3.4

Marketing mix: price

Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies (0450)  · Unit 3: Marketing  · 10 flashcards

Marketing mix: price is topic 3.4 in the Cambridge IGCSE Business Studies (0450) syllabus , positioned in Unit 3 — Marketing , alongside Marketing, competition and the customer, Market research and Marketing mix: product.  In one line: Price is the amount a customer pays for a product or service. It influences profitability, sales volume, and brand perception.

This topic is examined in Paper 1 (short-answer questions, built around a pre-released case study) and Paper 2 (extended case-study analysis).

The deck below contains 10 flashcards — 9 definitions and 1 key concept — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward.  Use the 9 definition cards to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and application cards to handle explain, describe and compare questions.

Key definition

'price' in the context of the marketing mix

Price is the amount a customer pays for a product or service. It influences profitability, sales volume, and brand perception.

Example: a higher price may suggest higher quality.

Questions this Marketing mix: price deck will help you answer

Definition Flip

Define 'price' in the context of the marketing mix.

Answer Flip

Price is the amount a customer pays for a product or service. It influences profitability, sales volume, and brand perception.

Example: a higher price may suggest higher quality.
Definition Flip

Explain 'cost-plus pricing' and provide an example.

Answer Flip

Cost-plus pricing involves calculating the total cost of a product and adding a percentage markup to determine the selling price. For instance, if a product costs $5 to make and the markup is 20%, the selling price would be $6.

Definition Flip

Describe 'competitive pricing' strategy.

Answer Flip

Competitive pricing involves setting prices similar to or slightly below competitors' prices. This is common in markets with many similar products, such as the soft drinks market where Coke and Pepsi compete.

Definition Flip

Explain 'penetration pricing' and when it is most effective.

Answer Flip

Penetration pricing involves setting a low initial price to quickly gain market share. This is effective when entering a market with established competitors, like a new streaming service offering a lower subscription fee.

Definition Flip

What is 'price skimming' and give an example of its application.

Answer Flip

Price skimming involves setting a high initial price for a new product to maximize profits from early adopters. This is common with new technology, such as a new iPhone being released at a premium price.

Definition Flip

Describe 'promotional pricing' and its purpose.

Answer Flip

Promotional pricing involves temporarily reducing prices to stimulate demand. This may involve 'buy-one-get-one-free' offers or seasonal sales, such as Black Friday discounts to boost sales.

Definition Flip

Explain 'psychological pricing' with an example.

Answer Flip

Psychological pricing involves setting prices that appeal to customers' perceptions, such as using prices ending in '9' (

Example: $9.99) to make the price seem lower than it is. This makes items appear cheaper.
Definition Flip

Define 'price elasticity of demand'.

Answer Flip

Price elasticity of demand measures how much the quantity demanded of a product changes in response to a change in its price. It can be elastic (sensitive to price changes) or inelastic (insensitive).

Definition Flip

Explain the concept of 'demand' in relation to pricing strategies.

Answer Flip

Demand refers to the quantity of a product or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a given price. Businesses consider the level of demand when setting prices to maximize revenue.

Key Concept Flip

Discuss one factor (other than cost) that affects a business's pricing decisions.

Answer Flip

Competitor's prices are a crucial factor. Businesses often monitor rivals' pricing to remain competitive and attract customers, which might influence their pricing strategy.

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3.3 Marketing mix: product 3.5 Marketing mix: place

Key Questions: Marketing mix: price

Define 'price' in the context of the marketing mix.

Price is the amount a customer pays for a product or service. It influences profitability, sales volume, and brand perception.

Example: a higher price may suggest higher quality.
Explain 'cost-plus pricing' and provide an example.

Cost-plus pricing involves calculating the total cost of a product and adding a percentage markup to determine the selling price. For instance, if a product costs $5 to make and the markup is 20%, the selling price would be $6.

Describe 'competitive pricing' strategy.

Competitive pricing involves setting prices similar to or slightly below competitors' prices. This is common in markets with many similar products, such as the soft drinks market where Coke and Pepsi compete.

Explain 'penetration pricing' and when it is most effective.

Penetration pricing involves setting a low initial price to quickly gain market share. This is effective when entering a market with established competitors, like a new streaming service offering a lower subscription fee.

What is 'price skimming' and give an example of its application.

Price skimming involves setting a high initial price for a new product to maximize profits from early adopters. This is common with new technology, such as a new iPhone being released at a premium price.

More topics in Unit 3 — Marketing

Marketing mix: price sits alongside these Business Studies decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.

Cambridge syllabus keywords to use in your answers

These are the official Cambridge 0450 terms tagged to this section. Mark schemes credit responses that use the exact term — weave them into your answers verbatim rather than paraphrasing.

price pricing cost-plus pricing competitive pricing penetration pricing price skimming promotional pricing psychological pricing price elasticity demand

Key terms covered in this Marketing mix: price deck

Every term below is defined in the flashcards above. Use the list as a quick recall test before your exam — if you can't define one of these in your own words, flip back to that card.

'price' in the context of the marketing mix
Explain 'cost-plus pricing' and provide an example
Describe 'competitive pricing' strategy
Explain 'penetration pricing' and when it is most effective
'price skimming' and give an example of its application
Describe 'promotional pricing' and its purpose
Explain 'psychological pricing' with an example
'price elasticity of demand'
Explain the concept of 'demand' in relation to pricing strategies

How to study this Marketing mix: price deck

Start in Study Mode, attempt each card before flipping, then rate Hard, Okay or Easy. Cards you rate Hard come back within a day; cards you rate Easy push out to weeks. Your progress is saved in your browser, so come back daily for 5–10 minute reviews until every card reads Mastered.