Contents

Introduction

Economics

Course Aims

The Syllabus, Examinations and Assessment

Your Textbook and Resources

The Structure of the Course

How Your Work is Assessed on the Course

The Transition from (I)GCSE to AS Level - Some Tips

Happy to Help

Download your Programme of Study

Introduction

Welcome to your Wolsey Hall Cambridge AS Economics course. Please take the time to read carefully through this page as it explains how the course is structured, how to get the most from your studies and how your work will be assessed. At the end of this page, you will find details of the reading you will need to do from your textbook and also how each module links to the CAIE syllabus and the final examinations.

This course will lead you step-by-step through the syllabus by way of resources, video and audio links, assignments and, of course, the textbook, so that by the end, you will be confident and fully prepared for your final examinations.

Subject

Alfred Marshall, the pre-eminent 19^th century economist, said that Economics is “the study of mankind in the ordinary business of life.” This is particularly true in the case of microeconomics, where we learn about decision-making in individual markets or sectors by people as consumers and/or workers, and by firms or producers of goods and/or services.

Macroeconomics, on the other hand, combines all sectors and markets to look at an economy as a whole, dealing with such things as levels of economic growth, employment, price changes and trade with other countries.

In this course, you will learn how to explain and analyse economic issues and argument, evaluate economic information and organise, present and communicate ideas and judgements clearly. The topics covered in the Cambridge AS are revisited and expanded at A Level to build an important understanding of how markets and economic systems work in different countries throughout the world as well as an appreciation of how the market economy influences national and international policy. You will also learn about international trade and the arguments for and against protectionism.

Course Aims

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Understand the key elements of microeconomics and macroeconomics and appreciate the areas in which they overlap;
- Apply the theory that underpins the subject, as well as to describe how this relates to the real world;
- Evaluate information of different types and from different sources and use statistics and diagrams where appropriate;
- Read critically to gain information about the changing economy we live in;
- Appreciate the methods of study used by economists and the most effective ways to analyse, corelate, discuss and present economic data;
- Think logically and present coherent arguments in clear and concise language and formats;
- Build on this firm foundation for the study of Economics at A Level and perhaps beyond.

The Syllabus, Examinations and Assessment

This Wolsey Hall course is designed to prepare you for the Cambridge AS Economics examinations which you will sit at a Cambridge exam centre. It is vitally important that you become familiar with the syllabus which can be found below:

READ - Syllabus 2023-2025

READ - Syllabus update

READ - Syllabus 2026-2028

The examination code for AS and A Level Economics is: 9708

For the AS in Economics, you will sit two papers:

Paper 1: AS Level Multiple Choice – This paper is worth 33% of the AS and 17% of the full A Level grade. Length: 1 hour.

The paper carries 30 marks in total and consists of 30 multiple-choice questions based on the AS syllabus content.

Paper 2: AS Level Data Response and Essays – This paper is worth 67% of the AS and 33% of the full A Level grade. Length: 2 hours.

The paper carries 60 marks in total. Students must answer three questions:

Section A: one compulsory data response question (worth 20 marks)

Section B: one essay from a choice of two focussing mainly on microeconomics; there are two parts to each essay question (worth 20 marks)

Section C: one essay from a choice of two focussing mainly on macroeconomics; there are two parts to each essay question (worth 20 marks)

All questions are based on the AS syllabus content. N.B. Calculators may be used for all papers. Formulae are not given in the question papers.

All components are externally assessed.

The syllabus is examined in the June and November examination series. This syllabus is also available for examination in March for students in India only.

Assessment Objectives

The assessment objectives (AOs) for AS and A Level Economics are as follows:

AO1: Knowledge and understanding
- Show knowledge of syllabus content, recalling facts, formulae and definitions.
- Demonstrate understanding of syllabus content, giving appropriate explanations and examples.
- Apply knowledge and understanding to economic information using written, numerical and diagrammatic forms.

AO2: Analysis
- Examine economic issues and relationships, using relevant economic concepts, theories and information.
- Select, interpret and organise economic information in written, numerical and diagrammatic form.
- Use economic information to recognise patterns, relationships, causes and effects.
- Explain the impacts and consequences of changes in economic variables.

AO3: Evaluation
- Recognise assumptions and limitations of economic information and models.
- Assess economic information and the strengths and weaknesses of arguments.
- Recognise that some economic decisions involve consideration of factors such as priorities and value judgements.
- Communicate reasoned judgements, conclusions and decisions, based on the arguments.

Your Textbook and Resources

Wolsey Hall offers a unique model of offline and online resources to our homeschooling students – a model which we have developed based on our many years’ experience of providing homeschooling courses to students.

Textbook

Each subject specialist team carefully selects the best textbook for you to use as you study. The textbook for your AS Economics course is:

Economics for Cambridge International AS & A Level Coursebook with Digital Access, by Colin Bamford and Susan Grant, (4^th edition, Cambridge University Press, 2021); ISBN: 9781108903417

This textbook comes with digital access. Scratch the panel inside the front cover to reveal your access code, then follow the instructions to register your account with Cambridge University Press. You will then have access to a digital version of the whole textbook and an interactive glossary. You will also find answers and guidance for the activities in each chapter and for the exam-style questions at the end of each unit. The digital access is valid for two years, so we recommend registering only once you have started the course to ensure you retain access for the optimum amount of time in case you need to defer your exams for any reason.

Throughout the course, we recommend that you complete all of the questions and exercises in the textbook – the table below will highlight which pages you should read for each module.

Resources

In addition to your textbook, we have sourced a range of additional resources to support your learning. The resources are clearly marked out in the module pages and you should make use of these alongside your textbook to ensure that you get the very best out of your course.

