O Level Business Studies 7115 · Topic 4

Operations management: past paper questions

132 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Explain, Identify, Justify, Consider, Outline

Real questions on operations management

The newest 20 of 132 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

7115/11 · October/November 2025 · Q1d[6]
Explain two possible effects of WMH introducing new technology. Effect 1: Explanation: Effect 2: Explanation:
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7115/11 · October/November 2025 · Q1e[6]
Explain two factors a manufacturing business should consider when deciding on a suitable location for a factory. Which factor is likely to be the most important? Justify your answer.
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7115/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[2]
Identify X and Y. X: Y:
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7115/11 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
Define ‘margin of safety’.
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7115/12 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[2]
Define ‘quality assurance’.
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7115/12 · October/November 2025 · Q3e[6]
Do you think access to employees is the most important factor for a new business to consider when deciding on a suitable location? Justify your answer.
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7115/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[2]
Define ‘fixed costs’.
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7115/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[2]
Calculate DJU’s average cost per unit per week. Show your working. Working: Final
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7115/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4d[6]
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage to DJU of using specialisation when making its products. Advantage: Explanation: Disadvantage: Explanation:
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7115/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4e[6]
Do you think the advantages of taking over a competitor are greater than the disadvantages? Justify your answer.
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7115/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[12]
Consider the following three economies of scale for LB. Which economy of scale is likely to have benefited LB the most? Justify your answer. • Financial • Purchasing • Managerial Financial: Purchasing: Managerial: Conclusion:
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7115/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[8]
Explain two reasons why FF uses job production. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation:
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7115/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[8]
Explain two reasons why high quality is important for FF. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation:
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7115/11 · May/June 2025 · Q2c[4]
Outline two reasons why maintaining quality is important for NSL. Reason 1: Reason 2:
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7115/11 · May/June 2025 · Q2d[6]
Explain two benefits to NSL of using lean production. Benefit 1: Explanation: Benefit 2: Explanation:
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7115/11 · May/June 2025 · Q4a[2]
Identify two methods of external growth a business might use. Method 1: Method 2:
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7115/11 · May/June 2025 · Q4d[6]
Explain two diseconomies of scale which might affect PKN as it grows. Diseconomy 1: Explanation: Diseconomy 2: Explanation:
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7115/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[2]
Define ‘batch production’.
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7115/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1c[4]
Outline one advantage and one disadvantage to NFC of using quality assurance. Advantage: Disadvantage:
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7115/12 · May/June 2025 · Q4a[2]
Define ‘average cost’.
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What examiners said

This concept was not well understood by many candidates. Better responses identified the points listed in the mark scheme. Weaker responses described the information presented in the chart and did not answer the question set.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 7115/11 Q2(a) (Cambridge)

A noticeable number of candidates did not attempt this question The weakest candidates were confused by this topic. Often these answers discussed lowering price, which would increase the output required to achieve break even. As with part(c) even better responses were unable to provide two separate points of application in this part of the question.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 7115/11 Q2(d) (Cambridge)

Strong answers to this question focused on profitability, sales, or costs. Such answers frequently did not make effective use of the information provided in the question stem, gaining only one of the application marks available. A mark of three was common as the answers were not fully developed to show analysis.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 7115/11 Q4(d) (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.

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In the syllabus

4.1.1 The meaning of production: • Managing resources effectively to produce goods

Difference between production and productivity
Benefits of increasing efficiency and how to increase it, e.g. increasing productivity by automation and technology, improved labour skills
Why businesses hold inventories
The concept of lean production: how to achieve it, e.g. just-in-time inventory control and Kaizen; benefits of lean production

4.1.2 The main methods of production: • Features, benefits and limitations of job, batch

Recommend and justify an appropriate production method for a given situation

4.2.1 Identify and classify costs: • Classifying costs using examples, e.g. fixed,

Use cost data to help make simple cost-based decisions, e.g. to stop production or continue

4.2.2 Economies and diseconomies of scale: • The concept of economies of scale with

The concept of diseconomies of scale with examples, e.g. poor communication, lack of commitment from employees, weak coordination

4.2.3 Break-even analysis: • The concept of break-even

Construct, complete or amend a simple break-even chart
Interpret a given chart and use it to analyse a situation
Calculate break-even output from given data
Define, calculate and interpret the margin of safety
Use break-even analysis to help make simple decisions, e.g. impact of higher price
Understand the limitations of break-even analysis

4.3.1 Why quality is important and how quality • What quality means and why it is important for

The concept of quality control and how businesses implement quality control
The concept of quality assurance and how this can be implemented

4.4.1 The main factors influencing the location and • Factors relevant to the location decision of

Factors that a business could consider when deciding which country to locate operations in
The role of legal controls on location decisions
Recommend and justify an appropriate location for a business in given circumstances

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