25 mark business essay structure

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Cheat Sheet: Tackling 20 Mark Essays At A-level

Writing frame with context words and a plan of how to boost your marks in those essay questions that students often find overwhelming!

Date : 10/02/2021

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Despite Warren East`s restructuring, Rolls-Royce still has a `tall` organisational structure. Two options for the future of Rolls-Royce are to remain as a tall structure or to change to a flat organisational structure.

• One advantage of remaining as a tall structure is
• This means that
• As a result
• *Link back to how they can become more cost/time effective*
• One advantage of restructuring towards a flat structure
• One limitation of proceeding with a tall structure is
• Overall, I would recommend that RR move forwards with
• This is despite the fact that
• The recommendation may be best in the short/long term because..
• This means that, in the short/long term it would be more beneficial to use a structure
• However, this will depend on

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AQA A-Level Business Year 2 25 mark essay plan

Subject: Business and finance

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

25 February 2018

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Additional specimen paper question (eaqa) Paper 1 Year 2 Given the increasing levels of competition in many markets, does this mean that businesses in these markets that are trying to maintain profits must set increasing efficiency as their main operational objective? Justify your answer. [25 marks] Essay plan.

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How to write a 25 marker for Edexcel A-level Economics

Below I have provided a sample answer to a 25 mark practice question. This is based on my experience as an economics tutor. Hopefully this may help guide some students.

To practise your exam technique for 25 markers and more using practice papers, click the blue button below:

Consider the following 25 mark practice question:

With reference to examples, evaluate the effects of a tariff (25 marks).

I have kept the question relatively simple, as the focus here is on exam technique.

Possible Answer

A tariff is a tax on imports and is a protectionist measure. In recent years there has been an increase in the degree of protectionism around the world. For example the US imposing tariffs on Chinese steel and tariff retaliation from China.

A tariff will support domestic producers . Consider the example of steel tariffs of 25% that US President Donald Trump put in place on Chinese steel.  In the diagram below, a tariff will shift the world supply upwards from world supply to world supply + tariff. So the world price increases from pw to pw+tariff. This reduces the quantity of imports from (q4-q1) to (q3-q2). The tariff increases domestic production from q1 to q2, increasing producer surplus by area (AB pw pw+tariff). This will mean higher profits for the US steel firms, leading to higher investment and employment.

This could also mean local multiplier effects as workers are now richer, owing to possibly higher employment and pay. So workers spend that money in local shops, increasing consumption and living standards in the area. The multiplier effect is when an increase in a component of aggregate demand leads to a larger than proportionate increase in real GDP.

The tariff also raises government revenue. Higher revenue could go towards reducing the large budget deficit that the US Government has because of pandemic spending, hence reducing future debt interest payments. Alternatively government revenue could further support steel firms through export subsidies, making them even more competitive relative to foreign importers and further increasing domestic production, employment and wages in steel.

Evaluation 1

However a tariff can cause a loss in consumer surplus by area pw pw+tariff C D. This is because of higher prices and reduced quantity sold to domestic consumers. Also the units between q1 and q2 are now being produced by inefficient domestic firms, when foreign producers could produce the steel more cheaply. Overall there will be welfare losses of the two shaded green triangles.

Tariffs can also create a possibility of retaliation . In the case of the US tariffs on Chinese steel, China retaliated with its own tariffs, for example on frozen pork. Retaliatory tariffs would increase the costs for US producers of frozen pork, rendering their product less competitive in US markets. This could lead to decreased quantity exported and producer surplus for US frozen pork producers. The retaliation is likely to undermine any benefits from the original tariff, rendering the tariff a less effective policy. As it increases prices, it is also likely to reduce US consumer surplus. The original tariff and the retaliatory tariff both cause a welfare loss for the US economy in this case.

Tariffs can support infant industries . Consider the example of the micro-computer industry in Brazil in the 1980s. This was a new industry for Brazil. Under free trade, Brazilian manufacturers would be undercut by larger international competitors and so Brazilian firms would not be able to grow. With a tariff in place, Brazilian manufacturers face reduced competition from abroad, allowing these firms to grow and achieve economies of scale, meaning lower long-run average costs as output increases.

