Leaving Cert business: Current affairs-savvy students ‘have an edge’

A fair and topical higher level Leaving Cert business paper included questions on the Volkswagen emissions scandal, corporate social responsibility and the minimum wage.

Margo McGann, ASTI subject representative and a teacher at St Augustine’s College in Dungarvan, said there was a good mix of topics.

This was the first time topics related to the EU were not examined, but students will have been happy to see a very manageable question on the benefits of indigenous firms and international trade, she said.

“Students that keep abreast of current affairs by watching the news or reading papers will have had an edge due to the number of topical issues. The questions were very well-structured.

“For example, when students were asked about how the Irish government affects the labour force, they were given the context of how the minimum wage was recently raised.

“In a question on the functions of the new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission with regard to the interests of the consumers, students were reminded of the Volkswagen emissions scandal. This type of context is very useful as it helps them to recall the information.”

Think critically

Ms McGann said students were asked on three separate occasions to “evaluate” an issue, and this requires students to think critically and to develop ideas, and this was to be welcomed.

Padraig Doherty of the Business Studies Teachers' Association of Ireland, a teacher at Moyne Community School in Longford, said the paper was student-friendly and required deeper thinking, beyond rote learning.

Students were asked to apply their knowledge to practical situations and tested on their knowledge of planning, recruitment, quality standards and prototype development, he said.

Real world examples, drawn from supermarkets, hotels, a clothing alterations company and a medical device manufacturer, made the material more relatable.

Show their knowledge

Meanwhile, Keith Hannigan of the Institute of Education said the paper had plenty of options and gave students a chance to show their knowledge.

The ordinary level paper contained no surprises and was very fair, said Ms McGann.

Students were questioned on various acronyms including VAT and AGM and tasked with calculating take-home pay.

In a topical question framed around industrial disputes related to Iarnród Éireann train drivers, candidates were asked to outline three causes of such issues and two types of official industrial action.

“Again, this will have related the question to real life and real people and helped to trigger their memory,” she said.

TRY THIS AT HOME: Higher level business

Explain the term “invisible exports” and provide one example with reference to the Irish economy.