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IE · Subject guide

Business

Leaving Certificate Business (NCCA specification), Higher and Ordinary Level, with the SEC examination.

Editorially reviewed26 July 2026·Leaving Certificate
15Topic nodes
2Levels and pathways
1Regions
2Public references

Contents

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Complete topic map
  3. 03Where this subject applies
  4. 04Official sources
  5. 05In-depth guides

01 · Overview

Business

Leaving Certificate Business (NCCA specification), Higher and Ordinary Level, with the SEC examination.

Subject guide
Leaving Certificate
Topics mapped
15

02 · Complete topic map

Complete topic map

Every topic recorded for this subject in the curriculum is reproduced below in its full hierarchy. The descriptions reflect the mapped scope without implying additional exam rules.

  1. 01

    People in Business (Unit 1)

    Section A: the principal parties in business and their relationships, co-operative and competitive interactions, areas of conflict, and how disputes are resolved through non-legislative means, contract law and consumer/industrial relations legislation.

  2. 02

    Enterprise (Unit 2)

    A broad definition of enterprise across personal, business and public life, the characteristics of entrepreneurs, and innate and learned enterprise skills applied to different situations.

  3. 03

    Managing 1: Management Skills (Unit 3)

    Defining management as achieving results through people, the characteristics of managers, the difference between enterprise and management, and core skills of leading, motivating and communicating.

  4. 04

    Managing 1: Management Activities (Unit 3)

    The management activities of planning, organising (formal/informal structure, staffing, span of control, project teams) and controlling, including theory, principles and types.

  5. 05

    Managing 2: Household and Business Manager (Unit 4)

    Comparing household and business management across finance (cash flow, sources and cost of finance, loans), insurance (principles, risks, types) and taxation (main types, basic computations, tax forms).

  6. 06

    Managing 2: Human Resource Management (Unit 4)

    HR functions including recruitment and selection, employer-employee relationships, teamwork, and people development through performance appraisal and reward.

  7. 07

    Managing 2: Changing Role of Management and Monitoring (Unit 4)

    Managing new relationships and technologies (empowerment, total quality management, technology impacts) and monitoring the business using final accounts, balance sheets and profitability, liquidity and debt/equity ratios.

  8. 08

    Business in Action: Identifying Opportunities and Marketing (Unit 5)

    Sources of internal and external business opportunities, the new product/service development process, the marketing concept and strategy, and building the marketing mix of product, price, promotion and place.

  9. 09

    Business in Action: Getting Started and Expansion (Unit 5)

    Setting up an enterprise through finance, ownership and production options and a business plan, plus the reasons, finance, implications and methods of business expansion.

  10. 10

    Domestic Environment: Industry and Business Organisation (Unit 6)

    Categories of industry (agriculture, manufacturing, services, natural resources), changing business trends, and the range of business ownership types from sole trader to PLCs, co-operatives and state-owned enterprises.

  11. 11

    Domestic Environment: Community, Economy and Government (Unit 6)

    Community development and local initiatives, the two-way interaction between business and the economy (inflation, interest rates, tax, employment, environment), and the Government's role as regulator and employer.

  12. 12

    Domestic Environment: Social Responsibilities of Business (Unit 6)

    Ethical business practice and socially responsible behaviour at local and national level, including the cost implications of meeting ethical, social and environmental responsibilities.

  13. 13

    International Environment: International Trade (Unit 7)

    The significance of international trade for the Irish economy, the changing global economy, opportunities and challenges for Irish business, and trading blocs and agreements.

  14. 14

    International Environment: European Union (Unit 7)

    The importance of the EU, the purpose and impact of main EU policies and directives on Irish business, the decision-making process of the main EU institutions, and the role of interest groups.

  15. 15

    International Environment: International Business (Unit 7)

    The global marketing of products and services and the development and impact of transnational companies on Irish and world trade.

03 · Where this subject applies

Where this subject applies

These pathways and regions are explicitly connected to the subject in the curriculum.

Levels and pathways

01

Higher Level

Higher Level — the more demanding level, with broader and deeper content and the H1–H8 grade scale.

02

Ordinary Level

Ordinary Level — the foundational level covering the core of the syllabus, graded O1–O8.

Regions

All registered regions

01IrelandThe Leaving Certificate is the terminal examination of the Irish senior cycle. Curriculum specifications are set by the NCCA (curriculumonline.ie) and the examination is run by the State Examinations Commission (SEC, examinations.ie). Most subjects are offered at Higher and Ordinary Level; English, Irish and Mathematics also offer Foundation Level.IE

04 · Official sources

Official sources

The public sources below are referenced directly by this subject or by one of its topics.

This editorial selection points to the relevant official bodies. Always confirm current requirements, dates and exceptional arrangements with your school and the responsible authority.

2
Public references

S·01National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)Leaving Certificate subject specifications & syllabusesOpen source↗S·02State Examinations Commission (SEC)State Examinations Commission — Leaving Certificate examination & marking schemesOpen source↗

05 · In-depth guides

In-depth guides

G·01Your Leaving Cert study plan: an 8-week methodA realistic eight-week Leaving Cert study plan: an honest audit, subjects in rotation with active recall, orals and projects planned in, full papers to finish.8 min read→G·02How does the Leaving Certificate work? Papers, levels and gradingNCCA specifications and SEC exams, Higher and Ordinary Level, H1–H8 and O1–O8 grades, orals, projects and marking schemes: how the Leaving Cert fits together.7 min read→

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IE · EuraStudy Guides

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