Here are the key things you need to know about the new QCAA Business 2025 General Senior Syllabus

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Changes are coming to the QCE Business Syllabus in 2025

The senior Business Syllabus in Queensland is being updated for improved clarity and consistency. These changes ensure student are developing the knowledge and skills needed to strive in the post-school world.

Our expert Business for QCE author team is here to support you with the resources and tools you need to implement the new Queensland Senior Business syllabus.

The changes to the syllabus impact both teachers and students, so to make to easy we've laid out the 'need to know information' you need for a successful implementation process.

What's new with the QCE Business Syllabus Objectives?

There has been refinement and clarification made around unit objectives and the requirements needed for each:

Describing

Describing – two distinct facts and characteristics are business situations and the business environment (internal, external operating and macro).

Explaining

Explaining – focus is on identifying and explaining business concepts and strategies relating to the key business functions using business terminology with the inclusion of providing examples to demonstrate understanding.

Analysing

Analysing – analysing and synthesising have been merged. When analysing business situations, environments and key business functions, selection is from both data and information using analytical tools. Students interpret relationships and trends from the analysis about the implications for a business situation.

Evaluating

Evaluating – students evaluate business strategies using business criteria. They make decisions and propose recommendations.

Communicating

Communicating – requires the creation of responses using the required genre to suit audience, context and purpose.

What's new across Units 1 -4?

Unit 1 - Business Creation

business-creation

Students now only need to conduct a SWOT and PEST analysis of business ideas to evaluate their viability. Leadership styles are now at the discretion of the teacher, and management styles are covered in Unit 4.

In Topic 1 SWOT analysis now needs to be conducted to analyse mission statement environmental factors and strategic planning for a business. In Topic 2, break-even analysis has been removed from this unit. Students instead need to conduct a PEST analysis.

How will students be impacted?

Gain a comprehensive understanding of fundamental business concepts and strategies through authentic business contexts.

Acquire proficiency in SWOT and PEST analysis to support them in further units.

Develop critical thinking and analytical skills by undertaking SWOT and PEST analysis relating to the fundamentals of business.

Unit 2 - Business Growth

business-growth

In Topic 1, students need to undertake STEEPLE and break-even analyses to analyse and interpret the implications of establishing a business. There is also the inclusion of subject matter explaining the relationship between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and advertising standards and explaining the relationship between market research and sales forecasting.

How will students be impacted?

Acquire skills in evaluating start-up and growth strategies to make decisions and propose recommendations.

Gain knowledge of leadership and management across different business functions.

Develop proficiency in using analytical tools including STEEPLE, break-even, SWOT, and USP analyses.

Unit 3 – Business Diversification

business-diversification

Cost-benefit analysis has been removed from this unit. Students need to describe the impact of internal and external factors on human resources, financing, marketing, and operations. The focus is on analyzing relationships and trends in competitive markets and strategic development.

How will students be impacted?

Acquire proficiency in evaluating diversification strategies to make decisions and propose recommendations.

Understand the impact of internal and external factors on human resources, financing, marketing, and operations.

Develop analytical skills using SWOT, STEEPLE, USP analyses, and power interest grid analytical tools.

Unit 4 – Business Evolution

business-evolution

Management styles are now covered in this Unit. Analysis and Synthesis have been merged in the unit objectives for clarification.

How will students be impacted?

Develop skills in analysing and interpretation business situations and environments.

Understand the impact Understand the importance of evaluation using business criteria in decision-making.

Gain insights into the challenges for businesses in the post-maturity stage of the business life cycle.

We have you covered for the new Business Syllabus

The new edition of Business for QCE 2e is coming soon

Business for QCE explicitly addresses the syllabus and unit objectives using the inquiry approach valued in the syllabus, with integration of the underpinning factors throughout.

The series provides a strong foundation in the fundamentals of business and follows the progression of the business life cycle from seed to post-maturity stage.

Students will develop skills in examining business data and information through a range of analytical tools, with a wealth of visual representations to aid understanding.

The new edition of Business for QCE 2e is coming soon

Sally Adams

Sally Adams is the Leader of Learning (Business) at Stuartholme School. She is an experienced teacher who has taught senior business, economics and legal studies, as well as a range of junior subjects, in Queensland and Victoria. She is actively engaged in professional learning for teachers and maintains a number of assessor roles with the QCAA.

Berenice Furlong

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Melissa Larson

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Amy Thompson

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