CAIE IGCSE Business Studies 5 financial information and decisions
Use this Financial Information and Decisions hub to connect finance sources, cash-flow data, accounts and ratio interpretation in cases.
- Syllabus
- 2027–2029
- Course
- Business 0264
Use this Financial Information and Decisions hub to connect finance sources, cash-flow data, accounts and ratio interpretation in cases.
Avtar owns a car repair business which operates in the private sector. It is a small business with 2 full-time employees. Avtar wants to find out the best way for a business to increase added value. Avtar's business needs finance for many reasons. Avtar wants to know how an economic recession might affect his business.
Outline one reason why Avtar might need each of the following types of finance:
Short-term finance:
Long-term finance:
Award 1 mark for each relevant reason for needing short-term/long-term finance (max 1 for each).
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 1 for each).
Points might include:
Short-term finance:
- Pay day-to-day expenses/provide working capital [k] for this private sector business [app]
- Pay wages/salary [k] of his 2 employees [app]
- Purchase inventory [k]
- To prevent cash-flow problem/improve the cash position [k]
Long-term finance:
- Purchase non-current assets or examples [k] for the repair business [app]
- Fund expansion/growth [k] in case he decides not to keep the business small [app]
- Fund takeover of another business [k]
- Develop new products/services [k]
Other appropriate responses should be credited.
To use words from the stem as application, the reference must be appropriate (i.e. make sense) in relation to the point being made.
The following words are likely to be appropriate for this question:
- (Car) repair / garage or examples
- 2 workers
- Full-time (employees)
- Private sector business
- Economic recession
- Small business
- Added value
Other appropriate examples can be credited.
ACP manufactures computers. Being ethical is important to ACP. The business employs 3000 workers in its factory. ACP imports 65% of its raw materials. As internal users of accounts, the directors plan to analyse ACP's financial performance using profitability ratios. The Finance Director thinks making a profit is more important for a business than managing its cash flow.
Identify two external users of accounts.
User 1:
User 2:
Award 1 mark per external user of accounts identified (max 2).
Points might include:
- Banks/lenders
- Suppliers
- Government
- Competitors
- Other businesses e.g. insurance companies
- Pressure groups
- Investors/shareholders
- Customers
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
Only award the first two responses given.
Do not award examples of internal users of accounts e.g. employees.
Do not award 'stakeholder' as this does not answer the question.
Accept creditors alone as an alternative to lenders/bank/suppliers if no specific example is given of a creditor.
Identify two profitability ratios.
Ratio 1:
Ratio 2:
Award 1 mark per profitability ratio (max 2).
Two from:
- Gross profit margin/ratio/percentage
- Profit margin/ratio/percentage
- Return on capital employed/ROCE
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
Only award the first two responses given.
Allow correct formula e.g. Gross profit:sales revenue
Do you think making a profit is more important for a business than managing its cash flow? Justify your answer.
Award up to 2 marks for identification of relevant points.
Award up to 2 marks for relevant development of points.
Award up to 2 marks for a justified decision as to whether making a profit is more important for a business than managing its cash flow.
Points might include:
Profit:
- It is a source of finance [k] may increase opportunity for growth [an]
- Reward for risk-taking/allows dividend for owners [k] without it, owners will have less incentive to invest [an]
- Reward for enterprise [k]
- Indicator/measure of success [k]
- Important for long-term survival [k]
Cash flow:
- Need cash to pay day-to-day costs/ensures liquidity/help avoid cash flow problems/pay debt [k] otherwise might have insufficient funds/working capital to continue production [an]
- Sales may be on credit [k] therefore money received later [an]
- Reduced need for overdraft [k] which would add to interest costs [an]
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
Justification might include:
Profit is a reward for risk-taking [k], without it owners will have less incentive to invest [an]. Cash flow is needed to pay day-to-day costs [k] to ensure sufficient inventory to continue production. [an] Managing cash flow is likely to be more important because a business can continue in the short term without making a profit, [eval] but without sufficient cash flow a business may be unable to operate and earn revenue [eval].
This is a general question so there are no marks for application.
Allow attracts investors/investment as a [k] or [an] once
Do not allow 'important for growth' without the idea that it is a source of finance/or for reinvestment.
Alana opened a restaurant in the city centre 5 years ago. The restaurant provides plant-based meals using a range of vegetables. Alana uses primary market research to help identify changes in consumer spending patterns. Market research can also be used to help segment a market. The restaurant has 16 employees. Each employee is paid the legal minimum wage. In 2023 the business made a profit of $ 80000. Alana wants to know how an increase in interest rates might affect her business.
Define 'profit'.
Award 2 marks for a full definition. Award 1 mark for a partial definition.
Difference between revenue and total costs [2] OR
The financial gain of a business once all the costs have been paid using revenue [2]
Partial definition e.g. revenue minus costs [1]
For 2 marks must have the idea of revenue and total/all
costs.
WFT is a primary sector business which harvests timber (wood) from trees. The Operations Manager knows there are many legal controls over business activity affecting the environment. WFT has 30 employees and uses a lot of technology to process the timber. The business is always considering ways to increase added value. WFT often needs finance. An extract from WFT's statement of financial position is shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1
Identify one non-current asset and one non-current liability.
Non-current asset:
Non-current liability:
Award one mark for each non-current asset/non-current liability (max 1 for each).
Points might include:
Non-current assets:
- Land/buildings
- Equipment
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Fixtures and/or fittings
Non-current liabilities:
- Bank loans
Other appropriate responses should be credited.
Only award first response for each type of asset/liability.
Explain two factors WFT should consider when deciding on a source of finance.
Factor 1:
Explanation:
Factor 2:
Explanation:
Award 1 mark for identification of each relevant factor (max
2).
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business
(max 2).
Award 1 mark for each relevant explanation (max 2).
Points might include:
- Amount [k] as uses a lot of technology [app] it may need
a large amount which may not be available from internal
sources [an]
- Level of existing loans/debts/borrowing [k] as has non-
current liabilities of $ 320000 [app] so bank may not be
willing to lend [an]
- Size/legal form of business [k] as if this primary sector
business [app] and is a limited company, it would be
able to issue shares [an]
- Interest/cost of finance [k] as high interest would
increase cash outflows [an]
- Purpose/why it is needed [k]
- Length of time required for [k]
- Credit history [k]
Other appropriate responses should be credited.
To use words from the stem as application, the reference must be appropriate (i.e. make sense) in relation to the point being made.
The following words are likely to be appropriate for this question:
- Primary sector
- (Harvests) wood/trees/timber
- 30 employees
- (Uses a lot of) technology
- Increase added value
- $600000 (non-current assets)
- $ 120000 (current assets)
- $150000 (current liabilities)
- $ 320000 (non-current liabilities)
Other appropriate examples can be credited.