Leaving Cert Business Exam Papers Guide

The video introduces the use of past exam papers, particularly the 2019 and 2015 Leaving Cert Business papers, as a crucial study tool. It highlights the website examinations.ie as the primary resource for accessing both exam papers and their corresponding marking schemes. Students are advised to find higher-level English versions of the papers and open both the questions and answers side-by-side for effective study.

The presenter emphasizes the importance of time management during the exam, suggesting students time their answers to avoid spending too much time on any single question part. Another key strategy is organizing answers using the 'state, explain, example' format, typically with three bullet points for explanation and an example to demonstrate a deeper understanding.

Section One consists of 80 marks for short compulsory questions, with 8 out of 10 questions to be answered, each worth 10 marks. The presenter recommends attempting all 10 questions, as the best 8 answers will be counted. Marking schemes show how points are broken down for each question, sometimes giving higher weighting to initial answers.

Section Two is a case study, often called an ABQ (Applied Business Question), worth 80 marks. For the 2019 paper, it's based on units two, three, and four. The key strategy for this section is to read the questions first, then the case study, highlighting relevant parts. Answers should include a direct quote or link from the text to support explanations, following the 'state, explain, link' format.

The video breaks down an example case study question: 'Explain the term entrepreneur' and 'Outline the benefits for Emma Daily of becoming an entrepreneur.' It explains how marks are allocated (e.g., 6 marks for definition, 14 for benefits, broken down into 2 for stating, 3 for explaining, and 2 for linking to the text). Command words like 'evaluate' require a dedicated evaluation section at the end, providing overall opinions.

Section Three requires students to answer four long questions, each worth 60 marks, with specific rules: one from Part One, two from Part Two, and one other from either Part One or Two. Part One questions typically relate to Unit One (people in business), focusing on topics like contract law or industrial disputes. Answers should still follow the 'state, explain, example' format, being mindful of the allocated marks to determine the depth of response needed.

The presenter shows where to find full answers for all sections on the examinations.ie website. Short questions are covered first, followed by the detailed ABQ (case study) answers, which often require extensive responses (three to four A4 pages). The video stresses that marking schemes provide all possible answers, and students should focus on fulfilling the required number of points based on the mark allocation. Students are encouraged to reach out to the instructor if they find any part of the marking scheme confusing.