For example purchasing economies of scale, meaning firms can bulk-buy inputs at discounted prices. Reducing firm costs would shift the SRAS right from SRAS to SRAS1, leading to higher equilibrium real GDP (Y to Y1) and reduce the price level in the economy from PL to PL1.

This leads to an extension along the aggregate demand curve . A lower price level boosts export competitiveness, increasing export demand, likely raising the value of exports (if export demand is price-elastic). So aggregate demand rises.

This would also mean higher employment in the infant industry and wider economy. The tariffs could be used as a short-run measure – once the infant industry has reduced its costs sufficiently through economies of scale, it can compete with the established international firms on cost and hence price.  This may allow greater exports out of Brazil in the future from the infant industry.

Evaluation 2

However tariffs may increase costs for firms relying on steel as an input. Steel is important as an input for cars and planes. The US has major producers of cars such as Ford as well as planes with companies such as Boeing. Increasing costs of steel will increase business costs, shifting the SRAS to the left from SRAS to SRAS_1, leading to a fall in real GDP from Y to Y_1 and an increase in price level from PL to PL_1.

These firms would then see lower profits, investment and employment and if costs get too high, plants could close in the US or even move abroad to circumvent the tariffs. So while tariffs may benefit some industries in the US, they can harm other industries within the US too.

Overall a tariff is likely harmful due to the net welfare loss. This is also because of the increased costs for key US industries using steel as an input.

However the effectiveness of no tariffs depends on other government policies to support those who lose out from free trade.

Even if free trade may make some better off (consumers) and some worse off (steel workers), the US Government could find a way to tax those who benefit and give welfare payments to those worse off or to retrain them.

The US Trade Adjustment Assistance welfare program does this to some degree. This program helps workers who may have lost jobs because of international competition from imports. But the TAA program may not be sufficient to support all workers affected by free trade, including those affected indirectly. The key situation in which a temporary tariff may be desirable occurs when there are infant industries.

An introduction can be very short – defining key terms. I also used it here to set some context but the most important thing is to get on with writing your key point.

For more guidance on exam technique for Edexcel A, check out the blue button here :

The structure I have used involves one KAA (knowledge, application and analysis) paragraph, one evaluation paragraph, then a second KAA paragraph, followed by a second evaluation paragraph then a conclusion. Some schools recommend 3 KAA paragraphs and 3 evaluation paragraphs before a conclusion – this is fine, provided the points are shorter than the ones used above.

The analysis paragraphs use multiple chains of analysis and examples from the real world. Where relevant they also bring in definitions. The evaluation paragraphs explain points fully and use context as a way of supporting the answer. The conclusion gives a judgement, justifies the decision, and explains one key factor the decision may depend on (while referring to context).

This essay would likely achieve the top bands for analysis and evaluation for Edexcel. For more information on the criteria used, see the link to the Edexcel Economics A page here .

This has used the “however” style evaluation. But you could also change this to the “it depends on” style evaluation very easily if you or your teacher prefers this approach.

This is just one way of answering the question and does not represent my view. Indeed you argue that tariffs are effective. For example because of the effects on domestic producers, inequality, negative externalities and so on.

More Reading

To practise using some practice papers written in the style of Edexcel Economics A-level A, click the blue button below:

For more A-level Economics resources, click this blue button below:

About the author

Helping economics students online since 2015. Previously an economist and economics tutor, I now focus on providing economics resources on tfurber.com . Read more about me here .

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A Level Philosophy & Religious Studies

AQA Philosophy top band essay structure (21-25 marks)

AQA Philosophy

Note that this is for AQA Philosophy, not AQA Religious studies.

Essay structure is very important as it determines half your whole grade. People tend to think that 25 mark questions are very difficult, that getting 21 or above in the exam is really hard and rare. It’s certainly rare, but it’s not as hard as people, including many teachers, actually think.

The key mistake a lot of teachers make is to think that getting full marks requires an essay that is really philosophically advanced and complex. For better or worse, this is not true. It simply requires hitting all the mark scheme criteria of intent, back and forth evaluation (robust defence), integration and weighting. Many teachers get the intent part fine, but not so much the rest of them.

This page contains detailed explanation of how to hit those other mark scheme criteria.

