AQA · GCSE · 8132
Business Studies — Keywords & Key Terms — Definitions Glossary (2026)
AQA GCSE Business Studies (8132) — Specification (2026)
Topic-by-topic keywords, key terms and definitions for precise exam language—separate from our revision checklists (topic coverage) and formula sheets (equations).
Keywords & Key Terms — definitions
Examiner-style keywords and definitions organised by syllabus topic. Terms are tagged Essential (start here), Core (typical exam standard), and Advanced for harder distinctions — tick each row when you can recall it. Your progress is saved in this browser for this list.
AQA GCSE Business Studies (8132)
AQA GCSE Business Studies (8132)
AQA GCSE Business Studies (8132) — Specification (2026)
Topics align to AQA GCSE Business themes (business in the real world; influences on business; business operations; human resources; marketing; finance).
Mark schemes: AQA mark schemes reward accurate definitions plus application to a business context. Use ‘because’ chains (decision → impact on costs/revenue/profit → stakeholder effects).
Active recall: 0 / 31 terms ticked
| Recalled | Topic | Level | Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business objectives & stakeholders | Essential | Profit | Total revenue minus total costs. | |
| Business objectives & stakeholders | Core | Stakeholder | A person or group with an interest in a business (e.g., customers, employees, owners). | |
| Business objectives & stakeholders | Core | Business objective | A target a business aims to achieve (e.g., survival, profit, growth). | |
| Business objectives & stakeholders | Advanced | Corporate social responsibility (CSR) | Actions a business takes to operate ethically and consider social/environmental impacts. | |
| Marketing | Core | Market research | Collecting and analysing information about customers and competitors to support decisions. | |
| Marketing | Core | Unique selling point (USP) | A feature that makes a product different from competitors and attractive to customers. | |
| Marketing | Advanced | Price elasticity of demand | How responsive quantity demanded is to a change in price. | |
| Marketing | Core | Marketing mix (4Ps) | Product, price, place and promotion decisions used to market a product. | |
| Marketing | Core | Target market | The group of customers a business aims its product at. | |
| Marketing | Advanced | Market segmentation | Dividing a market into groups with similar needs (e.g., age, income). | |
| Business in the real world | Essential | Revenue | Income from sales: price × quantity sold. | |
| Business in the real world | Essential | Cost | Money spent to produce or sell goods/services. | |
| Business in the real world | Core | Fixed cost | A cost that does not change with output in the short run (e.g., rent). | |
| Business in the real world | Core | Variable cost | A cost that changes with output (e.g., raw materials). | |
| Business in the real world | Core | Cash flow | Money flowing into and out of a business over time. | |
| Business in the real world | Advanced | Break-even | Level of output where total revenue equals total costs (profit = 0). | |
| Finance | Core | Profit margin | Profit as a percentage of revenue. | |
| Finance | Core | Gross profit | Revenue minus cost of sales (direct costs). | |
| Finance | Core | Net profit | Profit after all costs (including overheads) are deducted. | |
| Finance | Advanced | Budget | A financial plan of expected income and expenditure. | |
| Finance | Advanced | Interest | Cost of borrowing money, paid as a percentage of the amount borrowed. | |
| Operations | Core | Quality | How well a product meets customer expectations or specification. | |
| Operations | Core | Productivity | Output per worker per unit time; can rise with training or technology. | |
| Operations | Core | Lean production | Reducing waste and improving efficiency in production processes. | |
| Operations | Advanced | Just-in-time (JIT) | Stock management where materials arrive only when needed to reduce storage costs. | |
| Operations | Advanced | Economies of scale | Lower average costs when production increases due to spreading fixed costs or bulk buying. | |
| Human resources | Core | Motivation | Willingness of employees to work effectively to achieve business objectives. | |
| Human resources | Core | Recruitment | Finding and hiring suitable employees for a job role. | |
| Human resources | Core | Training | Teaching employees skills/knowledge to improve performance. | |
| Human resources | Advanced | Productivity (HR) | How much output employees produce per unit time; influenced by motivation and training. | |
| Human resources | Advanced | Leadership style | How a manager makes decisions and motivates staff (e.g., autocratic, democratic). |
Pair this with our revision checklists, formula sheets hub and past paper finder.
Business Studies (8132) — Keywords & Key Terms FAQ
- What is on this AQA GCSE Business Studies keywords and key terms list?
- It is a topic-organised glossary of important business studies terms with short, exam-style definitions aligned to AQA GCSE Business Studies (8132) — Specification (2026) (8132). It is designed for “define”, “state”, “outline” and “explain” questions where precise vocabulary earns marks.
- How should I use this Business Studies glossary alongside past papers?
- Tick terms when you can recall them without reading the answer, then check your wording against mark schemes. Pair vocabulary practice with past papers for GCSE Business Studies (8132) so you apply terms in context.
- Is this the same as a revision checklist or a formula sheet?
- No. Revision checklists help you track which syllabus topics you have covered and your confidence—separate pages on Tutopiya. Formula sheets summarise equations and quantitative relationships. This page is only a definitions and key-terms glossary for Business Studies.
- Can I download this Business Studies keywords and key terms list for free?
- Yes. After a quick free sign-up you can download a UTF-8 CSV (opens in Excel or Google Sheets) or open a print-friendly page and save as PDF. Browsing the list on the page is free.
- Is this Business Studies list aligned to the 8132 specification?
- Topic groupings and wording follow AQA GCSE Business Studies (8132) — Specification (2026) for AQA GCSE. Always confirm final learning objectives and any regional options in your official specification and recent examiner reports for your exam session.
- Why focus on definitions instead of full notes?
- Mark schemes reward correct technical terms and clear links between ideas. A compact glossary lets you drill the exact language examiners expect for Business Studies at GCSE, separate from longer notes or topic trackers.