AS & A Level Business 9609 · Topic 9

Operations management (A Level): past paper questions

37 real questionsasked in 3 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Evaluate, Analyse, Calculate, Discuss, Define

Real questions on operations management (a level)

The newest 20 of 37 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

9609/32 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[12]
Evaluate which location KTJ should choose for its new factory.
See it on the paper →
9609/33 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[12]
Evaluate LBM’s decision to go ahead with the hot water mine.
See it on the paper →
9609/33 · October/November 2025 · Q4a(i)[3]
calculate the total float for activity C
See it on the paper →
9609/33 · October/November 2025 · Q4a(ii)[1]
identify the minimum project duration.
See it on the paper →
9609/33 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[12]
Evaluate the importance of Critical Path Analysis (CPA) to the success of the hard rock mine.
See it on the paper →
9609/31 · May/June 2025 · Q2[8]
Analyse two ways that enterprise resource planning (ERP) could improve the efficiency of WS.
See it on the paper →
9609/31 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(i)[2]
Using the data in Table 1.2, calculate the average seasonal variation for Quarter 4.
See it on the paper →
9609/31 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(ii)[2]
Jon has calculated the trend for 2025 Quarter 4 as $21.41 million. Using your answer to (a)(i), calculate forecast sales for 2025 Quarter 4.
See it on the paper →
9609/33 · May/June 2025 · Q2[8]
Analyse two possible effects on WCP’s efficiency of an increase in its scale of operations.
See it on the paper →
9609/31 · October/November 2023 · Q3a[1]
Calculate the minimum project duration.
See it on the paper →
9609/31 · October/November 2023 · Q3b[3]
Calculate the total float for activity D.
See it on the paper →
9609/31 · October/November 2023 · Q3c[12]
Evaluate whether critical path analysis (CPA) will ensure CP achieves its objective of minimising interruption to production.
See it on the paper →
9609/32 · February/March 2023 · Q4b[12]
Evaluate whether FWB should invest in enterprise resource planning (ERP).
See it on the paper →
9609/32 · October/November 2022 · Q1[10]
Analyse two benefits to APF of vertical integration.
See it on the paper →
9609/32 · October/November 2022 · Q4c[12]
You may refer to your answers to 4(a) and 4(b) and to other information. Evaluate the benefits to APF of investing in enterprise resource planning (ERP).
See it on the paper →
9609/23 · May/June 2022 · Q2c[8]
Analyse two advantages to CTV of introducing automation into one of its factories.
See it on the paper →
9609/32 · May/June 2022 · Q1[10]
Analyse two possible benefits to WTZ of introducing Kaizen.
See it on the paper →
9609/12 · February/March 2022 · Q7a[8]
Analyse factors that might determine the relocation of a business.
See it on the paper →
9609/12 · February/March 2022 · Q7b[12]
Discuss whether flexibility of operations might improve the sales of a toy manufacturing business.
See it on the paper →
9609/12 · October/November 2021 · Q4a[2]
Define the term ‘scale of operation’.
See it on the paper →

What examiners said

Many candidates correctly calculated this at 5 weeks, using the published formula: Total float = LFT - duration - EST 1 mark could be gained by correctly stating the formula.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9609/31 Q3(b) (Cambridge)

Candidates found this challenging some referred to their answers to part (a), but many did not mention the minimum project duration or the total float time. There were a number of ‘generic’ answers, recognising advantages and disadvantages of CPA but not addressing the circumstances in the case. Better responses recognised the CPA had been produced by the contractor, who had also quoted the lowes...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9609/31 Q3(c) (Cambridge)

Evaluate whether FWB should invest in enterprise resource planning (ERP). There was a good understanding of enterprise resource planning (ERP). Candidates understood that it involved software to plan the purchase and use of resources in the business. Analysis was typically developed by linking ERP to just-in-time management of stock resulting in a reduction in costs and an increase in efficiency....
— Examiner report, February/March 2023, 9609/32 Q4(b) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Download 9609 papers

In the syllabus

9.1.1 Location

the factors that determine location and relocation
the differences between local, national and international location decisions
the reasons for and impact of offshoring and reshoring
the impact of globalisation on location and relocation decisions

9.1.2 Scale of operations

the factors that influence the scale of a business
causes and examples of internal and external economies and diseconomies of scale
the links between economies and diseconomies of scale and unit costs

9.2.1 Quality control and quality assurance

quality in terms of meeting customer expectations
the importance of quality
the impact of methods of quality control on a business
the impact of methods of quality assurance on a business
the impact of Total Quality Management (TQM) on a business

9.2.2 Benchmarking

the importance of benchmarking in quality management

9.3.1 Operational decisions

the influence of human, marketing and finance resource availability on operations decisions
the changing role of Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in operations management

9.3.2 Flexibility and innovation

the need for flexibility with regard to volume, delivery time and specification
process innovation: changing current processes or adopting new ways of producing products or delivering services

9.3.3 Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

the main features of an ERP programme
how ERP can improve a business’ efficiency in relation to: inventory control, costing and pricing, capacity utilisation, responses to change, workforce flexibility, management information

9.3.4 Lean production

the aims and purposes of lean production
Kaizen, quality circles, simultaneous engineering, cell production, JIT manufacturing and waste management as operational strategies to achieve lean production
the limitations of operational strategies to achieve lean production
the links between lean production and inventory control, quality, employees roles, capacity management and efficiency

9.3.5 Operations planning

the need for planning operations
network diagrams as tools to plan operations
the main elements of a network diagram: activities, dummy activities, nodes
network diagrams as means of performing Critical Path Analysis (CPA), including identification of the minimum project duration and the critical path, calculation of total and free float, interpretation of the results of the analysis of a network, how minimum duration and floats might be used in project management
the benefits and limitations of CPA as a management tool

Past papers, syllabus and examiner reports © UCLES (Cambridge University Press & Assessment). Questions are matched to topics from the official syllabus. AssessPro is independent and not endorsed by Cambridge.