The mark scheme criteria for the 21-25 band mark range

• The student argues with clear intent throughout and the logic of the argument is sustained.
• The student demonstrates detailed and precise understanding throughout.
• The conclusion is clear, with the arguments in support of it stated precisely, integrated coherently and robustly defended.
• Arguments and counter-arguments are stated in their strongest forms.
• Reasoned judgements are made, on an ongoing basis and overall, about the weight to be given to each argument. Crucial arguments are clearly identified against less crucial ones.
• Philosophical language is used precisely throughout.

Essay structure

Your introduction.

• Outline the argument/theory in question.
• State your intent

Three sections of this structure:

Part 1: A view on the question. An argument/theory/philosopher either for or against the question. If part 1 is a criticism, do integration.

Part 2: A criticism of the view in part 1. Integration.

It is then optional to go back and forth some more with a defence of part 1 and then, again optionally, a counter to that defence, etc (with integration ).

Part 3: Give your judgement as to which argument is correct and why (with integration if countering).

Part 4: Link back to the question using the language of the question. Make sure this paragraph ends in a way that coherently fits with/justifies your Intent.

Your conclusion

Sum up the part 3 evaluative judgements of each section and show how they coherently lead to your conclusion (intent) . If applicable, remark which of the arguments were more or less crucial for reaching you conclusion than the other(s) (Weighting/Cruciality) .

Weighting points  must be put in at least two places throughout the essay. It’s not possible to pinpoint exactly where these will go since that will depend on the point. See the weighting section for more info.

Explanation of the mark scheme criteria

‘The student argues with clear intent throughout and the logic of the argument is sustained.’

Intent refers to your intended response to the question, for example to an ‘assess Theory X’ question, your intent might be to argue that it is false.

The intent must exist ‘throughout’ the essay, meaning stated in the introduction, conclusion and the end of each paragraph.

Sustaining the logic of the (your) argument means that each section must be ended in a way which fits your intent. If your intent is to show Theory X false but end a section dealing with one of its issues with the evaluative judgement that Theory X can be adequately defended from the issue, then that does not fit your intent and the logic of your argument (that Theory X is false) would not be sustained if you left the section like that. So, you either need to add another step showing how Theory X actually does not survive the issue for some further reason, OR you must explain how Theory X surviving this issue does not change your intent/argument because of some other issue you dealt with previously or are about to deal with next. Or, if possible, you could show how in responding to that issue, Theory X opens itself up for some other more fatal criticism.

Integration

‘The conclusion is clear, with the arguments in support of it stated precisely, integrated coherently and robustly defended. Arguments and counter-arguments are stated in their strongest forms.’

‘Integrated coherently’ means that whenever you are writing a criticism, you are making it clear exactly how it undermines what it is criticising.

This must always be done in part 2 but sometimes you might use a criticism for part 1 so it would have to be done there too. You might need also it for part 3 if that involves a criticism. Whenever you use a criticism, you should do integration.

It’s not enough simply to learn a criticism. and then plug it in. You must then explain how that criticism being true undermines what it is attacking. You must write the response and then explain how it responds. This will often be a simple matter of identifying which premise or which part of a theory it undermines, but there are a variety of ways that criticisms attempt to undermine a theory and you need to show understanding of that and its implications.

An argument could:

• Attack a premise of the theory. You should identity how crucial that premise is and the consequence for the theory/argument of it being successfully undermined.
• Establish that the arguments for the theory fail, which might leave the theory unproven, unconvincing/unjustified or lacking in evidence rather than disproven and false.
• Undermine one part of or aspect of a theory and you’d have to decide whether that makes the whole theory false, depending on how important that aspect was to it.
• Show that the theory has some practical limitation which makes it difficult, perhaps impossible, to implement. The question of whether this makes the theory false would then have to be decided.
• Prove that the theory leads to something negative like solipsism, scepticism, nihilism or anarchy. A theory which leads to any of those three is sadly not necessarily for that reason false! Though take care, there might be reasons why it should be considered false for leading to something negative, at least in some respect which you could get credit for explaining.
• Be a deductive, inductive or abductive argument.

Integration also refers to having an integrated understanding of your whole overall argument at the start, throughout and end of your essay.

Integration can also mean connecting paragraphs together by pointing out some reason why it’s logical to bring up the content of the next paragraph given the one you’ve just written, either due to the content or cruciality. However, this will not always be possible and should not be thought of as a requirement in every paragraph.

