NEW BUSINESS STUDIES COURSE

Business studies encourages students to develop an appreciation of how their lives are shaped by
economic and social factors. They are enabled to make informed decisions, to better manage their
personal financial resources and to be adaptable, creative, and enterprising.
Business studies also improves their knowledge and understanding of good business practice and of
business as a productive activity.
Entrepreneurship enhances the quality of our collective and individual lives, often changing the way
we work, communicate and live. Business studies provides an awareness, insight and positive attitude
to entrepreneurship, demonstrating how it can improve our goods, services and institutions.
Business studies encourages students to develop skills for learning, skills for work and skills for life.
It supports the development of analytical and critical thinking skills, encouraging students to be
problem solvers. It reinforces the development of students numeracy, literacy and digital technology
skills by providing a real-life context for their application.
Business studies explores the interdependence of economic prosperity, societal well-being and the
environment and encourages students to think and act as responsible and ethical citizens. They will be
provided with a set of foundational skills, understandings and personal attributes, which will help
them to engage with the dynamic business environment and fulfil their potential in their personal and
professional lives, now and into the future.

Learning Outcomes
Personal finance focuses on students developing a set of skills, knowledge and values that allows
them to make informed decisions to effectively and responsibly manage their financial resources. In
this strand, students learn about managing their finances, responsible consumer behaviour and the
value of using resources ethically and efficiently for the benefit of individuals and society. Students
should be able to:

Review the personal resources available to them to realise their needs and wants and analyse
the extent to which realising their needs and wants may impact on individuals and society

Identify and classify sources of income and expenditure, compare options available to best
manage financial resources, evaluating the risks associated with each option and making
informed and responsible judgements

Construct a personal financial lifecycle to identify financial needs at different life stages

Explain key personal taxes and charges and suggest the occasions when and why they might
arise

Identify reasons for saving and borrowing money, relate the reasons to determining
appropriate sources of finance with respect to their purpose, costs and risks Identify
appropriate types of insurance for particular personal needs and consider costs, benefits and
risks

Distinguish between and appreciate their rights and responsibilities as consumers

Compare the services provided by consumer agencies and financial institutions to assist and
support customers

Debate the ethical and sustainability issues that arise from their consumption of goods and
services and evaluate how they can contribute to sustainable development through consumer
behaviour

Discuss and evaluate how globalisation and developments in technology impact on consumer
choice and behaviour

Interpret a wage slip and calculate personal tax liability arising from employment

Prepare and analyse a budget, determine the financial position, recommend appropriate action
and present the analysis in tabular and graphic formats

Monitor and calculate income and expenditure data, determine the financial position,
recommend appropriate action and present the analysis in tabular and graphic formats

Enterprise encourages students to identify opportunities and turn them into practical and targeted
activities within business and wider society through the development and application of their
understanding, skills and values. In this strand, students learn about being enterprising, the functions
of an organisation and the business environment. Students should be able to:

Identify different types of financial, cultural and social enterprise and appreciate the role each
plays in society

Describe the skills and characteristics of being enterprising and appreciate the role of an
entrepreneur in an organisation, in society and to the economy

Differentiate between employment, work and volunteerism, identifying and describing

features, benefits, rewards and careers within each

Distinguish between the rights and responsibilities of employer and employee from a legal,
social, environmental and ethical perspective

Investigate the positive and negative impacts on a community of an organisation from an

economic, social and environmental perspective

Discuss the impact of digital technologies on an organisation, debating the associated rewards
and costs

Conduct market research in order to investigate an entrepreneurial opportunity and analyse,

interpret and communicate the research findings using relevant terminology and
representations

Devise and apply a marketing mix in order to promote a new or existing product or service

Develop a simple business plan for a new or existing product or service

Complete and interpret key business documents that an organisation uses to manage its
transactions for accountability purposes

Assess the importance of planning an organisations cash flow, propose suitable sources of
finance to manage expenditure and prepare a budget

Prepare a cash account to monitor income received and payments made by an organisation,
evaluate its financial position and recommend a course of action; post figures to relevant
ledgers and extract a trial balance

Prepare final accounts to assess the financial performance of an organisation at the end of a
trading period, analyse and evaluate its financial position and recommend a course of action

Our economy enables students to understand the dynamic relationship between the local, national
and international economic situation. It develops students ability to identify and understand basic
economic concepts as they relate to personal finance, enterprise and the Irish economy. In this strand,
students learn about the demand and supply of goods and services, the role of the government in
managing the economy, and about economic issues such as trade, employment and Irelands
membership of the European Union (EU). Students should be able to:

Explain how scarcity of economic resources results in individuals having to make choices;
predict possible consequences of these choices

Explain how individuals, organisations (for profit and not for profit) and the government
work together to distribute economic resources used to produce goods

Evaluate how changes in the supply and demand of goods and services in different markets
can affect prices

Differentiate between different sources of government revenue and government expenditure

Examine the purpose of taxation from a financial, social, legal and ethical perspective

Explain how economic growth can impact positively and negatively on society and the
environment and justify the promotion of sustainable development

