Economics A Level
Qualification
AS & A2
Results
A*- C grades: 82.9%
Awarding Body
WJEC
Economics A Level Overview
Economics at A Level holds significant value for universities and employers because it develops students’ analytical and quantitative skills, preparing them for the challenges of higher education and work.
The course encourages students to apply their economic knowledge to real-world issues, exploring markets like alcohol, tobacco, education, and healthcare. The course covers topics such as pollution and government policies, along with macroeconomic concepts like unemployment, inflation, and trade, helping students understand how the economy functions. Current issues like Brexit and Trump’s policies also provide relevant study material.
This course adopts a critical and enquiring approach, fostering the ability to think like an economist.
AS Level (year 1)
Unit 1: Introduction to Economic Principles
Unit 2: Economics in Action
The AS specification is based upon the principle of creating a broad understanding of how markets and the economy work. E.g., it introduces learners to the key concepts of demand and supply in both individual markets (microeconomics) and the whole economy (macroeconomics).
Learners will be required to use basic models to develop a critical understanding of economics issues and explore current economic behaviour, drawing upon data from local, national and international sources, including data which relates to the Welsh economy. The AS content is divided essentially into microeconomics and macroeconomics.
The first year is assessed through a short answer question paper and a data response paper that each examine the whole AS content.
A2 Level (year 2)
Unit 3: Exploring Economic Behaviour
Unit 4: Evaluating Economic Models and Policies
Learners will be expected to use more complex micro and macro models applied to a wider range of local, national and international contexts, including data which relates to the Welsh economy. Learners will be required to develop a more critical approach to the evaluation of economic models and current economic problems. The synoptic essays will draw upon different elements of the specification content and evaluate alternative arguments and theories.
The subject content in the A2 has been grouped into three broad areas of study: microeconomics, macroeconomics, and trade and development.
The second year is assessed through a combined short answer question and data response paper and an essay paper that each examine the whole A2 content.
The full A Level in Economics provides the basis for students who wish to proceed to Higher Education to study law, business management, marketing, accountancy, finance and banking.
6 grade C’s at GCSE, including a grade B in GCSE Maths and a grade B in GCSE English and students should have an overall strong GCSE profile.