0454 · Cambridge IGCSE
0454/13
(Case Study)
Enterprise · June 2024 · Variant 3
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
3.5 / 5
100
90 min
The Purpose of Marketing & Help and Support for Enterprise
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
100
Duration
90 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
This paper is of moderately high difficulty (3.5/5).
While Section A features highly accessible definitional and numerical marks, Section B dramatically steps up the cognitive load, demanding that students link theoretical enterprise concepts to two distinct contexts: the pre-released case study (Luna's EFPS enterprise) and their own school-based enterprise project.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge & Understanding
Weight: 5100%Application (AO2)
Weight: 360%Analysis (AO3)
Weight: 240%Evaluation (AO4)
Weight: 120%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
Method marks
In Q3(c), failing to show full working out, meaning if an arithmetic mistake was made, no partial marks could be awarded.
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards
Level A*
Approx. 71% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 63% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 54% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 46% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 39% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 31% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Support your choice with specific evidence from data or the scenario given.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
The purpose of marketing
15 marks this session
Sources of help and support
15 marks this session
Opportunities
15 marks this session
Legal obligations
10 marks this session
Meetings and presentations
10 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Business plans
Risk
Opportunities
Market research
Types of communication
Marketing communications
The enterprise process
Legal obligations
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 13 (Case Study):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
The purpose of marketing
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSources of help and support
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiOpportunities
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiLegal obligations
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMeetings and presentations
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
This paper is of moderately high difficulty (3.5/5).
- 2Message
While Section A features highly accessible definitional and numerical marks, Section B dramatically steps up the cognitive load, demanding that students link theoretical enterprise concepts to two distinct contexts: the pre-released case study (Luna's EFPS enterprise) and their own school-based enterprise project.
- 3Method
In Q3(c), failing to show full working out, meaning if an arithmetic mistake was made, no partial marks could be awarded.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Enterprise
This paper is of moderately high difficulty (3.5/5). While Section A features highly accessible definitional and numerical marks, Section B dramatically steps up the cognitive load, demanding that students link theoretical enterprise concepts to two distinct contexts: the pre-rel
This paper is of moderately high difficulty (3.5/5).
While Section A features highly accessible definitional and numerical marks, Section B dramatically steps up the cognitive load, demanding that students link theoretical enterprise concepts to two distinct contexts: the pre-released case study (Luna's EFPS enterprise) and their own school-based enterprise project.
- Total marks
- 100
- Duration
- 90 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
This paper is of moderately high difficulty (3.5/5). While Section A features highly accessible definitional and numerical marks, Section B dramatically steps up the cognitive load, demanding that students link theoretical enterprise concepts to two distinct contexts: the pre-released case study (Luna's EFPS enterprise) and their own school-based enterprise project.
Updated Jun 13, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 13 (Case Study):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
64% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Evaluate/Justify
36·4·36%
Explain
20·7·20%
Analyse
20·2·20%
State/Identify/Fill-in
14·4·14%
Define
6·3·6%
Calculate
4·1·4%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Business plans & Action plans
85%85%
The negotiation process
78%78%
Cashflow forecast structures
72%72%
Difficulty Verdict
This paper is of moderately high difficulty (3.5/5). While Section A features highly accessible definitional and numerical marks, Section B dramatically steps up the cognitive load, demanding that students link theoretical enterprise concepts to two distinct contexts: the pre-released case study (Luna's EFPS enterprise) and their own school-based enterprise project.
Where the Marks Are
The major mark reserves are concentrated in Section B, which carries 50% of the overall paper marks split across two 10-mark analysis questions and two 15-mark evaluation essays. Within Section A, the 8 marks dedicated to the SWOT analysis matrix and the 4 marks for the cost-saving calculation represent excellent return-on-investment opportunities for well-prepared students.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The Context Trap: In Q1(d), Q4(a), and Q7, many candidates failed to describe their actual project activities, offering purely generic business theory instead. In these applied questions, zero context equals zero progress past Level 1.
- One-Sided Evaluations: On the 15-mark questions, examiners repeatedly flagged that candidates wrote extensively about the benefits of a source of help or marketing, but neglected the downsides or limitations, capping their scores at 7 out of 15.
- Calculation Workings: In the paving stones saving calculation, some candidates simply wrote down a final figure. When this figure was incorrect due to minor math errors, they missed out on the partial formula marks.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 100
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Short Answer / Recall, Application Structured Questions, Structured Analytical Questions, Evaluative Essay Questions
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.