Review of the 2025 Leaving Cert Business Higher Level Exam by Shauna Mujic & Mary Kelly
The 2025 Leaving Cert Business Higher Level exam was a comprehensive and well-structured assessment that provided students with a fair opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the syllabus. The paper maintained a strong alignment with the course content, ensuring that students who had prepared thoroughly could excel.
Short Questions
The short questions section offered a balanced mix of topics, including multiple-choice questions, business abbreviations, and calculations. This variety allowed students to showcase their knowledge across different areas of the syllabus.
While some questions required detailed responses, the overall structure was manageable, and students were required to answer 8 out of 12 questions, providing flexibility.
Applied Business Question (ABQ)
The ABQ focused on entrepreneurial skills, management control, and HRM, all core and well-practised syllabus areas. The case study on Inis Bia was accessible, allowing students to apply theory directly to text. The evaluation and recommendation aspects encouraged deeper thinking, while the familiar HRM topic offered a strong opportunity to score well.
Overall, a fair and balanced ABQ that rewarded thorough preparation.
Long Questions
Students answered 4 out of 8 long questions covering a balanced range of syllabus topics. Questions 1 & 4 were both based on unit 1, which was the same as in previous years. Question 2 featured a very accessible Unit 6 question.
Management questions (5 and 6) included communication, SWOT, change management, insurance, and tax calculations, offering a fair challenge in numeracy. Question 7 covered business expansion, product development, and finance, with relevant real-world examples. Question 8 emphasised marketing concepts and break-even analysis, well-practiced areas for students.
The paper rewarded application of theory, understanding of key terms, and calculation skills. Overall, it was fair and encouraged thorough preparation across diverse topics.
