Surprises and Challenges: My Thoughts on IB Business Paper 2 May 2025

In my previous post, I shared my thoughts on Paper 1 and Paper 3, but Paper 2 certainly deserves its own reflection. This year, I found it particularly interesting, with some unexpected challenges for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students.

Paper 2 SL: A Heavy Focus on Finance

Paper 2 SL leaned heavily into finance this year. For students who are strong in that area, it was probably a relief, but I can imagine it being quite challenging for those who aren’t as confident. One of the most surprising aspects was the unusual graph layout for the break-even question. Instead of the typical grid, it was presented in a rectangular format that I’d never seen before. While it’s a small detail, I wonder if it threw some students off especially those who are used to practicing with traditional graph paper. It’s certainly something I’ll be incorporating into my resources moving forward.

Section A was generally accessible, but Section B had some tougher moments. I was particularly surprised by the requirement to 'draw an appropriate table' based on data given. Even I had to take a moment to think through what was expected! This is definitely a skill I’ll be adding to my Paper 2 toolkit for next year.

Paper 2 HL: Stepping Up the Difficulty

I found the HL version of Paper 2 noticeably more challenging than the SL version. Not only did it include newer syllabus content like customer loyalty, defect rate, external recruitment, and standard deviation, but the structure of some questions felt quite different. The profit and loss account question, for example, was formatted in a very cramped box with lines at the end that didn’t seem intuitive. It may seem like a minor detail, but these small changes can sometimes throw students off their game.

One question that stood out was the Deci and Ryan 10-mark question. Students were asked to apply their motivation theory using a table from the case study. I thought this was a really tough application, and I’m curious to hear how your students managed it. The stakeholder pressure question was another surprise. It wasn’t a topic I had spent a lot of time on, but it’s certainly going to be added to my review plans for next year.

Preparing for the Future

Reflecting on this year’s Paper 2, it’s clear that there are some areas I want to emphasize in future reviews. Understanding different financial layouts, practicing table drawing from data, and diving deeper into newer syllabus content will be key focuses in my resources. I’m excited to make those updates and help students feel even more confident moving forward.

How did your students find Paper 2 this year? Were there any surprises that caught them off guard? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!