Year 12 Course Overview
In Year 12 Students will learn background study skills, introductory concepts and a broad range of economic models. There is also a heavy emphasis on analysing these models and applying to the real world. This includes both the markets for individual goods and services, and national economies.
Year 13 Overview
At A Level, greater depth of analysis is required, and there is a much bigger emphasis on essay writing to discuss and evaluate issues and policies.
Course Requirements
GCSE Math’s Grade 6 or above is required.
No prior knowledge of this subject is needed. As a starting point students need to be able to write well to show understanding, and to write to persuade. Students need to be numerate, think clearly and understand ratios, percentages and trends in data.
Assessment Structure
A Level: Edexcel Exam Board
Paper 1: Markets and Business behaviour (Micro) 35% of total.
Paper 2: National and Global Economy (Macro). 35% of total.
Both papers have Multiple Choice, short answer, and stepped Data Response questions including an essay.
Paper 3: General economics. 30% of Total. 2 Data response questions & 2 essays. The essays combine micro and macro effects of economic changes.
20% of the marks are based on Maths. The standard is B grade GCSE.
Skills
The skills developed in Economics are transferable, highly valued by employers and make you a good prospect:
- Flexibility
- Asking questions
- Making Judgements
- Understanding people
- Problem solving
- Report writing skills - analysing, selecting, organising and communicating clearly. Critical analysis - of events, people, documents.
- Your ability to communicate: both spoken and written.
- Logical thought processes - the ability to work out why things happen, to establish theories and back them with evidence.
- Reference skills
Since many of the issues studied in Economics do not have clear and easy explanations, while you are studying the topic you will have the chance to become more skilled at reasoning, deduction, and at organising and evaluating information.
Finally, as a result of having to defend your opinions and conclusions in class discussion, you will find yourself with many chances to develop your own self-confidence.
