International GCSE Economics: assessment support

Past question papers, mark schemes and examiners' reports are available on the qualification page.

These are kept locked for the first nine months after an examination series and you will require an Edexcel Online username and password to gain access.

'R' papers

You may have noticed that the list of exam materials for June 2019 includes two sets of papers. For example there is a Paper 1 and there is also a Paper 1R. 'R' papers are produced for different time zones.

What this means is that you have an extra set of past exam papers you can use for mocks!

Onscreen mocks are now available for International GCSE Economics

International GCSE Economics  will have the first onscreen assessment available from 2024.

Make sure you’re signed up for the latest onscreen assessment news to find out how to register your school.

The Pearson onscreen sandbox (test environment) gives students all the practice they need to explore the platform’s functionality and build their confidence before they sit their exams onscreen.

It’s easy to register for an account: just click on Register for an account and enter your email address as your user ID.

The materials are digitised in the same platform as the mock and high-stakes onscreen exams and are a good opportunity for teachers and students to get to know the platform and functionality available.

Whilst the user experience mirrors what can be expected from the mocks and high-stakes assessments, please note that any solutions submitted through the sandbox environment by candidates will not be saved.

Feedback on the summer 2019 exam series is available as a pre-recorded training session.

To help you understand each of the command words, we have some exemplar candidate responses to the Sample Assessment Materials on the qualification page.  The accompanying commentary to each question has been written by a senior examiner.

In addition we have some exemplars taken from the 2019 papers, also with examiner commentaries.

'Define' questions are only looking for a definition of the term, no further detail is needed. A 'define' question does not require examples, it assesses AO1 which requires candidates to recall knowledge of an economic term.

Examiner Tip:  Do not use examples for ‘define’ questions. We are only looking for a definition of the term.  There are no marks for examples.

Candidates will not score any marks for providing only an example as the question requires a definition.
 

There is only one mark available for 'state' questions. Candidates are required to recall knowledge of an economic issue and therefore AO1 is tested.

Examiners do not expect candidates to write extensively.

When only one disadvantage is asked for, stating two or three will not result in extra marks but may reduce time available to answer other questions.

Examiner Tip: There is only 1 mark so it is either right or wrong, there is no need to go into further detail.

You do not need to fully explain your answer for the State question so do not waste time doing this.  One-mark questions require only a short response.
 

'What is meant by' questions have two marks and require two parts in the explanation of the term. No marks are awarded for examples.  This is an AO1 type of question but this time it is a 2 mark question. Both marks are testing AO1.

Candidates are required to recall knowledge of an economic concept and therefore AO1 is tested throughout the question.

Candidates should practise precise definitions with two parts as these will always score highly.

Examiner Tip:  A two-part question will need two parts to the response.  Candidates should ensure that their answer does have enough development to gain both marks.  

It is worth noting that, although there are 6 lines available for the response (2 lines per mark), sufficient detail can be given in just one line to receive both marks. There may be more space than is needed by the student (and this is stated on the front of the exam paper). It is important that students don’t waste time writing more than they need to.
 

Although 'describe' questions are testing AO1 (both marks are testing AO1), there are no marks for definitions with 'describe' questions.

For 'describe' questions, only one mark can be given for a reason/way/advantage/impact and the second mark is for development.

Only one reason/advantage/way/factor etc. is required for one mark.
The second mark can only come for development of this and not for a list of reasons etc.

There will be a wide range of possible reasons available to choose from so candidates should make sure to select a reason that they are able to fully explain.
 

Candidates should check their calculations several times to ensure they have correctly inputted the data into their calculator. There are no marks available for the formula but candidates should show their working as 1 mark can be awarded for this if it is correct.

All calculation questions will require the answer given to two decimal places not 1 decimal place.

The correct answer will score 2 marks but it is always better to show workings.

Always show workings because an incorrect answer may still result in one mark if the workings are correct.

Calculate questions require appropriate units to be used in the response. Some candidates receive only one mark for the correct calculation of total costs but not for the final answer if for example a $, £, etc sign is missing.

Units are an important part of the answer so make sure you use the right ones (or none if appropriate, such as when calculating elasticity). Do not ignore the minus sign when calculating elasticity

If the figure is a negative you must ALWAYS show the minus sign, including in the calculation.

Marks are not awarded if the percentage sign is required but missing.
 

The stem of the question provides the context. By using this context to draw the effects onto the supply and demand diagram, economic knowledge is being applied and therefore assessment objective 2 is being achieved.

