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Level 3
A Level Economics
COURSE OVERVIEW
We live in curious times. The housing bubble burst, the rise of China, the loss of blue-collar jobs and the rise of inequality. Health is a very big deal. Tax, government spending, climate change, trade and globalisation are key issues. It’s a complicated story. Instead of saying, ah, it’s a complicated world, I don’t get it, say, all right, let me try to figure this out. Let me make sense of this. Economics explains what happens in the world around you. What you are going to learn is how to think like an economist.
Economics is about people. It’s not about money. And it ends up being about what people, firms and Governments do. Economics is about choice and the impact of our choices on each other. It relates to every aspect of our lives from the decisions we make as individuals or families to the structures created by governments and firms. An economic way of thinking can help you make better choices with finite resources.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You will need to have 5 GCSEs at grades 9/A* to 4/C including English Language. You will need a grade 5 or above in GCSE Maths. You will also be required to complete a GCSE to A-level Transition Project, prior to enrolment, to prepare you for A-level Economics.
To succeed, you must be able to read challenging articles and textbooks well and often and enjoy data interpretation and statistics. You must be able to write essays employing appropriate terminology and using structured analytical paragraphs that communicate your thoughts in-depth but also clearly. Many pupils do not realise this, and it is important to be very clear – more pupils struggle in Economics because of weak English than weak Mathematics. A good economist is someone who can communicate technical knowledge in a clear way.
Economics is a respected A-Level as it helps you develop transferable skills that will prepare you for studying at university or moving into the world of work. These include skills that demonstrate you can write well, that you are numerate and that you can analyse source material and interpret data. Of course, it can lead to economics degree courses or degrees in applied economics such as the history of economics, behavioural economics, environmental economics, labour economics, public sector economics or monetary economics but might also be taken by a student considering law, business and management, politics, finance, and history and many other degree courses.
Economics students can follow a wide range of careers. You could be working as a professional economist advising governments how to design policies to help the poor or grow a greener economy, or big business and private investors, or working in financial services or academia. They’re also found in companies like Google who are a huge hire of economists.
This is a two-year linear A-Level where you are examined on the whole syllabus at the end of the second year. Candidates are asked to answer every style of question, from multiple choice to mathematical questions to essays. At the end of year two, you will have three exam papers. The first is microeconomics, short-answer, data response and essay questions on markets and business behaviour – this is the content you study in Theme 1 and Theme 3. The second is short-answer, data response and essay questions on the national and global economy – this is the content you study in Theme 2 and Theme 4. The third is data response and essay questions – covering concepts and theory from the whole course.
To prepare you for external exams, you will carry out a programme of weekly tests, exam-style assessments and Formal Progress Points where you will monitor your attendance, how hard you are working and your academic progress. All Year 1 students will progress through a Year 1 Gateway that will allow you to progress to Year 2.
Text-book £40 approx (See further information for a link)
Revision book £15 approx (See further information for a link)
Achieving A grade Book £12 x2 (Information will be given in class)
Online Revision course £35
Trips budget £100 * Financial assistance available for some students
* Prices may vary. Guide only.
* Revision course and trips optional but highly recommended to help you maximise your grades.