Case Studies
Here are some case studies of my recent students. These are all real life case studies of students that I have assisted.
Case Study 1
Emma
Comprehensive School in Milton Keynes
From 'C' to 'A' grade.
When Emma first approached me for ‘A’-Level Business tutoring, she was scoring Cs and Ds on practice papers despite her solid understanding of basic syllabus concepts. With her exams just four months away, she was concerned about meeting her university offer requirements.
My initial diagnostic assessment revealed Emma struggled particularly with Paper 3 (business strategy and analytical techniques) and the quantitative aspects of Paper 2. She found it challenging to integrate financial analysis with qualitative evaluation – essential for the 25-mark essay questions.
We developed a tailored approach focused on:
– Mastering calculation and interpretation of AQA-specific financial ratios (ROCE, gearing, contribution)
– Strengthening analysis of market data using Porter’s Five Forces and the Boston Matrix
– Developing structured responses for the 10-mark “To what extent…” evaluation questions
– Building case study analysis skills for topics like organizational culture, strategic decision-making, and managing change
We dedicated specific sessions to challenging syllabus areas including investment appraisal techniques and international business strategy, using past AQA papers to build familiarity with question patterns.
Emma’s confidence grew significantly as she learned to approach the longer essay questions with clear chains of analysis and balanced evaluations. Her numerical skills improved through regular practice with break-even analysis and investment appraisal calculations.
Contact me today to discover how my ‘A’ Level focused tutoring approach can help your child achieve similar success.
Subjects
- Business
- AQA Exam Board
Level of Tuition
- 'A' Level
Outcome
The results spoke for themselves – Emma achieved an A in her Business ‘A’ Level with particularly strong performance in Paper 3, securing her place at her first-choice university.
Case Study 2
Alex
International School in Warsaw
Turning Potential into Excellence.
Alex joined my tutoring program halfway through Year 12, after his mock exams revealed a disconnect between his business intuition and his ability to demonstrate it in AQA exam format. Despite being enthusiastic about entrepreneurship and following business news regularly, his mock grade of C was disappointing and concerning.
Our initial sessions identified three key challenges: Alex struggled with applying theoretical frameworks to case studies, had difficulty structuring the 20-mark essay questions, and was making calculation errors in the quantitative sections of Paper 2.
We implemented a structured approach tailored to the AQA syllabus:
– Created a comprehensive framework for analysing business case studies, focusing on the “context, application, analysis, evaluation” approach required by the mark scheme
– Developed a formula bank for key calculations including contribution per unit, capacity utilization, and variance analysis
– Built competence in critical evaluation through weekly practice of the “evaluate the importance of…” style questions
– Used topical business examples to illustrate key AQA syllabus concepts like corporate social responsibility, technological disruption, and business ethics
I noticed Alex retained information better when connecting theory to real businesses, so we analyzed current case studies of companies like Tesco, Tesla, and local businesses relevant to the AQA specification themes of marketing, operations, and human resources.
Ready to transform your ‘A’ Level in Business performance? Contact me today to start your journey to success.
Subjects
- Business
- AQA Exam Board
Level of Tuition
- 'A' Level
Outcome
Over six months, Alex’s progression was remarkable. His analytical skills developed significantly, particularly in the challenging areas of financial performance and strategic implementation. His final exam result was an A, with his strongest performance in Paper 3’s questions on strategic change and managing risk.
Case Study 3
Ryan
6th Form College in Basignstoke
Getting Ready for Year 13.
Ryan came to me just three months before starting Year 13 for his AQA ‘A’ Level Business exams. He had fallen behind after changing schools midway through Year 12. Despite being naturally bright, he was overwhelmed by the volume of content he needed to master and was predicted a C grade at best.
My diagnostic assessment revealed significant gaps in his knowledge of key AQA syllabus areas, particularly in decision-making models, financial strategies, and the global business environment sections. Ryan also lacked confidence in tackling the longer evaluation questions that carry substantial marks.
