Back to Business (Management): Preparing for the Higher Exams with How to Pass

• What are the recent changes to exams in Scotland?
• How has the assessment structure changed?
• How has the course content changed?
• Are there any changes to the assignment update?
• What are the changes to the conclusions and recommendations?
• Summer Business News: Sephora in Scotland case study

It’s back to business in Scotland as students and teachers in Business Education classrooms across

the country quickly settle into the term and (yes… already)! begin the journey to the higher exams next May.

Accompanying thousands of pupils on their journey to success in Higher Business Management every year is the trusted How to Pass Higher Business Management textbook, or ‘the white and orange one’ as many pupils call it! 

What are the recent changes to exams in Scotland?

There have been some changes recently with regards to exams in Scotland, I am sure teachers and students are aware. Most notably to the examination board itself; formerly known as Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), it is now known as Qualification Scotland (QS). 

The How to Pass Higher Business Management book mentions SQA throughout the text, but please be assured that the contents and advice remains relevant to the Qualification Scotland Higher Business Management exam students will sit in May 2027. 

There have been a few small changes to content that has been revised, which I have noted below. It’s good news – the content has been slimmed down a little – making your studies easier and you can focus your revision on the content that remains to be assessed. 

How has the assessment structure changed?

Qualifications Scotland has introduced some changes to the structure of the assessment, in other words how you will get your grade, from the exam diet in 2027 onwards. Please note:
 

This is good news! The 90-mark, 2-hour and 45-minute exam paper was a slog for many students in years gone by. 70 marks, over the new time of 2 hours and 15 minutes, will be much more manageable and a fairer test of knowledge and skills in Business Management. 

Whilst the assignment remains at 30 marks, there has been an adjustment to the weighting, meaning that it will be worth less of your overall grade, but not by much. A good assignment can still be the difference between a Grade B and a Grade A! 

The table below illustrates the changes in the weighting of the course from 2027 onwards, compared to before: 

How has the course content changed?

How to Pass Higher Business Management still covers ALL the content students need to pass the exam in May 2027 and beyond. If anything, the book has some extra content that has been removed from the Higher Business Management course, so please ignore the following pages when you are revising! These topic areas will NOT be assessed from 2027 onwards.

Are there any changes to the assignment update?

The assignment remains the same structure, worth 30 marks overall: 

What are the changes to the conclusions and recommendations?

The trickiest section is the Conclusions & Recommendations section. This section has been tightened up in recent years by QS so here are some handy tips to help you! 

• No marks for ‘new’ information – you must have covered your points in A&I.
• No marks for ‘off topic’ information – if your topic is marketing, stick to marketing! 
• Focus most of the 10 marks on recommendations – they are easier than conclusions. 
• Recommendation disadvantages make for good development points!
• Only 1 mark available for recommending the business should continue to do something.
• If you have found the business is great at loads of things, a slight tweak to it, e.g. to prices or promotions would attract a mark.
• 1 ‘general’ summing up to begin with is good – but make sure you bring together a number of your points, e.g.

I conclude that Starbucks has a successful extended marketing mix, which is shown by its clear processes, helpful staff and welcoming ambience, which has led to increasing profits last year.

This would be worth 1 mark for a conclusion, according to this document about how the coursework component of Higher Business Management is assessed . It is worth a mark because it brings together more than one point from the analysis, so make sure you do that when concluding!