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Business Decisions and Strategy
WBS13 is Unit 3 of Edexcel International A-Level Business: Business Decisions and Strategy. The paper is 2 hours long and worth 80 marks. You can use a calculator, and every question is compulsory. Section A is 40 marks, then you write two 20-mark essays. Next sitting: Mon 18 Jan 2027, morning. In 84 days. This page shows what is on the paper, how each question is marked and what to do before you sit it. It is free.
What is on WBS13
2 hours, 80 marks, calculator allowed. There is no multiple choice and no choice of questions. Every question uses extracts in a source booklet, mostly about real businesses.
| Section | What you answer | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A | One case study on a real business, five questions: two 4-mark questions (Calculate, Explain or, rarely, Construct), Discuss 8, Assess 12, Assess 12Answer all 5 parts (Q1) | 40 |
| B | One essay: Evaluate, on its own extract(s)Compulsory, no choice (Q2) | 20 |
| C | One essay: Evaluate, on a different business and its own extract(s)Compulsory, no choice (Q3) | 20 |
WBS13 past papers and mark schemes
Pearson owns the papers and mark schemes, so we link to them and do not copy them.
- Free WBS13 past papers and mark schemes, on Revvy Learn. Each one opens Pearson's own PDF.
- Pearson's specification and sample assessment for IAL Business.
- The WBS13 examiners' report, June 2025, from Pearson.
- Model answers that show how a full-mark answer is built.
What each question earns
Short questions are marked with points for knowledge (K), application to the case (A) and analysis (An). The longer questions are marked in levels, and the mark scheme gives one mark for the whole answer. The grey line under each row is Pearson's own wording for the command word.
| Question | Where the marks come from |
|---|---|
| Calculate 4 | Knowledge 1 + Application 2 + Analysis 1. Write the formula, put in the numbers from the case, then give the answer with its unit (%, $, £). The right number without its unit scores 3 out of 4.Pearson: “Requires students to perform a calculation, based on given data. Calculators may be used and workings should be given.” |
| Explain 4 | Knowledge 1 + Application 2 + Analysis 1. Give one cause or one effect, then use two separate facts from the case to support it.Pearson: “Requires students to provide a brief explanation of cause or effect, which is supported by details or example(s).” |
| Construct 4 | Knowledge 1 + Application 2 + Analysis 1. Draw a fully labelled diagram. In the papers this was usually a supply and demand diagram with one curve moving. Label the axes price and quantity, and show the old and new equilibrium.Pearson: “Requires students to draw an accurately labelled diagram. Students may be required to decide on a type of diagram, or the type required may be stated.” |
| Discuss 8 | Marked in levels: 1-2, 3-5, 6-8 (all skills together). Show both sides in context. Pearson asks for a brief assessment. A conclusion is not needed.Pearson: “Requires a logical chains of reasoning, in context, showing cause(s) and/or effect(s). A brief assessment is required showing an awareness of competing arguments/factors.” |
| Assess 12 | Marked in levels: 1-2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-12 (all skills together). More depth than Discuss. Weigh the arguments and end with a judgement you can support.Pearson: “Requires a coherent and logical chain of reasoning, showing cause(s) and/or effect(s) which is well contextualised. Assessment is balanced and wide ranging showing an awareness of competing arguments/factors, leading to a supported judgement.” |
| Evaluate 20 | Marked in levels: 1-4, 5-8, 9-14, 15-20 (all skills together). Develop chains of reasoning on both sides, use the case throughout, weigh the arguments and end with a conclusion that makes a recommendation.Pearson: “Requires fully developed, coherent and logical chains of reasoning, showing a range of cause and/or effect(s). A full awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments/factors leading to a perceptive conclusion that proposes a solution and/or recommendations.” |
Command-word wording from Pearson's IAL Business specification and sample assessment (Appendix 6: Command words). See all of them on our command words page.
What the past papers show
Formulas to know for WBS13
Pearson prints the ratio formulas in its specification (Appendix 9). Payback and net present value (NPV) calculations also appear. When NPV is asked, the discount factors are printed in the paper.
| Gearing | non-current liabilities ÷ capital employed × 100 |
| Capital employed | non-current liabilities + total equity |
| Return on capital employed (ROCE) | operating profit ÷ capital employed × 100 |
| Operating profit margin | operating profit ÷ revenue × 100 |
| Current ratio | current assets ÷ current liabilities |
| Contribution per unit | selling price − variable cost per unit |
What examiners wrote about WBS13
Short quotes from Pearson's own examiners' report for the June 2025 paper. Read the whole report on Pearson's website.
| Where | What the examiner wrote |
|---|---|
| Q1(b), June 2025 | “Often candidates do not give their final answer to the correct decimal places, omit units or use incorrect units.” |
| Q1(c), June 2025 | “Many candidates still only provide one-sided responses for this question.” |
| Q2, June 2025 | “Make your conclusion count. Do not just repeat or summarise your previous points but add some sort of judgement.” |
Source: WBS13 examiners' report, June 2025 (Pearson, PDF). © Pearson Education Ltd.
What WBS13 covers
Unit 3 has 6 topics in Pearson's specification. Each one has free notes, diagrams and practice questions.
What to do before WBS13
Do not try to learn the whole unit again. Do these, then rest.
- Write gearing, ROCE and the margin formulas from memory, with × 100 where it belongs. Then do one of each.
- Practise payback, NPV and a decision tree with expected values. Keep the unit in every answer.
- Draw a supply and demand diagram with one curve shift, in case (a) or (b) asks for it. Label the axes price and quantity.
- Plan two Evaluate 20 essays. For each, write the theory you will use (for example Ansoff or Porter), two sides, and your judgement.
Every topic in Unit 3 has a free Practice tab. Marking of written answers is part of Pro.
When WBS13 is sat
| Series | Date | Session |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | Tue 20 Oct 2026 | Morning2h |
| January 2027 | Mon 18 Jan 2027 | Morning2h |
| May/June 2027 | Mon 24 May 2027 | Morning2h |
Dates from Pearson's final timetables. See the January 2027 and June 2027 timetables and every IAL exam series. Your exams officer confirms your start time.
WBS13 questions students ask
Where this comes from. We read the question papers and mark schemes of 14 real WBS13 sittings: Jan 2020, Oct 2020, Jan 2021, Jun 2021, Oct 2021, Jan 2022, Jun 2022, Oct 2022, Jan 2023, May 2023, Oct 2023, Jan 2024, Jan 2025, May 2025. The layout, marks and patterns on this page are what those papers did. Pearson can change a paper, so a future paper may differ. The command-word wording is Pearson's, and the quotes are from Pearson's examiners' report.
Good luck with WBS13
Free notes, diagrams and practice questions for every topic in Unit 3.