Slide 1
Business Studies
- Understand the world that runs on business.
- Year 11 Preliminary (2027) → Year 12 HSC (2028)
- Australian International Academy, Strathfield
- Units
- 2 units for each of the Preliminary and HSC courses (Board Developed)
- Exclusions
- Nil
- Group
- Humanities elective — Choose from this group
Syllabus in use · Current syllabus (2010)
The Academy teaches the Business Studies Stage 6 Syllabus (2010), which remains the current NESA syllabus for this course. No new syllabus has yet been confirmed for implementation for the Year 11 2027 cohort.
Course description
Business Studies investigates the role, operation and management of businesses within society. Students explore contemporary business issues and case studies, as well as hypothetical situations. The Preliminary course focuses on small to medium enterprises, and the HSC course focuses on large and global businesses.
Course structure
Year 11 Preliminary · 2027
- Nature of Business
- Business Management
- Business Planning, including a research project and business plan
Year 12 HSC · 2028
- Operations
- Marketing
- Finance
- Human Resources
Students who should consider this course
This course suits students planning further study in accounting, banking, business, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, financial advising, human resource management, industrial relations or marketing.
School-based assessment components
| Component | Weighting % |
|---|---|
| Knowledge and understanding of course content | 40 |
| Stimulus-based skills | 20 |
| Inquiry and research | 20 |
| Communication of business information, ideas and issues in appropriate forms | 20 |
HSC examination
The HSC examination consists of a written paper worth 100 marks (3 hours plus 5 minutes reading time) across four sections, including objective-response, short-answer and extended-response questions.
Subject presentation
Slide 1 of 11Use ← → keys, or click a slide
Business Studies — Subject Selection 2026 for Year 11 Preliminary (2027) and Year 12 HSC (2028) (Business Studies Department).
Text transcript of the slides (11 slides)
Slide 2
Business is everywhere
- Every product you buy, app you use and job you’ll ever have runs on business decisions.
- 3rd most popular HSC subject in NSW — 20,008 students sat the Business Studies HSC exam in 2024, more than every subject except English and Mathematics (NESA HSC candidature data, 2024).
- Every industry needs it — from tech startups to hospitals, sport and government, business thinking is everywhere.
- Real businesses, real decisions — you’ll study Apple, Qantas, Bunnings and other brands you already know.
- Skills for life, not just an exam — money, marketing and management skills you’ll use long after Year 12.
Slide 3
Your two-year journey
- Two courses. One continuous story — from small ideas to big strategy.
- Year 11 (2027), the Preliminary course — small and medium business: how they start, how they’re managed, and how to plan one from scratch.
- Year 12 (2028), the HSC course — large business, often global: operations, marketing, finance and human resources at scale.
- 2 units each year · counts toward your ATAR · one continuous syllabus, no repeated content.
Slide 4
Year 11: the Preliminary course
- Three topics — all about small and medium enterprises.
- Nature of Business — what role does business play in our lives? Explore business types, objectives, structures and stakeholders.
- Business Management — how do owners plan, organise, lead and control a business so it succeeds?
- Business Planning — from idea to reality: how do you start, plan, market and launch a small business?
Slide 5
Year 12: the HSC course
- Four topics — how large businesses compete, locally and globally.
- Operations — how do large businesses produce goods and services efficiently, with quality and technology?
- Marketing — how do businesses find, win and keep customers, in Australia and overseas?
- Finance — how do businesses plan, manage, report and make ethical decisions about money?
- Human Resources — how do businesses recruit, motivate and manage the people who make it happen?
Slide 6
Skills you’ll build
- Research and inquiry — investigate real companies and current business issues.
- Critical analysis — read financial and market data, then judge what it means.
- Problem-solving — recommend real strategies for real business problems.
- Communication — write clearly: essays, reports and structured arguments.
- Competitive strategy — understand how businesses compete and coordinate resources.
- Global and ethical thinking — weigh globalisation, government and corporate responsibility.
Slide 7
How you’re assessed
- School-based assessment: Knowledge and understanding 40%; Stimulus-based skills 20%; Inquiry and research 20%; Communication 20%.
- Up to four tasks across the year — assignments, case-study reports and topic tests, moderated against your cohort.
- The HSC examination: 100 marks · 3 hours plus 5 minutes reading time.
- Section I — multiple choice, 20 marks. Section II — short answer (4–6 questions), 40 marks.
- Section III — business report (extended response), 20 marks. Section IV — extended response, choice of 2, 20 marks.
Slide 8
“Business activity is a feature of everyone’s life.” — NESA Business Studies Stage 6 Syllabus
- Think critically — analyse real business issues, not just theory.
- Build transferable skills — research, analysis and communication for any career.
- Explore ethics — question business’s responsibility to people and society.
- Gain skills for life — money, management and marketing knowledge you’ll actually use.
Slide 9
Where it can take you
- Finance and accounting · Marketing and advertising · Management and leadership · Human resources
- Entrepreneurship and start-ups · Law and real estate · International business · Economics and commerce
- A pathway to degrees such as Commerce, Business, Economics and Marketing — or straight into the workforce.
Slide 10
Is Business Studies for you?
- You’re curious how companies like Woolworths, Nike or your favourite brand actually work.
- You follow the news — money, marketing, technology and current events.
- You like a mix of writing, case studies and real data, not just one style of question.
- You want practical skills for university, business and everyday life.
- You’re considering a future in business, commerce, law or entrepreneurship.
Slide 11
Choose Business Studies
- Start your journey in Year 11, 2027.
- Australian International Academy, Strathfield