Debate the implications of globalisation of trade, including the benefits and challenges of
international trade

Discuss the economic and social benefits and challenges of Irelands membership of the EU

Explain the relevance of economic indicators such as inflation, employment rates, interest
rates, economic growth, national income and national debt for individuals and the economy

Use their knowledge, and information from a range of media sources, to discuss current
economic issues and present an informed view

Evaluate the benefits and costs of a government economic policy and assess who enjoys the
benefits and who bears the costs

Assessment for junior Certificate

In the Junior Cycle Business Studies classroom, a range of assessment approaches will be used to
complement learning:

Ongoing assessments, including routine teacher designed tasks and tests

Structured Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) for subjects conducted in second and third
year

A written Assessment Task for subjects that will be based on the second Classroom Based
Assessment and will be submitted to the SEC for marking along with the state certified
examination

An externally assessed, state certified examination at the end of third year (this examination
will be two hours in duration and is sat at common level)

Leaving Certificate Business

'Business' is a business studies option within the established Leaving Certificate programme. It is
concerned with the understanding of the environment in which business operates in Ireland and in the
wider world. It also involves equipping the students with a positive view of enterprise and its
applications in the business environment, in both the public and private sectors.
The syllabus is broken down into three sections: A, B, and C.
Section A: People in Business (Unit 1)

Introduction to people in business

People and their relationships in business

Conflicting interests and how they are resolved

Section B: Enterprise (Unit 2)

Introduction and definition of enterprise

Entrepreneurs and enterprise skills

Managing 1 (Unit 3)

Introduction and definition of management

Managers and management skills

Management activities

Managing 2 (Unit 4)

Household and business manager

Human resource management

Changing role of management

Monitoring the business

Business in action (Unit 5)

Identifying opportunities

Marketing

Getting started

Expansion

Section C: Environment
Domestic environment (Unit 6)

Categories of industry

Types of business organisation

Community development

Business and the economy

Government and business

Social responsibilities of business

International environment (Unit 7)

Introduction to the international trading environment

European Union

International business

Assessment
The syllabus will be assessed in relation to the syllabus objectives, through a written terminal
examination.
This syllabus contains outcomes common to Ordinary and Higher levels and some that are designated
Higher level only (HL).
At Ordinary level, candidates will be required to:

recall and demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the syllabus content.

In addition, Higher level candidates will be required to:

demonstrate a greater depth of knowledge and understanding of the concepts and issues than
Ordinary level candidates, as well as a greater proficiency in applications and analysis;

apply the business terms, concepts and theories to address problems and issues;

select organise, interpret and use information supplied;

evaluate evidence, make reasoned judgements and present conclusions accurately and
appropriately.

Accounting
Accounting is a business studies option within the Leaving Certificate programme. It covers aspects
of business and social life which are not dealt with in any other subject in that programme. It is
concerned with the preparation, recording, extraction, presentation and analysis of financial
information for the purpose of making economic decisions.
While the course has been designed to follow on from the Junior Certificate Business Studies,
provision has been made within it for Leaving Certificate Accounting well-motivated and mature
students to study the subject on entering the Leaving Certificate programme, without the benefit of
that background.
The study of Accounting is invaluable and has a direct relevance to the present and future life of every
young person, in that:

It develops problem-solving and computational skills and an awareness and recognition of the
consequences of error

It develops skills in the use of figures in business communications, in analysis and in

decision-making

It provides a subject choice for those students who have an aptitude for numerical skills
It cultivates mental discipline, develops the powers of concentration and fosters critical
thinking, logical organisation and orderly presentation

It facilitates the acquisition of a language which is universally used in communications within

the business world and within society at large.

It links the accounting process with Information Technology

It fosters the concept of accountability.

Course Content
The course is divided into eleven main sections:
1. The Conceptual framework of Accounting
2. The Regulatory Framework of Accounting (Higher Level only)
3. Accounting Records

Double-entry bookkeeping

Bank reconciliation statement

Control Accounts

Suspense Accounts

4. Sole Traders
5. Company Accounting

Share Capital, Reserves and Loan Capital

Financial Statements of Limited Companies

Appreciation of Annual Reports of Public Limited Companies (Higher Level only)

6. Specialised Accounts

Manufacturing Accounts

Stock

Club Accounts and the Accounts of Service firms

Departmental Accounts

Farm Accounts

7. Incomplete Records
8. Cash Flow Statements
9. Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Statements
10. Management Accounting
11. Information Technology and Computer Applications in Accounting

Assessment
Accounting will be assessed at two levels, Ordinary and Higher. At both levels, syllabus objectives
will be assessed through a written, terminal examination.
There are two main differences between Higher Level and Ordinary Level:

Structure of the syllabus: within the syllabus some material is designated higher level only
(HL)

Depth of treatment: at higher level there is a deeper treatment of the subject. Higher Level
students will be required to demonstrate a greater depth of knowledge and understanding of
the concepts and issues as well as a greater proficiency in skills, applications and analysis.