Controlled assessment pp

Controlled Assessment
How will I get marks?
40 Marks Available

One chance only
There is no opportunity to re-take controlled assessment – this is your only chance to get it right – make sure you do by using all research time and write-up time wisely.
NO TIME TO WASTE – so all sessions will be run in silence!

You have to demonstrate certain skills
The skills areas are:
Research – 12 marks
To gain the highest marks for research:
your research will have to be detailed
your research has to be relevant
you must gather information from a wide range of sources (4 or 5)
you have to organise the research you gather
your research has to be focused on the question

ExampleMy question title: What is the most important reason why Michael Strait set up a KFC franchise?
List 5 sources and types of research evidence that could be used to answer this question –
Primary research– interview with Michael
Secondary – KFC Website – information on opening a franchise
Textbook – notes for definitions
Secondary – how to buy a KFC franchise
Secondary – website showing success rate of franchises

Presentation of information/data – 8 marks
List 5 types of information/data and the format that could be use:
Survey – bar chart
Exchange rate data – line graph
Price comparison - table
Location of business - photo
Quality of service – screenshot from website

Analysis – 12 marks
When analysing, it is important to identify some key:
issues
features
reasons
causes
consequences
factors

Given the time constraint you are working to, it is not expected that you could cover more than three or four main points in your write-up. For each point, however, you must make sure that you try to identify at least two key issues, features, reasons, etc.

For example, if you were looking at the closure of a local business, you might have identified three main causes: cash-flow problems, a fall in demand for the product and an inability to raise the finance to continue.
For each cause, identify three bullet points to help you explain it in more detail.
If you were looking at cash-flow problems, the three bullet points might be:
increased interest rates on loan – how and why this affected cash flow
debtors delaying payment – how and why this affected cash flow
increase in stock levels – how this affected costs and thus cash flow

The important thing to remember is to make sure your research is used effectively to support the judgements you are going to make.
Examples of Making Supported Judgements
The results of a survey might enable you to make a judgement about the importance of price in the marketing mix.
A quote from an interview might help you to show why a particular quality is important in being a successful entrepreneur.
A diagram might help to support a series of causes and effects of a rise in interest rates on a business.
A passage in your textbook might be used to support your view on the importance of repeat purchase for a small business.
A pie chart might show the proportion of people who shop at three rival businesses.

Identify 3 main reasons why Michael Strait set up KFC Franchise?
Advantages of a franchise
Less risk – 2 reasons -tried and tested, advice about finance required (must be supported by research so you would have interviewed Michael and he will have said these are the reasons he felt it less risky).
Location – 2 reasons – location given by KFC in a good place for success (supported by a photo or observation of number of customers – footfall). Location guaranteed to have no other KFC in local vicinity. (supported by KFC website
Strong branding – 2 reasons – highly recognisable products and logo (supported by research – survey of 10 people in local area)

Evaluation – 8 marks
Evaluation is:
making judgements about the importance or significance of something
making judgements about whether something is more valuable or important than something else
making a decision about an action or recommendation that might improve things
deciding why one factor might be more relevant or appropriate than another
deciding why you might choose one option rather than another

Answer the question
You are likely to have to include:
Three or four main paragraphs that deal with the key points
A final paragraph that draws together your analysis and allows you to arrive at a conclusion related to the question
You will need to decide how many paragraphs you are going to have and what each might be about. An example plan is shown below.

Example Plan
Question: What was the most important source of finance used to help Manton Antiques ltd start up?
Introduction: Brief outline of Manton Antiques
Paragraph 1: Share capital from owners
The shareholders
Who controlled what
How much they controlled
Paragraph 2: Bank Loan
How much was borrowed
What was it used for
Costs and benefits of taking out a bank loan

Paragraph 3: Overdraft
Why an overdraft was arranged
Costs and benefits of overdraft
How it was used
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
What was the most important source of finance
Bank loan – why?
Why more important than shares
Why more important than overdraft

Visit the Business Blog
http://beaumontbusiness.blogspot.com/
On the blog you will find:
Detailed guide to controlled assessment which – print if needed
Appendices with tables to help your planning – print if needed
The questions to be chosen from this year

What do you do next?
Over half-term choose a business or commodity that you are going to use to answer one of the questions set by the exam board.
Choose the question that interests you most and is appropriate to your business.
Begin to plan your research as your research class time begins on Monday 28th Feb– first day back after half-term.

Research Planning and Log
Use the tables in the CA appendices – appendix 2 to plan your initial research
Use appendix 1 to log your research to keep a tally of the time spent – 6 hours max – use the time wisely

Example Controlled Assessment
Have a look at a controlled assessment that got 75% when marked by the examiner.
You can all produce work to this quality or above so make your CA fantastic!

Unit 1 - Exam
Exam on Friday 27thMay 2011– 45mins
Arrive at the Hall at 1.30pm
Bring a calculator and a black pen
Remember take your time and make sure you have answered all the questions – 2 if it asks for 2 etc
Good luck!

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Controlled assessment pp

by Andy Goodwin on Feb 09, 2011

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