CIE Business (0264)
Paper 1: The High-Speed Sprint (New Syllabus 0264 | First Exams: 2027)
In short, Paper 1 is a 90-minute sprint section of the Business IGCSE. Instead of one long booklet, you will face four distinct, paragraph-long business scenarios. This paper tests your speed, precision, and ability to rapidly shift and challenge your abilities from different sections of the syllabus to another.
The main essentials:
● Time & Weight: 1 hour 30 minutes. 80 marks total. Worth 50% of your final IGCSE grade.
● The Rules: 4 main questions worth 20 marks each.
All four are compulsory. YOU WILL NEED TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.
The 20-Mark Ladder: Every main question on Paper 1 is highly predictable. They all follow the same four-step ladder, getting progressively harder:
● (a) Define (2 marks): Pure textbook memory. Such as asking for a definition. No application needed.
● (b) Outline (4 marks): State your points and link them to the scenario. You must use applications to gain marks.
● (c) Explain (6 marks): Show the specific impact on the business. Knowledge→ Application→ Explanation.
● (d) Justify (8 marks): Weigh two sides of an argument and make a final, supported decision.
Paper 2: The Case Study (New Syllabus 0264 | First Exams: 2027)
If Paper 1 is a high-speed sprint across different business scenarios, Paper 2 is more like a marathon. In your final exams, you will receive one detailed insert booklet following a single fictional business, complete with all the data and information to answer your question. Here, generic textbook answers, ones seen in Paper 1, won't work. Every single mark of Paper 2 depends on your ability to analyse and solve problems for this exact business.
The Main Essentials:
● Time & Weight: 1 hour 30 minutes. 80 marks total. Worth 50% of your final IGCSE grade.
● The Change: Raw memorisation of the syllabus drops to just about 30% of the paper. Analysis and Evaluation take centre stage (40% combined).
● The Rules: 4 main questions worth 20 marks each. All four are compulsory.
The Question Split
Each of the 4 questions is split into two distinct parts:
● Part A (8 marks —roughly 8 mins): Explain two advantages and two disadvantages of a business concept, showing direct application and impact.
● Part B (12 marks —roughly 12 mins): The high-stakes evaluation section. This is where you calculate financial data, weigh up strategic options, and write a justified final recommendation for the business.
Navigate to the Unit section for the complete breakdown on how to tackle each paper, exactly what the examiners are looking for, and the frameworks you need to score top marks.
Written by Tri Le
Curated by Quinn Luong