and inter-relationships between
them

2.2.2 The role of management: • Functions of management, e.g. planning,

organising, coordinating, commanding and
controlling
• Importance of delegation; trust versus control

2.2.3 Leadership styles: • Features of the main leadership styles,

e.g. autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire
• Recommend and justify an appropriate
leadership style in given circumstances

2.2.4 Trade unions: • What a trade union is and the effects of

employees being union members

2.3 Recruitment, selection and training of employees

2.3.1 Recruitment and selecting employees: • Recruitment and selection methods

• Difference between internal recruitment and
external recruitment
• Main stages in recruitment and selection of
employees
• Recommend and justify who to employ in given
circumstances
• Benefits and limitations of part-time employees
and full-time employees

2.3.2 The importance of training and the methods • Importance of training to a business and to
of training: employees
• Benefits and limitations of induction training,
on-the-job training and off-the-job training

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

2.3 Recruitment, selection and training of employees continued

2.3.3 Why reducing the size of the workforce might • Difference between dismissal and redundancy
be necessary: with examples
• Understand situations in which downsizing the
workforce might be necessary, e.g. automation
or reduced demand for products
• Recommend and justify which employees to
make redundant in given circumstances

2.3.4 Legal controls over employment issues and • Legal controls over employment contracts,
their impact on employers and employees: unfair dismissal, discrimination, health and
safety, legal minimum wage

2.4 Internal and external communication

2.4.1 Why effective communication is important • Effective communication and its importance to
and the methods used to achieve it: business
• Benefits and limitations of different
communication methods including those based
on information technology (IT)
• Recommend and justify which communication
method to use in given circumstances

2.4.2 Demonstrate an awareness of communication • How communication barriers arise and

barriers: problems of ineffective communication; how
communication barriers can be reduced or
removed

3 Marketing
3.1 Marketing, competition and the customer

3.1.1 The role of marketing: • Identifying customer needs

• Satisfying customer needs
• Maintaining customer loyalty
• Building customer relationships

3.1.2 Market changes: • Why customer/consumer spending patterns

may change
• The importance of changing customer needs
• Why some markets have become more
competitive
• How businesses can respond to changing
spending patterns and increased competition

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

3.1 Marketing, competition and the customer continued

3.1.3 Concepts of niche marketing and mass • Benefits and limitations of both approaches to
marketing: marketing

3.1.4 How and why market segmentation is • How markets can be segmented, e.g. according
undertaken: to age, socio-economic grouping, location,
gender
• Potential benefits of segmentation to business
• Recommend and justify an appropriate method
of segmentation in given circumstances

3.2 Market research

3.2.1 The role of market research and methods • Market-orientated businesses (uses of market
used: research information to a business)
• Primary research and secondary research
(benefits and limitations of each)
• Methods of primary research, e.g. postal
questionnaire, online survey, interviews, focus
groups
• The need for sampling
• Methods of secondary research, e.g. online,
accessing government sources, paying for
commercial market research reports
• Factors influencing the accuracy of market
research data

3.2.2 Presentation and use of market research • Analyse market research data shown in the
results: form of graphs, charts and diagrams; draw
simple conclusions from such data

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

3.3 Marketing mix

3.3.1 Product: • The limitations and benefits of developing new

products
• Brand image; impact on sales and customer
loyalty
• The role of packaging
• The product life cycle: main stages and
extension strategies; draw and interpret a
product life cycle diagram
• How stages of the product life cycle can
influence marketing decisions, e.g. promotion
and pricing decisions

3.3.2 Price: • Pricing methods (benefits and limitations of

different methods), e.g. cost plus, competitive,
penetration, skimming, and promotional
• Recommend and justify an appropriate pricing
method in given circumstances
• Understand the significance of price elasticity:
difference between price elastic demand and
price inelastic demand; importance of the
concept in pricing decisions (knowledge of the
formula and calculations of PED will not be
assessed)

