A Level Economics

This course covers the new specification introduced in September 2015.

There have been a lot of changes to A Levels and we strongly advise you read all the information below very carefully. There is a lot of information to take in and as such it is often better to speak to an advisor to discover everything you will need to know regarding exams and other important information you need to be aware of. If you make an enquiry, in the message box, please let us know a suitable time to give you a call.

This is a distance learning course designed to prepare you for sitting your A Level Economics exam. A full A Level is around 700 hours of study, be wary of courses of less time than this as they may well be missing important information.

Students are provided with up to 2 years support, but it is up to them how quickly they work through the course and when they choose to sit the exams.

For example.

Student A may decide to enrol in June and wish to obtain his full A Level by June the following year. He would set up his study timetable to complete the course and sit the exams 12 months later.

Student B may decide that they wish to study at a more relaxed pace and sit the exams 24 months later.

Each option is fine, you don't make that decision when you enrol as you have up to 2 years support regardless. This allows you to make a more informed decision later in the course.

Students are responsible for booking their exams. We provide you with a full list of centres across the country that you can do this at.

SUPPORT

During the course students are fully supported by a qualified tutor and a support team who are contactable by email and telephone respectively.

Throughout the course students will complete a series of assignments which they will email to their tutor. This allows the tutor to ensure you are picking things up correctly and iron out any problem areas.

There are also self-testing exercises spread throughout the course for students to gauge their progress.

METHOD OF STUDY

The course is available in both a paper and online format. The paper version is delivered to you by courier and is yours to keep, so you can write on it, highlight things, make notes etc.

The online course is presented in a cloud based learning system where you are able to access all of your course lessons, assignments and tutor correspondence in one place. You can download an app and access your course information on any device.

SYLLABUS

Theme 1: Introduction to markets and market failure

• Nature of economics
• How markets work
• Market failure
• Government intervention

Theme 2: The UK economy - performance and policies

• Measures of economic performance
• Aggregate demand
• Aggregate supply
• National income
• Economic growth
• Macroeconomic objectives and policy

Theme 3: Business behaviour and the labour market

• Business growth
• Business objectives
• Revenues, costs and profits
• Market structures
• Labour market
• Government intervention

Theme 4: A global perspective

• International economics
• Poverty and inequality
• Emerging and developing economies
• The financial sector
• Role of the state in the macroeconomy

EXAMS

Traditionally A Levels have consisted of two parts, the AS and the A2. Students would sit the AS exams at the end of the first year and A2 exams at the end of the second year.

That has now changed in England. Now, only the A2 exams count towards your final grade. AS exams can still be sat as standalone papers and would count 40% of an A Level, but once you sit the A2 exams the AS result no longer counts.

In Wales and Northern Ireland you would continue to sit AS exams as well as A2.

A2

Paper 1: Markets and business behaviour (9ECO/01)

Assessment details:-

• 35% of A-Level
• 100 marks
• 2 hour written exam

What is assessed?:-

• Paper 1 will assess microeconomics and questions will be drawn from Themes 1 and 3.

Paper 2: The national and global economy (9ECO/02)

Assessment details:-

• 35% of A-Level
• 100 marks
• 2 hour written exam

What is assessed?:-

• Paper 2 will assess macroeconomics and questions will be drawn from Themes 2 and 4.

Paper 3: Microeconomics and macroeconomics (9ECO/03)

Assessment details:-

• 30% of A-Level
• 100 marks
• 2 hour written exam

What is assessed?:-

• Paper 3 will assess content from across all four themes.

AS Exams (Mandatory in Wales and Northern Ireland only)

Paper 1: Introduction to markets and market failure

Assessment details:-

• 50% of the AS
• 80 marks
• 90 mins written exam

What is assessed?:-

• Questions are drawn from Theme 1

Paper 2: The UK economy - performance and policies

Assessment details:-

• 50% of the AS
• 80 marks
• 90 mins written exam

What is assessed?:-

• Questions are drawn from Theme 2

Students are recommended to possess the ability to read and write English to GCSE standards and be over 16 years of age.

To find out more about this course click the 'Enquire now' button to contact the course provider. It is highly recommended you discuss the course with an advisor to ensure you have a full understanding of how it works and what you will need to do with regards to exams. Simply let us know in the message box the best time to contact you.