Weighting/Cruciality

‘Reasoned judgements are made, on an ongoing basis and overall, about the weight to be given to each argument. Crucial arguments are clearly identified against less crucial ones.’

Individual cruciality. Each section should start with an argument for or against the question, followed by a criticism of that argument. You might then optionally do further back and forth of defences and counter-defences, etc. Every step involves an argument, then.

To get the marks for cruciality, you must state how crucial an argument is or how much weight it has. This is most easily done regarding issues/criticisms.

In an essay you will evaluate multiple different issues/criticisms of the argument/theory in question.

You might conclude that the issues all fail, all succeed or that some fail and some succeed. That is not the same thing as weighting/cruciality. The cruciality/weighting of an issue/criticism is different from evaluating its success or failure.

Every issue/criticism should be integrated, so that it is clear exactly how it attacks whatever it is attacking.

Individual cruciality/weighting follows from that.

An issue which attacks a foundational premise is going to be critical and imply that the truth of the argument/theory in question is at stake. It will be potentially fatal.

An issue that undermines one of the arguments for a theory or claims that it leads to scepticism or is not the best explanation might only show that the theory is unattractive or unconvincing or that we have no reason to believe it or something like that.

Explaining the individual cruciality of an issue essentially involves highlighting what is at stake if that issue succeeds. You will then go on the separate matter of evaluating whether the issue succeeds.

The weight to be given to each argument. Making reasoned judgements about the weight to be given to each argument also involves making sure to highlight the strengths of an argument/theory. Bringing out the full strength of each argument/theory, including the ones you ultimately argue against, is important. Explain why an argument/theory is convincing to some philosophers, even if you end up evaluating that it does not succeed.

Relative cruciality. How crucial an argument is in comparison to other arguments that have a similar aim. For example if you evaluate multiple issues, are some more crucial than others?

This could be done in section 2 or 3, in the conclusion, or before the conclusion.

Points about cruciality should also be involved in the conclusion. Your conclusion must logically follow the cruciality of the various arguments you considered and then whether you evaluated them to succeed or fail.

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AQA A Level Business Paper 1 - Eight 25-Mark Questions to Practice

11th June 2017

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The first sitting of Paper 1 is just around the corner. In addition to the practice 25 mark questions we provided in the AQA Grade Booster revision workshops for 2017 here are 8 more essay questions to have a think about.

Download a PeCAn + PiE + AJIM Essay Planning Template Here

Aqa pecan pie ajim answer planner.

7th June 2017

Rather than write out full answers for these essays, spend 5-10 minutes thinking about how you would respond to them:

• What is the evaluation hook?
• What is the context you need to use?
• What are you main arguments and how could you use models / theories & lines of analysis to develop them?
• What evaluation could you add for your slice of PiE in each paragraph point?
• What is your judgement and why?

In recent years we have seen the emergence of low-cost competitors undercutting market leaders in many industries. As a result, to what extent is price now the most important part of the marketing mix for market leaders trying to remain competitive?

It is increasingly argued that the boards of public companies are too concerned with short-term performance rather than acting in the long-term interests of shareholders. To what extent do you agree that a more long-term perspective in decision-making by public companies would be more likely to improve the profits and share price of such companies?

High-profile multinationals such as Toyota and Samsung have suffered significant losses in recent years after widespread problems with quality. To what extent do you agree that achieving a high level of quality should be the most important operational objective for businesses that want to compete globally?

The managers of a large supermarket group want to achieve a significant improvement in the standard of customer service. To what extent will financial methods of motivation be more likely than non-financial methods of motivation to help achieve this objective?

The rapid pace of technological change has disrupted business models in many markets and industries. As a result, to what extent do you agree that only organisations that innovate will succeed in the long-term?

To what extent do you agree that a large business that needs to undergo a significant change programme must first change the leadership of the business?

Do you agree that external growth is the best way for multinational businesses to take advantage of opportunities in fast-growing international markets?

In recent years businesses have shown increasing interest in the impact of their activities on the environment. Do you agree that operating in a sustainable way is now the most important responsibility of a business?

Jim co-founded tutor2u alongside his twin brother Geoff! Jim is a well-known Business writer and presenter as well as being one of the UK's leading educational technology entrepreneurs.

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