3.3.3 Place – distribution channels: • Advantages and disadvantages of different

channels, e.g. use of wholesalers, retailers or
direct to consumers
• Recommend and justify an appropriate
distribution channel in given circumstances

3.3.4 Promotion: • The aims of promotion

• Different forms of promotion and how they
influence sales, e.g. advertising, sales
promotion
• The need for cost-effectiveness in spending the
marketing budget on promotion

3.3.5 Technology and the marketing mix: • Define and explain the concept of e-commerce
• The opportunities and threats of e-commerce
to business and consumers
• Use of the internet and social media networks
for promotion

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

3.4 Marketing strategy

3.4.1 Justify marketing strategies appropriate to a • Importance of different elements of the

given situation: marketing mix in influencing consumer
decisions in given circumstances
• Recommend and justify an appropriate
marketing strategy in given circumstances

3.4.2 The nature and impact of legal controls • Impact of legal controls on marketing
related to marketing: strategy, e.g. misleading promotion, faulty and
dangerous goods

3.4.3 The opportunities and problems of entering • Growth potential of new markets in other
new foreign markets: countries
• Problems of entering foreign markets,
e.g. cultural differences and lack of knowledge
• Benefits and limitations of methods to
overcome such problems, e.g. joint ventures,
licensing

4 Operations management
4.1 Production of goods and services

4.1.1 The meaning of production: • Managing resources effectively to produce

goods and services
• Difference between production and productivity
• Benefits of increasing efficiency and how to
increase it, e.g. increasing productivity by
automation and technology, improved labour
skills
• Why businesses hold inventories
• The concept of lean production: how to achieve
it, e.g. just-in-time inventory control and Kaizen;
benefits of lean production

4.1.2 The main methods of production: • Features, benefits and limitations of job, batch
and flow production
• Recommend and justify an appropriate
production method for a given situation

4.1.3 How technology has changed and is

changing production methods, e.g. using
computers in design and manufacturing

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

4.2 Costs, scale of production and break-even analysis

4.2.1 Identify and classify costs: • Classifying costs using examples, e.g. fixed,
variable, average, total
• Use cost data to help make simple cost-based
decisions, e.g. to stop production or continue

4.2.2 Economies and diseconomies of scale: • The concept of economies of scale with
examples, e.g. purchasing, marketing, financial,
managerial, technical
• The concept of diseconomies of scale with
examples, e.g. poor communication, lack
of commitment from employees, weak
coordination

4.2.3 Break-even analysis: • The concept of break-even

• Construct, complete or amend a simple
break-even chart
• Interpret a given chart and use it to analyse a
situation
• Calculate break-even output from given data
• Define, calculate and interpret the margin of
safety
• Use break-even analysis to help make simple
decisions, e.g. impact of higher price
• Understand the limitations of break-even
analysis

4.3 Achieving quality production

4.3.1 Why quality is important and how quality • What quality means and why it is important for
production might be achieved: all businesses
• The concept of quality control and how
businesses implement quality control
• The concept of quality assurance and how this
can be implemented

4.4 Location decisions

4.4.1 The main factors influencing the location and • Factors relevant to the location decision
relocation decisions of a business: of manufacturing businesses and service
businesses
• Factors that a business could consider when
deciding which country to locate operations in
• The role of legal controls on location decisions
• Recommend and justify an appropriate location
for a business in given circumstances

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

5 Financial information and decisions

5.1 Business finance: needs and sources

5.1.1 The need for business finance: • The main reasons why businesses need
finance, e.g. start-up capital, capital for
expansion and additional working capital
• Understand the difference between short-term
and long-term finance needs

5.1.2 The main sources of finance: • Internal sources and external sources with
examples
• Short-term and long-term sources with
examples, e.g. overdraft for short-term finance
and debt or equity for long-term finance
• Importance of alternative sources of capital,
e.g. micro-finance, crowd-funding
• The main factors considered in making the
financial choice, e.g. size and legal form of
business, amount required, length of time,
existing loans
• Recommend and justify appropriate source(s)
of finance in given circumstances

