SOLUTIONS 12

Section IV- Extended Response Questions

How to answer extended response questions
Extended Response questions will require answers in the form of a business report or
essay. .The following represents a way of achieving this goal.
This Five Point Plan will help you structure a response to these questions.

Strategic Five Point Plan

1. You need to recognise content areas of the syllabus referred to in the question. This
will enable you to frame your answer in the proper context.
2. You need to have a working knowledge of directive verbs used in Business Studies
questions.
3. Structure your response in the format of a report or essay. The report must be
addressed to the business and include an executive summary or an introduction.
Reports must be written with headings and subheadings. Essays will have a similar
structure with separate paragraphs addressing each part of the argument in
sequence.
4. Use of case study material. A case study or studies need to be integrated into the
answers. Failure to do this will result in a low mark being achieved. There is no
possibility of achieving a band 6 result without case study reference(s).
5. Where necessary, use diagrams and tables as a means of summarising facts
and information. These are an effective and efficient way of demonstrating your
understanding of the questions and issues being asked.

Why use this process?

The key to answering an Extended Response question is organisation which requires
clarity in thinking and understanding. This Five Point Plan represents a framework that
includes a checklist of issues.
Systematically ticking off the five points will enable you to write a structured and
purposeful report or essay. Focus on answering the questions and meeting the syllabus
requirements.

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 What do the five points look like?
1.Syllabus content areas

Questions in this section usually require responses to the two areas of the syllabus not
asked in Section III. You need to recognise this and frame your response according to the
question.
The syllabus content areas include:
Business Management and Change
• Financial Management
• Marketing
Employment Relations
• Global Business
Remember the examiners can only set the exam questions from these areas. Know these
areas well and costruct your reponse accordingly.

2.The use of directive verbs in the question

Every question set by the Board of Studies Business Studies examination committee
uses verbs. These require you to perform some activity related to a level of thinking.
The Board of Studies has provided a list of 32 verbs, used to formulate questions. The
following represents the most commonly verbs used in Business Studies exams over
recent exams.
• Define -states characteristics and generally qualities
• Outline-meanstosketchingeneraltermsorindicatethemainfeaturesofthetopicof
issue
• Explain- means you must give details about the cause and effect
• Describe- signifies that you should talk about the features and characteristics of
the object or person
• Discuss- means you must show the reason for and against your suggestion
• Propose- means you must put forward a point of view, idea, argument, or
suggestion for consideration or action
• Evaluate- requires you to make a judgement about the advice you give in your
answer
• Analyse- requires you to examine the stimulus material provided in detail, and
in your report you must identify causes, key factors, and possible results of the
business's decisions.

Understanding this shortlist of verbs may be enough, but if you have time refer to the
more complete list on the Board of Studies website.

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S.The structure of the response

Section IV requires a report or essay to be written. Choose the format that you feel
comfortable with allowing you to demonstrate your knowledge of the course content
and the integration of case study material in an organised manner. If you decide to use
the report format then use the following structure.
The inclusion of an executive summary or an introduction
This causes some problems for students and it is an important part of the report. It
serves to summarise what the business does, the problems it maybe facing now, what it
wants to do i.e. objectives, and how it proposes to achieve its objectives and the possible
outcomes of these strategies.This should be done in third or maximum half a page. It can
be written once the body of the report has been written
• Use headings in the structure of the report
Frame the report using different sections that focus on each directive verb used in the
question. For example, the 2003 report question asked for the following:
1. An outline the alternatives to fund expansion
2. Your proposed steps to develop a marketing plan
3. Recommended strategies for a successful global financial management.
These questions become the headings of the report

• The use of subheadings.

Within the body of the report, you can use subheadings to further differentiate yor ideas
included in the response. For example:
1.0 Marketing
1.1 Marketing strategies
Conclusions
The Executive Summary (at the start of a report) is in fact a conclusion. Some would
argue that a separate conclusion is therefore unnecessary. You must make a judgment in
preparing your response whether a separate conclusion adds value in reinforcing your
argument.
If you choose to use the essay format then have an introduction, body and conclusion

4.The use of a case study or case studies

• Section 1V needs to have included case study references. Please ensure your case
study provides the information allowing you to address all aspects of the syllabus
content areas. For example, does your case study have sufficient information such
as marketing strategies, management and change, employment relations and has it
gone overseas?.

S.The use of diagrams and tables

These are a means to quickly summarise and compare information in a concise and
relevant way. Typical devices are
Pie charts • Bar Graphs • Cause and effect
Flow charts • Line graphs • Venn Diagrams
Mind maps • Concept maps • Spreadsheets

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