You will also find a range of key resources in the General Resources section of the course. These are items which relate to the course as a whole, rather than to specific modules, and as such, you should make regular use of them. For AS Economics, these are:

CAIE Specimen Papers and Mark Schemes for 2023
Key Concepts for CAIE Economics AS & A Level
Command Words for CAIE Economics AS & A Level
Textbook Answers
Optional Further Reading List
Useful Websites for Economics

You should also make use of the extensive exam preparation material at the end of the course to help you to prepare for your final examination.

The Structure of the Course

All the files required for your course are uploaded onto our Learning Management System, Canvas. Once you have read through this page and downloaded the Programme of Study (POS) then you are ready to begin the course.

The key course content is covered in eleven core modules, each of which has an assignment at the end of it. These modules will help you to get the most out of your textbook.

Module Twelve, at the end of the course, is focussed on revision and exam practice. It contains tips and tasks for you to work on once you have completed the course.

Each module is subdivided into topics so that you can study the course in manageable chunks. The topics contain the following elements, as appropriate:

Read and Make Notes – this section includes the page references for the reading and the notes you need to take from your textbook.
Watch – here you will find videos which supplement the material in the textbook and from which you should add to your notes.
Tasks – this section identifies key tasks from the textbook: ‘Economics in Context’ tasks relate real-life situations to the topic being studied and ‘Think Like an Economist’ tasks assess various economic situations.
Links– throughout the course there will be links to a range of resources that will enhance your understanding of key concepts and will give you an opportunity to apply your knowledge. These include carefully selected video tutorials, online articles and lectures which cover the textbook topics being studied.
Consolidate – at the end of each module you will find additional resources and tasks that help to draw together what you have learnt in the module. These include exam-style questions from the textbook.
End-of-Module Quizzes – these enable you test what you have learnt before you complete your assignment and move on to the next module. They are multiple-choice activities that can be completed as many times as you wish to ensure that you have fully understood all the material covered.
Reflect – in these sections, we ask that you carry out a self-evaluation from the textbook to see how well you have understood the topics before moving on.
Glossary – you will keep track of new terminology by ticking this off on your glossary as you progress through the course.

How Your Work is Assessed on the Course

Your progress will be assessed by completing an assignment at the end of each module. We recommend that you do NOT look at the assignments until you've studied all the topics in the module. This will ensure that you focus on everything you need to know for the exam. If you focus only on what you need to know to do well in the assignment, you will miss important elements in each module that you need to know and understand.

The assignments have been designed to help you prepare for your final examination – many of the questions are based on past exam papers. Answering exam-style questions is crucial in developing your exam technique, understanding exactly what the examiner is looking for in each case and ensuring you are confident when you tackle the real exams. We do not expect you to complete your assignments without referring to your notes or textbook, however, we encourage you to rely less on these as you progress through the course. By your final assignment, you should be able to work without reference to any additional notes.

The assignments allow you to think critically about what you have learned and will enable your tutor to see how well you are progressing. Your tutor will mark your assignments and provide you with detailed feedback. Once you have had your marked assignment returned, you will be able to access the mark scheme and/or a specimen answer (an A-grade piece of work). You should always reflect carefully on your tutor’s feedback and apply it in your future assignments.

You should read the assignment questions carefully and answer them to the best of your ability, providing relevant examples where necessary. If you don’t do well in your first assignment, don’t worry; your tutor is there to provide advice.

We ask that you do not submit multiple assignments at the same time. For you to see a steady improvement in your marks, it is very important that you reflect on your tutor’s feedback before beginning each new assignment, so that you can incorporate their tips for improvement into each new piece of work.

To get the best out of your course, before submitting each new assignment, you must:

Complete all the reading, notes and activities in the preceding module;
Read carefully through all of your tutor’s comments on your last assignment;
Use the mark scheme and/or any exemplar or specimen answers provided to help you plan for the next assignment.

We cannot guarantee that tutors will be able to mark multiple assignments within 3-5 days and your work may be returned to you to complete again in light of more recent feedback.

All assignments are submitted via Canvas – you should consult the Canvas Guide for more information.

The Transition from (I)GCSE to AS Level - Some Tips

There is no requirement to have studied Economics at (I)GCSE in order to study it at AS and A Level, but if you have studied it previously, you will find that the answers required at AS and A Level are more developed, requiring more detail and subject-specific terminology. Examples from your wider reading are important to show the examiner you are aware of the subject and its application in real life. We therefore recommend you keep up to date with current affairs and economic trends, so you have plenty of relevant examples to draw on in your essays.

Happy to Help

When you study a Wolsey Hall course, you are never alone. There are lots of people who are willing to help you. Everyone is on your side!

Tutors: At Wolsey Hall, all our tutors are friendly and knowledgeable. They are subject experts and you should not be shy about asking them questions about your course. You will meet your tutor at the start of your course and you should contact them via Canvas messaging if you have any questions.
Student Progress Managers: You have already been assigned a Student Progress Manager who can help with your Assignment Schedule.
Exams Officers: Wolsey Hall’s Exams Officers are here to help students with any queries regarding exam centres.
Canvas Help Desk: Canvas is a great virtual learning environment, but we understand that sometimes, even the best things can go wrong! If you have any problems with Canvas (e.g. uploading assignments or unable to access resources) you should submit a Canvas Help Ticket.

For information about how to create and submit a Help Ticket, please refer to the Canvas Guide.

We hope you’ll enjoy your course and studying at Wolsey Hall. We wish you the best of luck in your studies and success in your examinations. Please do let us know how you get on when you receive your examination results!

The Wolsey Hall Team