Economics
Subject entry requirements
Exam Board: Edexcel A
Entry Requirements: GCSE 5 grades 9-4 including GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 6. If you have studied Business GCSE, we would expect you to have gained at least a grade 6.
The Pearson Edexcel Economics A course is structured into four themes and consists of three externally examined papers. Students build knowledge and understanding of core economic models and concepts in Themes 1 and 2, and then build on this and apply their knowledge to more complex concepts and models in Themes 3 and 4. Students will need to apply their knowledge and understanding to both familiar and unfamiliar contexts in the assess.
- Theme 1: Microeconomics – You will be required to study a selection of microeconomic models and to apply these to current problems and issues. Microeconomic models such as demand and supply, the nature of economics, how markets work, market failure and government intervention.
- Theme 2: Macroeconomics – You will gain a good knowledge of developments in the UK economy and government policies that you will see and hear about in the local and national news. Students will study measures of economic performance, aggregate demand & aggregate supply, national income, economic growth & macroeconomic objectives.
- Theme 3: Microeconomics – Theme 3 builds on Theme 1 and focusses on business economics, specifically business growth, business objectives, revenues, costs and profits, market structures, the labour market & government intervention.
- Theme 4: Macroeconomics – Theme 4 builds on Theme 2 and focusses on the global context, specifically international economics, poverty and inequality, merging and developing economies, the financial sector & role of the state in the macroeconomy.
What skills will I develop?
You will develop the knowledge and skills needed to understand and analyse data, think critically about issues and make informed decisions. You will also build upon your quantitative skills and appreciate that, when evaluating arguments, both qualitative and quantitative evidence are important. The exams focus on the skills of knowledge, application, analysis and evaluation.
What is unique about this subject?
Economics is a good subject for developing personal transferable skills. It is intellectually robust and of contemporary relevance. It can prepare you for very high-powered jobs that can be rewarding financially and intellectually. Many economics graduates have excellent, demanding and rewarding jobs.
How many exams do I have to take and when do I take them?
A-Level: Three 2 hour exams in the summer of Year 13. A mixture of multiple choice, calculation, data response and essay questions.
What might studying this course lead to?
Many Politicians, Prime Ministers and other World Leaders have studied Economics to some level. Economists are employed in a range of posts which may, or may not, be related to the discipline they studied. Obviously, there are teaching Economics roles and working as an Economist either in the public sector or for a leading company but Economists also work in manufacturing, transport, communications, investment banking, insurance, investment and retailing industries, as well as in government agencies, consulting and charitable organisations.
More details can be found here.
For further information, contact Ms D Watson (d.watson@finhampark.co.uk)