1. Shift in a curve and label
2. Label the new equilibrium price
3. Label the new equilibrium quantity

You must label the shift and the new equilibrium price/quantity on the axes to gain all three marks. Correctly labelling will lead to all 3 marks being given; all of which are AO2 marks.

Always label the new curve otherwise you cannot be awarded the mark. Be very clear when drawing your lines. Ambiguity is likely to result in no marks.

Do use a ruler if possible to draw your new curve. It does not matter whether you use a solid or dashed line to illustrate the new equilibrium. Remember the mark for the new curve is not just fordrawing this curve but for the labelling it as well. Arrows will not berewarded in place of a label. Clearly label the new price and quantity on the x and y-axis to gain these marks.  

You will only be asked to move one curve so do not shift multiple curves. Shifting both the demand and the supply curves results in 0 marks. You will only be required to shift one curve.

Examiner Tip: You must label the new shift and the new equilibrium points to gain marks. Do not shift both curves as this will not show understanding of the scenario in the question.

‘Explain’ questions require students to use the information in the stem to form their response, in order to put the economic knowledge in context.  This shows application (AO2).

There are NO marks for definitions on ‘explain’ questions. They require a reason/benefit etc, development and context. The ‘Explain’ questions will always require a reason/impact/effect otherwise marks cannot be awarded for the remaining marks.  Only one effect/reason/way can be credited.

'Explain' questions require a way/advantage/reason which is in context and developed in order to score all three marks. Only one mark is available for the disadvantage/advantage/way/reason, marks two and three are for putting the response in context and for a cause/consequence of the disadvantage.

Ideally try to structure your response so that the reason/impact/effect comes at the beginning of the response as this makes the rest of the explanation follow on much more fluently.

The answer needs to be put in context in order to receive full marks. Make sure your response is in context and relates to the information given in the stem and question. It is only possible to gain context and development marks if a disadvantage (or reason/way/advantage etc) is given.

Only one effect/reason/way can be credited. A second mark is available for putting the response in context and a third for developing the response.

Try to avoid repeating the question as there are no marks for doing this and it uses valuable time that could be spent answering other questions.
 

The ‘Explain’ questions will always have one context mark and this can be for either using (not just copying) the information from the stem or for a detailed application of the economic concept so ensure that there is sufficient development in the response to gain all 3 marks. Marks cannot be awarded for definitions so do not waste time giving a definition in any of the 3-mark questions.

For the 6-mark questions, examiners are looking for the quality of the analysis rather than counting the number of advantages. A list of advantages with no development and a lack of analysis is likely to only match the Level 1 descriptor and score a maximum of 2 marks only.

Many candidates start the 'Analyse' questions with a definition of the key economic term in the question and this is not necessary as there are no knowledge marks available.

Analyse questions are marked holistically. This means that the quality of the response is more important than the number of impacts/benefits etc given.

There is no set number of points required on any levels-based question, but each point made needs to be developed to move up through the levels.  A response with one really detailed impact/benefit etc could score all 6 marks whereas a response that lists a series of benefits might only score 1 or 2 marks depending on the quality.

'Analyse' questions require a one-sided argument. There are no marks for evaluation.

Examiner Tip:  Do not present a counter argument as there are no 'AO4' marks. It will therefore leave less time to answer other questions on the paper.

Focus on developing applied points to present a strong analysis of the situation, rather than listing numerous points as this will not lead to the 'thorough analysis of issues' required for level 3 responses.

So:

• One-sided arguments only are needed for 'analyse' questions.
• Focus on developing applied points to present a strong analysis of the situation.
• Focus on developing each applied chain of reasoning, rather than listing several separate points.
• A list of benefits with no development and a lack of analysis is likely to only match the Level 1 descriptor and score a maximum of 2 marks only.
• Analyse questions do NOT require a counter argument/evaluation and do NOT require a conclusion.

The following examiners’ reports include examples of candidate answers which scored full marks:

'Assess' questions require a balanced, two-sided argument which is applied to the data presented. There is no requirement for a conclusion or judgement but the analysis and evaluation should be developed, thorough and applied throughout the response.

Assess questions require:

• Information presented with an analysis of issues
• Applied economic understanding (use of the data given)
• A balanced counter argument , again with applied economic understanding.  They do NOT require a conclusion

Assessing the economic issues presented in the question by providing a contextualised two-sided argument, students will be effectively meeting the requirements for these three assessment objectives.

Questions with the command word ‘assess’ do not require a conclusion/judgement. The part of AO4 assessed here is the evaluation of the economic information – weighing up factors and comparing them in an economic context.

