Junior Cycle Business Studies
Junior Cycle Business Studies is divided into three parts:
- Personal finance
- Enterprise
- Our economy
The Junior Cycle Business Studies Curriculum Specification from the NCCA states that the aim of Business Studies is:
‘To stimulate students’ interest in the business environment and how they interact with it. It develops skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours that allow them to make informed and responsible decisions with all of the resources available to them, ensuring their and society’s well-being, while becoming more self-aware as learners.’
With this in mind, the Business department at St Mary’s Baldoyle aims to deliver an engaging Junior Cycle curriculum planned for the maximum benefit and development of our students. Some of the topics explored in Junior Cycle Business are as follows:
- Making the Most of Your Resources
- Recording Household Income and Expenditure
- Insurance
- Consumerism
- The Skills, Characteristics and Role of the Entrepreneur
- Work, Employment and Volunteerism
- Impact of Digital Technologies
- Writing a Business Plan
- Income Statements
- Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet)
- Scarcity and Choice
- Government Economic Policy
- The European Union
Junior cycle business studies has two Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs). These are undertaken during second and third year of junior cycle education. The CBAs provide students with the opportunity to use various methods of research, analyse data and evidence, organise information and plan logically, communicate clearly and effectively, collaborate with others and reflect on their contributions and learning. The first CBA in Business Studies focuses on developing students’ ability to work together while also ensuring an individual contribution from each individual student. The second Business Studies CBA is an individual project which aims to help students develop their ability to investigate and present on a business-related topic. Students complete a formal written Assessment Task to be submitted to the State Examinations Commission for marking along with the final examination for business studies.
Junior Cycle Business Studies is assessed at Common Level where there is only one paper as opposed to the traditional style of Higher and Ordinary papers. Descriptors for Junior Cycle Business Studies include a total of 6 grade descriptors: Distinction, Higher Merit, Merit, Achieved, Partially Achieved, and Not Graded. These are broken down as follows:
90 or over Distinction
75 to less than 90 Higher Merit
55 to less than 75 Merit
40 to less than 55 Achieved
20 to less than 40 Partially Achieved
Less than 20 No Grade/ NG
While these are only applicable to the Junior Cycle state exams, Classroom-based assessments (CBAs) have a different grading system. These are Exceptional, Above Expectations, In Line with Expectations, Yet To Meet Expectations, and Not Reported.