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0450 · Cambridge IGCSE

0450/22

Case Study Scenario

Business Studies · June 2024 · Variant 2

Relative difficulty

Standard · 3.2/5
Relative difficulty

3.2 / 5

Total marks

160

Duration

180 min

Most tested topic

Environmental and ethical issues

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

160

Duration

180 min

Session difficulty

3.2 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

A balanced and highly application-focused set of papers testing core concepts with a strong emphasis on break-even analysis, environmental impacts, and stakeholder objectives.

Question difficulty map

How candidates performed on each question in this series

No data available in official reports

Assessment objectives

Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary

Knowledge and Understanding4
Application (AO2)3
Analysis (AO3)2
Evaluation (AO4)1

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Knowledge and UnderstandingKnowledge andUnderstandingApplication (AO2)Application(AO2)Analysis (AO3)Analysis (AO3)Evaluation (AO4)Evaluation (AO4)
SkillWeightShare
  • Knowledge and Understanding

    Weight: 4100%
  • Application (AO2)

    Weight: 375%
  • Analysis (AO3)

    Weight: 250%
  • Evaluation (AO4)

    Weight: 125%

Method marks watchlist

Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost

No data available in official reports

Recurring mistakes across years

Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject

No data available in official reports

Question choice intelligence

Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)

No data available in official reports

Level exemplars

What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like

No data available in official reports

Grade & admission context

How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards

Report type

Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards

Level A*

Approx. 66% of maximum mark

Level A

Approx. 54% of maximum mark

Level B

Approx. 43% of maximum mark

Level C

Approx. 33% of maximum mark

Level D

Approx. 27% of maximum mark

Level E

Approx. 21% of maximum mark

Deep insights

What top candidates did

Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series

No data available in official reports

Command word playbook

How to match each command word to the expected response style

DefineFrequency: 3

Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.

CalculateFrequency: 1

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

IdentifyFrequency: 5

Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.

OutlineFrequency: 3

Match the expected response style for “Outline” questions.

ExplainFrequency: 10

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

ConsiderFrequency: 8

Match the expected response style for “Consider” questions.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

Paper 1 Short Answer90m / 80 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Environmental and ethical issues

22 marks this session

Marketing mix

18 marks this session

Business objectives and stakeholder objectives

16 marks this session

Marketing strategy

16 marks this session

MCQ trap analytics

Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Topic heatmap across years

Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject

Mark intensity

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
Σ

Marketing mix

12
22
18
52

Production of goods and services

20
18
38

Recruitment, selection and training of employees

18
14
32

Business finance: needs and sources

14
14
28

Enterprise, business growth and size

26
26

Analysis of accounts

18
18

Economic issues

12
12

Motivating employees

12
12

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

Paper 1 Short Answer and Data Response:

80 marks90 min

Paper 2 Case Study:

80 marks90 min

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

No data available in official reports

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    A balanced and highly application-focused set of papers testing core concepts with a strong emphasis on break-even analysis, environmental impacts, and stakeholder objectives.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2024 2024

Business Studies

A balanced and highly application-focused set of papers testing core concepts with a strong emphasis on break-even analysis, environmental impacts, and stakeholder objectives.

  • A balanced and highly application-focused set of papers testing core concepts with a strong emphasis on break-even analysis, environmental impacts, and stakeholder objectives.

Total marks
160
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.2 / 5

Session analysis

A balanced and highly application-focused set of papers testing core concepts with a strong emphasis on break-even analysis, environmental impacts, and stakeholder objectives.

Updated Jun 13, 2026

Paper breakdown

Paper 1 Short Answer and Data Response:

80 marks90 min

Paper 2 Case Study:

80 marks90 min

Top chapters

Environmental and ethical issues22 marks
Marketing mix18 marks
Business objectives and stakeholder objectives16 marks
Marketing strategy16 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Location decisions6 marks
Marketing, competition and the2 marks
Analysis of accounts12 marks
Environmental and ethical issues22 marks
Production of goods and services6 marks
Business activity2 marks
Economic issues10 marks
Business objectives and stakeho16 marks

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

60% within easy or medium reach

32
64
64
Easy: 32 marksMedium: 64 marksHard: 64 marks

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Define3 times
Calculate1 times
Identify5 times
Outline3 times
Explain10 times
Consider8 times

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

160Marks
  • Outlines & Explanations

    66·12·41%

  • Justifications & Recommendations

    64·4·40%

  • Definitions & Recall

    22·10·14%

  • Calculations

    8·2·5%

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

DifficultyRecurrence %Marketing mixBusiness objective…Environmental and …Recruitment, selec…Costs, scale of pr…

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

3.520173.520183.520193.420203.420213.520223.220233.22024

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

Paper 1 Short Answer

0.89 m/min
80
90

Total marks

80

Total time

90 min

Avg pace

0.89

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Cash-flow forecasting and working capital

85%

85%

Motivating employees

85%

85%

Market research

80%

80%

Types of business organisation

75%

75%

Exam tips

Paper format

Duration
1h 30min
Total marks
80
Weighting
50%
Question types
Detailed Contextual Explanation (8m), Level-Based Strategic Decision (12m)

June 2024

View full examiner insights for this session

View full examiner insights for this session

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

0450/22 — Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies (June 2024) | Revui