Edexcel A Level Economics Tutors Online

Edexcel A Level Economics is code 9EC0, and its full title is the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Economics A. First teaching was September 2015 and first certification was 2017. This page works from Issue 2, dated October 2016.

The qualification is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers, and students must complete all assessment in May and June in any single year.

The themes are built in pairs. Themes 1 and 2 establish the core economic models and concepts, and Themes 3 and 4 then build on that and apply it to more complex concepts and models. Theme 1, Introduction to markets and market failure, focuses on microeconomic concepts: the nature of economics, how markets work, market failure, and government intervention. Theme 2, The UK economy, performance and policies, focuses on macroeconomic concepts: measures of economic performance, aggregate demand, aggregate supply, national income, economic growth, and macroeconomic objectives and policy.

Theme 3, Business behaviour and the labour market, develops the microeconomic concepts from Theme 1 and focuses on business economics: business growth, business objectives, revenues, costs and profits, market structures, the labour market, and government intervention. Theme 4, A global perspective, develops the macroeconomic concepts from Theme 2 and applies them in a global context: international economics, poverty and inequality, emerging and developing economies, the financial sector, and the role of the state in the macroeconomy.

Paper 1 is Markets and business behaviour, code 9EC0/01. It is externally assessed, available in May and June, first assessed in 2017, and worth 35% of the total qualification. It assesses microeconomics, with questions drawn from Themes 1 and 3. The duration is 2 hours and there are 100 marks available.

Paper 2 is The national and global economy, code 9EC0/02. It is worth 35% on the same terms. It assesses macroeconomics, with questions drawn from Themes 2 and 4. The duration is 2 hours and there are 100 marks available.

Papers 1 and 2 have an identical three section structure, and it is worth knowing exactly how the choice works. Students answer all questions from Section A and Section B, and one question from Section C. Section A comprises a range of multiple choice and short answer questions. Section B comprises one data response question broken down into a number of parts. Section C comprises a choice of extended open response questions, and students select one from a choice of two.

Paper 3 is Microeconomics and macroeconomics, code 9EC0/03. It is worth 30% of the total qualification. It assesses content across all four themes, and students are required to apply their knowledge and understanding, make connections and transfer higher order skills across all four themes. The duration is 2 hours and there are 100 marks available.

Paper 3 is structured differently from the other two. It comprises two sections rather than three, and each section comprises one data response question broken down into a number of parts, including a choice of extended open response questions where students select one from a choice of two.

All three papers have the same duration of 2 hours and the same 100 marks available, but they are not weighted the same. Papers 1 and 2 are worth 35% each and Paper 3 is worth 30%, so the paper with the fewest sections is also the one worth least.

The assessment objectives are four, and the balance is not what most students assume. AO1, demonstrate knowledge of terms, concepts and theories and models to show an understanding of the behaviour of economic agents and how they are affected by and respond to economic issues, is 22 to 24 per cent. AO2, apply knowledge and understanding to various economic contexts to show how economic agents are affected by and respond to economic issues, is 22 to 24 per cent. AO3, analyse issues within economics, showing an understanding of their impact on economic agents, is 26 to 28 per cent. AO4, evaluate economic arguments and use qualitative and quantitative evidence to support informed judgements relating to economic issues, is 26 to 28 per cent.

Evaluation is the joint largest objective, sharing the top spot with analysis, and both are worth more than knowledge and application. That is the clearest signal in the specification about what the papers reward: a student who knows the models and can apply them, but who cannot analyse an issue or reach a supported judgement, is capped at around 48 per cent of the marks at best.

The breakdown also shows Paper 3 leaning further towards evaluation than the others. Paper 1 is 7 to 9 per cent on each of the four objectives. Paper 2 is identical. Paper 3 is 6 to 8 per cent AO1, 6 to 8 per cent AO2, 8 to 10 per cent AO3 and 8 to 10 per cent AO4. So the paper worth 30% carries a higher share of the analysis and evaluation marks than the two papers worth 35% each.

The assessments also expect students to look beyond the textbook. The specification states that students will need to apply their knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assessments and demonstrate an awareness of current economic events and policies. The themes are taught with that in mind, drawing on local, national and global contexts.

Quantitative skills are required across the qualification rather than as a separate element. The specification says students need to have acquired competence in quantitative skills relevant to and applied in the context of each theme, and Appendix 3 sets out those skills.

The qualification is graded and certificated on a six grade scale from A* to E using the total subject mark, and individual papers are not graded. The first certification opportunity was 2017, and students whose level of achievement is below the minimum judged by Pearson to be of sufficient standard receive an unclassified U result.

On codes: the qualification number is 601/4105/0 and the subject code is GCE 9EC0. The paper codes are 9EC0/01, 9EC0/02 and 9EC0/03. The discount code printed in Appendix 5 is EB.