5.2 Cash-flow forecasting and working capital

5.2.1 The importance of cash and of cash-flow • Why cash is important to a business
forecasting: • What a cash-flow forecast is, how a simple one
is constructed and the importance of it
• Amend or complete a simple cash-flow forecast
• How to interpret a simple cash-flow forecast
• How a short-term cash-flow problem might
be overcome, e.g. overdraft, delaying supplier
payments, asking debtors to pay more quickly

5.2.2 Working capital: • The concept and importance of working capital

5.3 Income statements

5.3.1 What profit is and why it is important: • How a profit is made

• Importance of profit to private sector
businesses, e.g. reward for risk-taking/
enterprise, source of finance
• Difference between profit and cash

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

5.3 Income statements continued

5.3.2 Income statements: • Main features of an income statement,

e.g. revenue, cost of sales, gross profit, profit
and retained profit
• Use simple income statements in decision-
making based on profit calculations
(constructing income statements will not be
assessed)

5.4 Statement of financial position

5.4.1 The main elements of a statement of financial • The main classifications of assets and liabilities,
position: using examples

5.4.2 Interpret a simple statement of financial

position and make deductions from it,
e.g. how a business is financing its activities
and what assets it owns, sale of inventories
to raise finance (constructing statements of
financial position will not be assessed)

5.5 Analysis of accounts

5.5.1 Profitability: • The concept and importance of profitability

5.5.2 Liquidity: • The concept and importance of liquidity

5.5.3 How to interpret the financial performance • Gross profit margin

of a business by calculating and analysing • Profit margin
profitability ratios and liquidity ratios:
• Return on Capital Employed
• Current ratio
• Acid test ratio

5.5.4 Why and how accounts are used: • Needs of different users of accounts and ratio
analysis
• How users of accounts and ratio results might
use information to help make decisions, e.g.
whether to lend to or invest in the business

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

6 External influences on business activity

6.1 Economic issues

6.1.1 Business cycle: • Main stages of the business cycle, e.g. growth,
boom, recession, slump
• Impact on businesses of changes in
employment levels, inflation and Gross
Domestic Product (GDP)

6.1.2 How government control over the economy • Identify government economic objectives,
affects business activity and how businesses e.g. increasing Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
may respond: • Impact of changes in taxes and government
spending
• Impact of changes in interest rates
• How businesses might respond to these
changes

6.2 Environmental and ethical issues

6.2.1 Environmental concerns and ethical issues • How business activity can impact on the
as both opportunities and constraints for environment, e.g. global warming
businesses: • The concept of externalities: possible external
costs and external benefits of business
decisions
• Sustainable development; how business activity
can contribute to this
• How and why business might respond to
environmental pressures and opportunities,
e.g. pressure groups
• The role of legal controls over business activity
affecting the environment, e.g. pollution controls
• Ethical issues a business might face: conflicts
between profits and ethics
• How business might react and respond to
ethical issues, e.g. child labour, paying fair
prices to suppliers

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Subject content

6.3 Business and the international economy

6.3.1 The importance of globalisation: • The concept of globalisation and the reasons
for it
• Opportunities and threats of globalisation for
businesses
• Why governments might introduce import tariffs
and import quotas

6.3.2 Reasons for the importance and growth of • Benefits to a business of becoming a
multinational companies (MNCs): multinational and the impact on its stakeholders
• Potential benefits to a country and/or economy
where a MNC is located, e.g. jobs, exports,
increased choice, investment
• Potential drawbacks to a country and/or
economy where a MNC is located, e.g. reduced
sales of local businesses, repatriation of profits

6.3.3 The impact of exchange rate changes: • Depreciation and appreciation of an exchange
rate
• How exchange rate changes can affect
businesses as importers and exporters of
products,
e.g. prices, competitiveness, profitability
(exchange rate calculations will not be
assessed)

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026.

