A Level Economics
Entry Requirements:
If the student completed GCSE Economics, a Grade 6 required as well as a Grade 6 and 6 in English and Maths in any order.
Exam Board: AQA
Course content:
Economics is an extremely highly-regarded and tough discipline which invites students to interpret the world in a completely new way. They develop a new framework of analysis which gives them a very structured method of making and justifying decisions. They apply their minds to a variety of areas such as how firms maximise profits, how governments control inflation and how the international economy works. The subject is very real and relevant to current affairs, with students gaining an insightful understanding of the world around them.
What skills will I develop?
- Knowledge and understanding of key economic terms. · Understanding and application of fundamental economic theories. · Evaluative skills applied to current affairs in both the public and private spheres. · Higher-level (abstract) reasoning in the form of analysis and interpretation of economic diagrams. · Numerical analysis of current data. · Written and oral English · Independent research · Team working
In Year 12, students will learn about the two fundamental areas of economics; microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Year 13 Students who go on to complete the full A-level in Year 13 will enhance their understanding of microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as learning about trade and development. Microeconomics · Scarcity and choice · Demand and supply in product markets · Demand and supply in labour markets · Resource allocation · Market failure · Costs, revenues and profits · Market structures Macroeconomics · Macroeconomic theory · Macroeconomic objectives · Policy instruments Trade & Development · International economy
Assessment
Year 12: As this is a linear course, there is no external examination at the end of Year 12. Instead there are 2 internally set mock examinations:
Paper 1 – 1 hour 30 minutes, 50%
Paper 2 – 1 hour 30 minutes, 50% The grade for this mock examination is used to both decide progression to Year 2 of the course and to predict grades for UCAS applications.
Year 13: At the end of Year 13, there will be three external examinations to cover all A-Level content: Paper 1 – 2 hours, 33.3%
Paper 2 – 2 hours, 33.3%
Paper 3 – 2 hours, 33.3%
Career Value
We organise trips to the Bank of England and the Competition & Markets Authority over the two-year course. An Economics A-level will allow students to access the highest level of the professional world and gain places on the most competitive university courses. It does not close off any opportunities as it is valued in every industry. In particular, economics graduates go on to careers in: · Accounting · Administration · Retail banking · Auditing · Economics research · Equity research · Financial Advice · Insurance · Investment banking · Law · HM Treasury · The Foreign Office · Industry.
