Business 0264
Explore how businesses organise people, market products, manage operations and make financial decisions. Apply the ideas to business cases.
What you'll cover
- Business foundations
- Human resources, organisation and communication
- Marketing
- Operations management
- Finance
- External influences
Published syllabus exam years: 2027, 2028, 2029. Confirm exam-series and centre availability with your school and Cambridge.
Progress through IGCSE Business 0264
2027–2029 syllabus · Version 2
6 of 6 sections have teaching and practice
Start the learning pathwayStudy options and assessment
Ninety-one original lessons cover all six topics of the Cambridge IGCSE Business 0264 syllabus for exams 2027–2029, mapping all nine Topic 1 sections, all twelve Topic 2 sections, all thirteen Topic 3 sections, all nine Topic 4 sections, all nine Topic 5 sections and all nine Topic 6 sections to guided, independent and transfer practice with explained answers. This A*–G qualification has a separate 9–1 grading route, Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Business 0774, linked to the same six-topic content in its own subject page. Candidates are not assessed on constructing cash-flow forecasts or financial statements. They are also not assessed on exchange-rate calculations. This is not a claim of Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 or O Level Business 7081 coverage. Written practice is self-checked; full timed Paper 1 data-response and Paper 2 case-study coverage and human subject-teacher review remain outstanding.
2027–2029, A*–G grading. The 9–1 grading variant is listed separately as 0774 with restricted administrative-zone availability. Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies 0450 and O Level Business 7081 remain separate qualifications.
View syllabus coverage
Topic 1, Understanding business activity, has 18 original lessons mapped to all nine listed syllabus sections/outcomes (1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1–1.3.4, 1.4.1 and 1.5.1–1.5.2). Topic 2, People in business, has 16 original lessons covering all twelve sections 2.1.1–2.1.3, 2.2.1–2.2.5, 2.3.1–2.3.2 and 2.4.1–2.4.2. Topic 3, Marketing, has 15 original lessons covering all thirteen sections 3.1.1–3.1.4, 3.2.1, 3.3.1–3.3.7 and 3.4.1. Topic 4, Operations management, has twelve original lessons covering all nine sections 4.1.1–4.1.2, 4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1–4.4.3, 4.5.1 and 4.6.1; it applies the Version 2 total-cost and margin-of-safety formulas. Topic 5, Financial information and decisions, has 17 original lessons mapped to all nine sections 5.1.1–5.1.2, 5.2.1, 5.3.1–5.3.2, 5.4.1 and 5.5.1–5.5.3, including finance choices, cash-flow forecasts, statement calculations, profitability ratios, liquidity ratios and users of accounts. The syllabus exclusions are explicit: candidates are not assessed on constructing cash-flow forecasts or financial statements. Topic 6, External influences on business activity, has 13 original lessons mapped to all nine sections 6.1.1–6.1.2, 6.2.1–6.2.4, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 6.5.1, including the syllabus-listed economic, trade, environmental, ethical and pressure-group content. The syllabus excludes exchange-rate calculations. Cambridge assesses Paper 1 Short Answer and Data Response and Paper 2 Case Study, each 1 hour 30 minutes and 50% of the qualification. All six topics have mapped teaching and staged practice; full timed-paper practice, exam-readiness evidence and human subject-teacher review remain outstanding.
Topic 1 · Business foundations
- Understanding business activity1Use the four factors of productionCalculate and explain added valueApply opportunity cost to a business choiceClassify primary, secondary and tertiary activitySeparate private-sector and public-sector activityExplain enterprise and entrepreneurial qualitiesBuild and use a simple business planMeasure business size with suitable evidenceExplain internal growthExplain mergers, takeovers and integrationEvaluate growth and reasons to remain smallExplain why businesses succeed or failCompare sole traders and partnershipsCompare private and public limited companiesCompare franchises, joint ventures and social enterprisesChoose and explain business objectivesIdentify stakeholder groups and objectivesEvaluate stakeholder conflict in a business decision
Topic 2 · Human resources, organisation and communication
- People in business2Plan a recruitment processUse evidence to select an employeeCompare internal and external recruitmentRead an employment contractExplain employment protections and their effectsChoose training for a new employeeRead business functions and organisation chartsChoose flexible and part-time working arrangementsApply management functions and delegationChoose a leadership styleExplain downsizing and redundancyExplain the role of trade unionsChoose a business communication methodIdentify and reduce communication barriersExplain motivation and motivational theoriesCompare financial and non-financial motivation methods
Topic 3 · Marketing
- Marketing3Connect marketing to customer needsRespond to market change and calculate market shareCompare mass and niche marketsSegment a market using customer characteristicsChoose primary research and a sampleEvaluate secondary research and market dataDevelop a product and its brandRead the product life cycle and extend a productSelect a pricing methodChoose a distribution channelPlan advertising and sales promotionEvaluate ecommerce for businesses and customersCombine the marketing mix into a strategyEnter a market in another countryProtect customers through marketing controls
Topic 4 · Operations management
- Operations management4Calculate labour productivity and explain efficiencyUse lean production and manage inventoryChoose job, batch or flow productionAssess technology in production and servicesUse sustainable production methodsClassify and calculate production costsExplain economies and diseconomies of scaleInterpret a break-even chartCalculate break-even output and margin of safetyUse break-even analysis for decisions and limitsChoose quality control or quality assuranceChoose a location for operations
Topic 5 · Finance
- Financial information and decisions5Identify why a business needs financeCalculate and manage working capitalCompare internal sources of financeCompare borrowing and supplier financeCompare equity, venture capital, grants and crowdfundingChoose a suitable source of financeRead cash-flow forecasts and their purposeComplete and amend a simple cash-flow forecastInterpret a cash-flow problem and respondExplain profit and why it mattersCalculate figures from a statement of profit or lossUse profit-or-loss information in a business decisionClassify assets, liabilities and capital employedCalculate working capital and statement totalsCalculate profitability ratiosCalculate and interpret liquidity ratiosUse accounts and ratios for different users
Topic 6 · External influences
- External influences on business activity6Explain the stages of the business cycleConnect employment, inflation and economic growth to a businessExplain how tax and government spending affect businessExplain how interest-rate changes affect businessesExplain why globalisation is increasingExplain import tariffs, quotas and business effectsAssess a business becoming a multinational companyEvaluate effects of a multinational company on a host countryDistinguish private and external costs and benefitsExplain currency appreciation and depreciationRespond to environmental effects and controlsAssess ethical choices in businessExplain how pressure groups influence businesses
Lessons and worked examples
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- 01
Use the four factors of production
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Not started - 02
Calculate and explain added value
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Not started - 03
Apply opportunity cost to a business choice
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Not started - 04
Classify primary, secondary and tertiary activity
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Not started - 05
Separate private-sector and public-sector activity
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Not started - 06
Explain enterprise and entrepreneurial qualities
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Not started - 07
Build and use a simple business plan
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Not started - 08
Measure business size with suitable evidence
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Not started - 09
Explain internal growth
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Not started - 10
Explain mergers, takeovers and integration
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Not started - 11
Evaluate growth and reasons to remain small
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Not started - 12