4 Details of the assessment

Paper 1 – Short Answer and Data Response

Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks

The question paper comprises four questions requiring a mixture of short answers and structured data
responses.

The paper assesses content drawn from the entire syllabus.

Each question is introduced by stimulus material. For some questions candidates will need to refer to the
stimulus material in their answers. The stimulus material may include tables, graphs and images.

Candidates answer all questions.

Candidates should be aware of the marks for each part question. These are printed on the question paper.
Candidates should use them as a guide to the amount of detail and length of response expected and to help
them manage their time effectively.

Candidates write their answers on the question paper.

The paper assesses the following assessment objectives:

AO1: Knowledge and understanding
AO2: Application
AO3: Analysis
AO4: Evaluation

Paper 2 – Case Study

Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks

The question paper comprises four questions based on a case study, provided as an insert with the paper. The
case study includes appendices with data presented in a variety of forms, such as tables, graphs, newspaper
extracts and advertisements.

The paper assesses content drawn from the entire syllabus.

Candidates answer all questions.

Candidates should be aware of the marks for each part question. These are printed on the question paper.
Candidates should use them as a guide to the amount of detail and length of response expected and to help
them manage their time effectively.

Candidates write their answers on the question paper.

The paper assesses the following assessment objectives:

AO1: Knowledge and understanding
AO2: Application
AO3: Analysis
AO4: Evaluation

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. Details of the assessment

Command words
Command words and their meanings help candidates know what is expected from them in the exams. The
table below includes command words used in the assessment for this syllabus. The use of the command word
will relate to the subject context.

Command word What it means

Calculate work out from given facts, figures or information

Consider review and respond to given information

Define give precise meaning

Explain set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why
and/or how and support with relevant evidence

Identify name/select/recognise

Justify support a case with evidence/argument

Outline set out the main points

State express in clear terms

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026.

5 What else you need to know

This section is an overview of other information you need to know about this syllabus. It will help to share the
administrative information with your exams officer so they know when you will need their support. Find more
information about our administrative processes at www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide

Before you start

Previous study
We recommend that learners starting this course should have studied a broad curriculum such as the
Cambridge Lower Secondary programme or equivalent national educational framework.

We do not expect learners starting this course to have previously studied Business Studies.

Guided learning hours

We design Cambridge O Level syllabuses to require about 130 guided learning hours for each subject. This is
for guidance only. The number of hours a learner needs to achieve the qualification may vary according to each
school and the learners’ previous experience of the subject.

Availability and timetables

All Cambridge schools are allocated to one of six administrative zones. Each zone has a specific timetable.
Find your administrative zone at www.cambridginternational.org/adminzone. This syllabus is not available in
all administrative zones. Cambridge O Levels are available to centres in administrative zones 3, 4 and 5.

You can enter candidates in the June and November exam series. You can view the timetable for your
administrative zone at www.cambridgeinternational.org/timetables

Check you are using the syllabus for the year the candidate is taking the exam.

Private candidates can enter for this syllabus. For more information, please refer to the Cambridge Guide to
Making Entries.

Combining with other syllabuses

Candidates can take this syllabus alongside other Cambridge International syllabuses in a single exam series.
The only exceptions are:
• Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies (0450)
• Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Business Studies (0986)
• syllabuses with the same title at the same level.

Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) and Cambridge O Level syllabuses are at the same level.

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. What else you need to know

Making entries
Exams officers are responsible for submitting entries to Cambridge International. We encourage them to work
closely with you to make sure they enter the right number of candidates for the right combination of syllabus
components. Entry option codes and instructions for submitting entries are in the Cambridge Guide to Making
Entries. Your exams officer has access to this guide.

Exam administration
To keep our exams secure, we produce question papers for different areas of the world, known as
administrative zones. We allocate all Cambridge schools to an administrative zone determined by their location.
Each zone has a specific timetable.

