Edexcel GCSE Business Paper 1 Mark Scheme - November 2021 - Paper 1: Investigating small business

Sep 5, 2026

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Edexcel GCSE in Business (1BS0) Paper 1: Investigating small business provides the official mark scheme for November 2021. It includes general marking guidance for applying the same criteria to all candidates and rewarding evidence that matches the scheme. Section A lists question-by-question answers and indicative mark allocations, covering topics such as sources of finance, market research, risk reduction, margin of safety, and profit, with specific numerical mark requirements and acceptance rules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

General Marking Guidance

Section A

Mark Scheme (Results) November 2021 Pearson Edexcel GCSE In Business (1BS0) Paper 1: Investigating small business Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific programmes for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites [at](at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively)[ ](at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively)[www.edexcel.com](at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively)[ or](at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively)[ ](at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively)[www.btec.co.uk](at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively)[. Alternatively](at www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively), you can get in touch with us using the details on our contact us page [at](at www.edexcel.com/contactus)[ ](at www.edexcel.com/contactus)[www.edexcel.com/contactus](at www.edexcel.com/contactus). Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages, we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can help you and your students at: [www.pearson.com/uk](www.pearson.com/uk) November 2021 Question Paper Log Number 67619 Publications Code 1 BS0_01_2111_MS All the material in this publication is copyright © Pearson Education Ltd 2021 General Marking Guidance • All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last. • Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions. • Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception of where the grade boundaries may lie. • There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used appropriately. • All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should always award full marks if deserved, i. e. if the answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme. • Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited. • When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted. • Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an alternative response. Section A | Question number | Answer | Mark | | --- | --- | --- | | 1(a) | D-Venture capital | (1) AO1a | | Question number | Answer | Mark | | --- | --- | --- | | 1(b) | C-Market research | (1) AO1a | | Question number | Answer | Mark | | --- | --- | --- | | 1(c) | Award 1 mark for identification of a drawback, plus 2 further marks for explaining this drawback up to a total of 3 marks.
A business with low levels of cash may not be able to pay suppliers (1) . This would damage relationships with suppliers (1), which means the business may not have sufficient levels of raw materials (1) .
A business may not be able to pay its employee wages or salaries (1) . This is bad because employees may leave the business to find work elsewhere (1) . This will lead to increased labour turnover (1) .
Accept any other appropriate response. Answers that list more than one drawback with no explanation w

FAQs

What principles does the mark scheme require examiners to follow?

Examiners must apply the mark scheme positively, reward what candidates show they can do, and mark according to the scheme rather than expectations about grade boundaries. All candidates must receive consistent treatment.

Which topics are assessed in Section A of Paper 1: Investigating small business?

Section A includes items on identifying appropriate funding options, market research, reducing risk, and interpreting measures such as margin of safety and profit, along with required calculations.

How are marks allocated when questions require identification and explanation?

For such questions, the scheme awards one mark for identification and additional marks for explaining the point, up to a stated maximum. Listing multiple answers without explanation is limited to a reduced score.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Fahsai