IGCSE Business Studies: Key Case Study Themes to Revise
As the IGCSE Business Studies exams approach in May/June 2025, one of the most important areas to revise is your ability to apply theory to real business scenarios.
Paper 1 and Paper 2 both rely heavily on case study-based questions — and students often lose marks not because they don’t know the content, but because they don’t apply it properly.
Here are the key case study themes you should focus on in your final revision to improve your confidence, your clarity — and your marks.
1. Business Growth and Expansion Strategies
Themes to expect:
- Internal (organic) vs external (mergers/takeovers) growth
- Benefits and risks of expansion (e.g., economies of scale, diseconomies)
- Impact on stakeholders
📌 Tip: Be able to evaluate why a business might want to grow, and the problems it might face (especially cash flow, coordination, and control).
2. Marketing and the 4Ps in Action
Themes that appear frequently:
- Product lifecycle and extension strategies
- Pricing decisions (cost-plus, competitive, penetration, skimming)
- Promotion types and campaign evaluation
- Place (distribution methods, e-commerce vs retail)
📌 Tip: Link marketing choices to business size, type of product, and target market.
For example: “A niche luxury brand is more likely to use price skimming and selective distribution.”
3. Financial Decision-Making and Ratios
Common themes:
- Cash flow forecasting
- Break-even analysis
- Sources of finance (short- vs long-term)
- Interpretation of profit/loss accounts and balance sheets
📌 Tip: Don’t just memorize formulas — learn to explain what the results mean in context.
E.g., “A low gross profit margin may indicate high cost of sales or poor pricing strategy.”
4. Human Resources: Recruitment, Motivation, and Structure
Case study trends:
- Job descriptions, person specs, and interview techniques
- Motivation theories (Maslow, Taylor, Herzberg) applied to workplace situations
- Organisational charts: advantages/disadvantages of different structures
📌 Tip: Always link HR decisions to business goals. For example, “A flat structure may help a tech startup stay agile and reduce communication barriers.”
5. External Influences on Business
Common topics:
- Exchange rate changes (impact on import/export costs)
- Government regulation and legislation
- Environmental sustainability
- Social trends and consumer behavior
📌 Tip: You’re expected to apply external changes to specific business problems — like cost increases, competitiveness, or reputation.
How to Practice Case-Based Questions Effectively
- Use past papers to analyze how questions are structured
- Practice PEEL paragraphs (Point, Explain, Example, Link)
- Practice justifying a decision — especially for 6- or 8-mark questions
- Use real business examples from news, school projects, or predictive scenarios
Train With Predictive, Realistic Case Studies
Past papers are helpful, but smarter students practice with:
- Fresh, realistic case studies designed for 2025 exams
- Markscheme-aligned structures
- Syllabus-focused content (no outdated scenarios)
Predict Exam’s IGCSE Business Studies predictive papers are crafted from past trends, case structures, and examiner reports — so your practice is aligned with what matters most.
Conclusion: Master the Case, Maximize Your Marks
To succeed in IGCSE Business Studies:
- Revise key case study themes across marketing, finance, HR, and external forces
- Practice structured application, not just recall
- Use predictive scenarios that simulate the real exam format
Explore Predict Exam’s IGCSE Business Studies Predictive Papers and sharpen your applied answers today.