Some of our syllabuses offer candidates different assessment options. An entry option code is used to identify
the components the candidate will take relevant to the administrative zone and the available assessment
options.

Support for exams officers

We know how important exams officers are to the successful running of exams. We provide them with the
support they need to make entries on time. Your exams officer will find this support, and guidance for all other
phases of the Cambridge Exams Cycle, at www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide

Retakes
Candidates can retake the whole qualification as many times as they want to. Information on retake entries is at
www.cambridgeinternational.org/retakes

Language
This syllabus and the related assessment materials are available in English only.

Accessibility and equality

Syllabus and assessment design
At Cambridge International, we work to avoid direct or indirect discrimination in our syllabuses and assessment
materials. We aim to maximise inclusivity for candidates of all national, cultural or social backgrounds and
candidates with protected characteristics, which include special educational needs and disability, religion and
belief, and characteristics related to gender and identity. We also aim to make our materials as accessible as
possible by using accessible language and applying accessible design principles. This gives all candidates the
fairest possible opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding and helps to minimise the
requirement to make reasonable adjustments during the assessment process.

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. What else you need to know

Access arrangements
Access arrangements (including modified papers) are the principal way in which Cambridge International
complies with our duty, as guided by the UK Equality Act (2010), to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for
candidates with special educational needs (SEN), disability, illness or injury. Where a candidate would otherwise
be at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to a candidate with no SEN, disability, illness or injury, we
may be able to agree pre-examination access arrangements. These arrangements help a candidate by
minimising accessibility barriers and maximising their opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and
understanding in an assessment.

Important:
Requested access arrangements should be based on evidence of the candidate’s barrier to assessment
and should also reflect their normal way of working at school. This is explained in the Cambridge Handbook
www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide
• For Cambridge International to approve an access arrangement, we will need to agree that it constitutes
a reasonable adjustment, involves reasonable cost and timeframe and does not affect the security and
integrity of the assessment.
• Availability of access arrangements should be checked by centres at the start of the course. Details of our
standard access arrangements and modified question papers are available in the Cambridge Handbook
www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide
• Please contact us at the start of the course to find out if we are able to approve an arrangement that is not
included in the list of standard access arrangements.
• Candidates who cannot access parts of the assessment may be able to receive an award based on the
parts they have completed.

After the exam

Grading and reporting
Grades A*, A, B, C, D or E indicate the standard a candidate achieved at Cambridge O Level.

A* is the highest and E is the lowest. ‘Ungraded’ means that the candidate’s performance did not meet the
standard required for grade E. ‘Ungraded’ is reported on the statement of results but not on the certificate.

In specific circumstances your candidates may see one of the following letters on their statement of results:
• Q (PENDING)
• X (NO RESULT).
These letters do not appear on the certificate.

On the statement of results and certificates, Cambridge O Level is shown as GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF
EDUCATION (GCE O LEVEL).

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. What else you need to know

How students and teachers can use the grades

Assessment at Cambridge O Level has two purposes:
1 to measure learning and achievement
The assessment confirms achievement and performance in relation to the knowledge, understanding and
skills specified in the syllabus.
2 to show likely future success
The outcomes help predict which students are well prepared for a particular course or career and/or which
students are more likely to be successful.
The outcomes help students choose the most suitable course or career.

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 Cambridge O Level Business Studies 7115 syllabus for 2026. What else you need to know

Changes to this syllabus for 2026

The syllabus has been updated. This is version 1, published September 2023.

You must read the whole syllabus before planning your teaching programme. We review our
syllabuses regularly to make sure they continue to meet the needs of our schools. In updating this syllabus, we
have made it easier for teachers and students to understand, keeping the familiar features that teachers and
schools value.

There are no significant changes to syllabus content.

Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2020 are still suitable for
use with this syllabus.

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