Ryan enrolled on the Summer AQA ‘A’ Level in Business Programme, where he focussed on a catch-up and consolidation plan, which included:
– Prioritizing the high-weighted AQA syllabus topics including investment appraisal, price and income elasticity, and strategic positioning
– Mastering the application of Ansoff’s Matrix, Porter’s Generic Strategies, and ratio analysis to various business contexts
– Developing a systematic approach to the 25-mark essay questions with clearly signposted evaluation points
– Building confidence with the quantitative elements through regular practice of break-even analysis, decision tree calculations, and critical path analysis
Each session combined theory reinforcement with timed practice on past AQA questions, focusing particularly on Paper 1’s multiple-choice and short-answer sections where Ryan could quickly improve his mark potential.
What made the difference was our focus on exam technique alongside content knowledge. We practiced identifying the specific requirements of command words like “analyse,” “discuss,” and “evaluate” in the AQA context.
Even with limited time before exams, the right tutoring approach can make a significant difference.
Contact me to discuss how I can help with your AQA Business ‘A’ Level journey.
Subjects
- Business
- AQA Exam Board
Level of Tuition
- 'A' Level
Outcome
Despite the limited timeframe, Ryan’s progress was remarkable. He achieved a B grade in his ‘A’ Level mock, with particularly strong performance in Paper 1, exceeding both his own expectations and his school’s predicted grade.
Case Study 4
Priya
Private School in Wimbledon
Conquering Exam Anxiety
Priya was an academically strong student who consistently scored A’s in class assignments but experienced severe exam anxiety that caused her AQA A-Level Business mock result to plummet to a D grade.
During our first session, I identified that Priya’s knowledge was excellent, but her panic under timed conditions led to disorganized answers and missed evaluation opportunities—crucial for the higher mark bands in AQA assessment.
We implemented a confidence-building approach:
– Progressive timed practice, starting with open-book exercises and gradually transitioning to full exam conditions
– Creating structured templates for the 10-mark and 25-mark questions that focused on AQA’s evaluation requirements
– Developing memory techniques for recalling key financial formulas and business models under pressure
– Practicing planned spontaneity for approaching unfamiliar case studies
We dedicated particular attention to Paper 3’s strategic analysis questions, where Priya’s anxiety was most pronounced.
Subjects
- Business
- AQA Exam Board
Level of Tuition
- 'A' Level
Outcome
Within four months, Priya’s confidence transformed. She approached her exams with practiced strategies for managing time pressure and structuring complex responses.
The result was an A grade, with her highest marks in the very paper she had feared most.
FAQs
These are some of the common questions which many of my students ask me about my tutoring service.
What is the process for booking a lesson?
To book tutoring, please click on the “Reach Out” button and enter your details. I will then contact you and and arrange a convenient time to call you to discuss your requirements.
How does your Guarantee work?
If for some reason you are not happy after the first two lessons of the ‘A’ Level bootcamp programme and you would like to withdraw, then you will receive all the fees paid with no questions asked. There will be no administration fees or any other hidden fees to pay.
Are you able to offer discounts for multiple bookings?
Yes. If you book more than 10 hours of tuition, they we are able to provide discounts. Please contact info@profdan.co.uk with any multiple booking requests.
How do I book a lesson?
All our lessons are booked online. Please click on the “Book Tutor” button to start the online booking process.
Which 'A' Level Business syllabuses do you cover?
I teach the following ‘A’ Level Business Studies exam board syllabuses:
- AQA
- OCR
- CIE
- Eduqas
- CIE
How Does the Bootcamp Programme Work?
The ‘A’ Level Bootcamp programme is an intensive 12-week learning programme which is designed for you to master the material of the syllabus that you are studying towards. This means that we will deep-dive into a number of topics within the syllabus so you get maximum understanding of the content.
The programme also covers exam preparation and techniques for answering questions when you are in the exam.
There will be no more than 5 students in any one group.