Year 10 Commerce

"We were not taught financial literacy in school. It takes a lot of work and time to change your thinking and to become financially literate." Robert Kiyosaki

What is Year 10 Commerce?

Year 10 Commerce is your real-world starter pack. It is the answer to everyone that says "school's don't teach you about real life". It combines Accounting, Economics, and Business (including financial literacy) into one course, giving you a taste of each field so you can understand how the world works — and how to make smart decisions in it.

Whether you're thinking about buying your first big thing (e.g. car), starting a business, or just want to understand money, Year 10 Commerce sets you up with practical knowledge that will pay off for life.

What you'll learn

1) Accounting

• The Accounting Equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity)

• How to record Debits and Credits accurately

• Building and understanding an Income Statement

• Creating a Trial Balance to check accuracy

These are the exact skills used by business owners, accountants, and anyone who wants to track where money is coming from and where it's going.

2) Economics

• The Four Factors of Production (land, labour, capital, enterprise)

• Understanding Demand and Supply

• How businesses decide on a price that most people are willing to pay (equilibrium)

• Shifts in Demand and Supply — what happens when things change (e.g. trends, tastes, technology)

You’ll understand how prices are set, why shortages happen, and how businesses and governments respond.

3) Business & Financial Literacy

• How to budget, save, and invest wisely

• Smart strategies for your first big purchase (e.g. car) — including why leasing/finance is a trap

• Your legal rights as a consumer under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) and Fair Trading Act (FTA)

• How to market a product so people actually want to buy it

From managing your money to spotting a scam, this unit is about setting you up to make confident, informed decisions in your personal life.

Why take this subject?

Commerce helps you:

• Understand money, business, and the economy in a way that actually makes sense

• Develop skills that apply to every career path — from trades to tech to medicine

• Decide whether you want to dive deeper into Year 11 and beyond

Where does this lead to?

Year 10 Commerce is a good foundation for NCEA Level 1 Commerce in Year 11. From there, you can go into Year 12 and specialise in:

• Accounting – tracking money and making business decisions

• Economics – understanding how decisions shape the economy

• Business Studies – building, managing, and improving businesses