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AS/A2 Economics

Teacher in charge of Subject

Mr M Scandling
mscandling@commonweal.co.uk

Overview

Economics A Level allows you the opportunity to develop an extensive understanding of the Economic environment that we live in.  By the end of the course you should be able to make supported judgments on possible policy remedies and apply diagrammatical theory to real life situations.

The aim of the course is to develop your skills, qualities and attitudes to equip you for the challenges, responsibilities and opportunities of adult working life.  It allows you to apply academic theory to real life situations and gain a greater understanding of the UKs position within the global Economy.

  1. Course Title

    AS/A2 Economics

  2. Exam Board and Specification No.

    Edexcel Economics A 9EC0

What do I need to have studied/have knowledge of?

It is likely that you would not have studied Economics at GCSE however if you took Business Studies at GCSE you would have briefly covered a few of the topics. This therefore means that it is not essential for you to have studied the subject before.

Both Business Studies and Economics have significant financial and mathematical elements within them and therefore you should have suitable Maths grade at GCSE. As with all A Level subjects there will be the expectation for you to complete essay based questions and extended writing pieces for exam style questions therefore a good English GCSE is also essential.

What will I learn on this course?

You will be able to analyse the nature of market failure its causes and then evaluate possible policies.  You will have an understanding of the concept of supply and demand and be able to apply this to real life situations.

You will investigate economic policies, analyse approaches and identify criteria for success.  Following on from this you will have an understanding of Fiscal, Monetary and Supply- Side policies and be able to discuss their effectiveness in the current Economic climate.

There is also a focus on competitive markets and you will investigate government intervention in order to promote this.  Finally in Unit 4 you look at the global economy and will have a detailed understanding of trends and developments over the last 10 years.

Overall an Advanced GCE in Economics and Business with its economics content will give you enhanced career choice and progression opportunities.  This course will provide you with an extensive knowledge of the current Economic climate and allow you to make decisions of the causes and effectiveness of government policy.

The specification may be co-taught by two or more teachers.

Guidance will be given within the specification on possible ways of teaching topic areas.

A variety of assessment techniques will be used – supported multiple-choice questions, data-response questions, case studies and a decision-making report

What key skills will I develop?

From the start of the course you will be encouraged to develop your independent learning skills; you will be expected to complete homework tasks and wider reading each week.  Also you will be encouraged to use feedback from marked pieces to make improvements in your work and also set own targets.

You will be able to use information to carry out multi stage calculations including formulas and diagrams.  You should then be able to analyse the results that you have calculated to make supported judgements.

As part of the course you will be encouraged to develop their communication skills on a regular basis, you will have opportunities to complete group work tasks and presentations.  Having the ability to confidently deliver an informative and engaging presentation to peers will set you in good preparation for university or employment.

How will I be assessed?

The course is linear where you have three exams at the end of year 13 however there is the opportunity to study only at AS and then have 2 exams at the end of year 12.

There are 4 themes over the 2 years:

  • Theme 1: Introduction to markets and market failure
  • Theme 2: The UK Economy
  • Theme 3: Business behaviour and the labour market
  • Theme 4: A global perspective

There is no coursework or set assignments over the two years however due to the nature of the exams essay based questions will be set on a regular basis to help students develop their extended writing skills including analytical and evaluative judgments.

What could this course lead to?

There are many options for students who take Economics at A Level; some students decide to take straight Economics at University which will be based heavily on the theory of Economics.  Others decide to take a more Applied Economics courses such as Labour Economics or Environmental Economics.

Another very popular combination of subjects is Economics and Maths; because of the similarities many students who take Economics at A Level also take Maths.

Post University employment rates for Economics are among some of the highest for graduate’s careers and many go into careers such as Finance, Management and Consultancy. Other students who decide university is not suitable for them have given themselves an excellent stepping stone into the world of work through studying Economics.

Additional events, trips or enrichment activities

There will be opportunities to go on appropriate Economics trips and to go to lecturers from leading Economists.
Trips and visits will be confirmed and information will come out about these as organised.

Are there any additional costs for this course?

Depending on the trips that are arranged there may be a small cost for this however should not be over £20 a time.

You may also want to purchase revision guides and extended reading material that will be discussed before beginning the course.

Who do I contact if I have any further questions?

Mr M Scandling – mscandling@commonweal.co.uk

Curriculum Maps

Y12 & Y13 A Level Economics curriculum maps

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268.47 KB – Updated June 14, 2022

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