Explain why businesses succeed or fail
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Not started - 13
Compare sole traders and partnerships
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Not started - 14
Compare private and public limited companies
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Not started - 15
Compare franchises, joint ventures and social enterprises
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Not started - 16
Choose and explain business objectives
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Not started - 17
Identify stakeholder groups and objectives
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Not started - 18
Evaluate stakeholder conflict in a business decision
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Not started - 19
Plan a recruitment process
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Not started - 20
Use evidence to select an employee
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Not started - 21
Compare internal and external recruitment
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Not started - 22
Read an employment contract
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Not started - 23
Explain employment protections and their effects
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Not started - 24
Choose training for a new employee
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Not started - 25
Read business functions and organisation charts
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Not started - 26
Choose flexible and part-time working arrangements
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Not started - 27
Apply management functions and delegation
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Not started - 28
Choose a leadership style
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Not started - 29
Explain downsizing and redundancy
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Not started - 30
Explain the role of trade unions
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Not started - 31
Choose a business communication method
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Not started - 32
Identify and reduce communication barriers
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Not started - 33
Explain motivation and motivational theories
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Not started - 34
Compare financial and non-financial motivation methods
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Not started - 35
Connect marketing to customer needs
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Not started - 36
Respond to market change and calculate market share
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Not started - 37
Compare mass and niche markets
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Not started - 38
Segment a market using customer characteristics
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Not started - 39
Choose primary research and a sample
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Not started - 40
Evaluate secondary research and market data
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Not started - 41
Develop a product and its brand
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Not started - 42
Read the product life cycle and extend a product
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Not started - 43
Select a pricing method
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Not started - 44
Choose a distribution channel
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Not started - 45
Plan advertising and sales promotion
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Not started - 46
Evaluate ecommerce for businesses and customers
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Not started - 47
Combine the marketing mix into a strategy
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Not started - 48
Enter a market in another country
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Not started - 49
Protect customers through marketing controls
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Not started - 50
Calculate labour productivity and explain efficiency
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Not started - 51
Use lean production and manage inventory
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Not started - 52
Choose job, batch or flow production
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Not started - 53
Assess technology in production and services
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Not started - 54
Use sustainable production methods
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Not started - 55
Classify and calculate production costs
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Not started - 56
Explain economies and diseconomies of scale
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Not started - 57
Interpret a break-even chart
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Not started - 58
Calculate break-even output and margin of safety
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Not started - 59
Use break-even analysis for decisions and limits
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Not started - 60
Choose quality control or quality assurance
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Not started - 61
Choose a location for operations
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Not started - 62
Identify why a business needs finance
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Not started - 63
Calculate and manage working capital
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Not started - 64
Compare internal sources of finance
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Not started - 65
Compare borrowing and supplier finance
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Not started - 66
Compare equity, venture capital, grants and crowdfunding
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Not started - 67
Choose a suitable source of finance
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Not started - 68
Read cash-flow forecasts and their purpose
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Not started - 69
Complete and amend a simple cash-flow forecast
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Not started - 70
Interpret a cash-flow problem and respond
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Not started - 71
Explain profit and why it matters
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Not started - 72
Calculate figures from a statement of profit or loss
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Not started - 73
Use profit-or-loss information in a business decision
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Not started - 74
Classify assets, liabilities and capital employed
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Not started - 75
Calculate working capital and statement totals
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Not started - 76
Calculate profitability ratios
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Not started - 77
Calculate and interpret liquidity ratios
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Not started - 78
Use accounts and ratios for different users
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Not started - 79
Explain the stages of the business cycle
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Not started - 80
Connect employment, inflation and economic growth to a business
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 81
Explain how tax and government spending affect business
Learn the method · Practise with help · Try it yourself · Apply the idea
Not started - 82
Explain how interest-rate changes affect businesses
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Not started - 83
Explain why globalisation is increasing
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Not started - 84
Explain import tariffs, quotas and business effects
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Not started - 85
Assess a business becoming a multinational company
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Not started - 86
Evaluate effects of a multinational company on a host country
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Not started - 87
Distinguish private and external costs and benefits
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Not started - 88
Explain currency appreciation and depreciation
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Not started - 89
Respond to environmental effects and controls
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Not started - 90
Assess ethical choices in business
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Not started - 91
Explain how pressure groups influence businesses
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Not started
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