Simply copying the extract and chunks will not to lead to high marks. To achieve a high mark, evidence needs to be used.

High level arguments need to use the evidence, rather than repeat it, to present arguments that are applied to the question. If there is data available in graphs and charts it should be used to help contextualise the response.

For evaluation, always evaluate the economic concept in the question first BEFORE considering alternative methods otherwise you are not really evaluating.

The following examiners’ reports include examples of candidate answers which scored full marks:

Evaluate questions require:

• One or more chain(s) of reasoning to be used to present information with an analysis of issues
• Applied economic understanding (use of the data given)
• A balanced counter argument, again with applied economic understanding
• A conclusion/supported judgement
  

This means that in addition to giving a balanced, two-sided, contextualised argument with chains of reasoning, as with an ‘assess’ type question, students need to provide a judgement/supported conclusion as well.
 

Candidates should ensure they have plenty of time to answer the 12-mark question. Often, candidates leave this to last minute and end up rushing this question when it represents a large percentage of the total marks available.

This question has the most marks on the examination paper and always discriminates between the candidates who can accurately use economic concepts to evaluate a course of action and those that approach the question from a 'common sense' approach and simply copy out the extract.

The command word 'evaluate' requires a two-sided argument in order to achieve full marks. The 'evaluate' question also requires a judgement/conclusion.

It is important to note that to access the higher marks, candidates must evaluate the economic concept in the question set before suggesting alternative methods otherwise this just becomes a list of methods, rather than an evaluation of the area being examined. Alternative methods are not required to access Level 4 and full marks can be achieved by only evaluating the economic concept in the question.

For the conclusion, do not just repeat earlier points but consider what it depends on or how effective a course of action will be.

There are more than enough lines for a response to achieve full marks and it is quality of the evaluation not quantity, that is necessary to achieve Level 3.

A supported judgement or conclusion is required for top, level 3 responses in 'evaluate' questions.

The following examiners’ reports include examples of candidate answers which scored full marks:

With the exception of the multiple choice questions, where some are tested by AO2, no other AO is assessed by these question types.

Therefore, for each of these command words, examiners are only looking for students to recall information and/or to communicate knowledge.

There is no requirement for long responses to these types of question.

For each of these command words, examiners are only looking for students to demonstrate understanding and apply economic knowledge and/or calculations.

Application marks will not be awarded simply for repeating evidence in the extracts. The evidence needs to be used in the response

Application can either be the:
• use of the data in the question or
• application of the economic concepts

The use of relevant evidence is required throughout and this can be from the extracts provided or using examples provided by the candidates themselves. The extracts are there for a reason: please use them.  However, simply copying the extract will not lead to high marks. Instead, evidence needs to be used when answering the question.

The AO3 descriptors are the same in the ‘Analyse’, ‘Assess’ and ‘Evaluate’ mark schemes.

No analysis is required in any other question type.

AO3 means to select, organise and interpret information from sources to investigate and analyse economic issues.

To analyse requires developing points to show cause(s) and/or consequence(s), not a list of separate points.

Examiner Tip: 

Focus on applying and developing each chain of reasoning rather than listing several separate points.

AO4 means to evaluate economic information.

BALANCE is important when answering ‘Assess’ and ‘Evaluate’ questions (a two-sided argument with an equal weighting of developed points for both viewpoints). 
No evaluation is required in any other question type.

The ONLY differences in the descriptors for AO4 on the ‘Assess’ and ‘Evaluate’ mark schemes is a final sentence added to ‘Evaluate’ questions showing the requirement for a conclusion/judgement.

Assess’ questions do NOT require a conclusion or a judgement whereas ‘Evaluate’ questions do.

All the 6, 9 and 12 mark questions are marked holistically. This means that the quality of the response is more important than the number of impacts given.

For a 6-mark question, for example, a response with one really detailed impact could score all 6 marks whereas a response that lists a series of impacts might only score 1 or 2 marks depending on the quality.

Levels-based questions are all based on a context which is provided for the question on each exam paper.

Each of these questions will ask for the response to refer to the data given as well as the student’s knowledge of economics. Therefore, to fully and effectively answer the question, the response must be in context.

The levels of response questions required knowledge to be developed and applied to the relevant evidence.  This is where the AO2 marks are applied to these types of question.

A generic response which does not ‘refer to the data above’ is not fully and effectively answering the question and therefore will not fully match the descriptors in the tables used in the mark scheme to attain the top level.