October 2026 Economics update
24 September 2026
Welcome to the October 2026 update.
I hope that the term has started well.
If you are interested in keeping up to date with new post-16 vocational qualifications, there is a piece at the end of the update which may help. In addition, we invite Economics A teachers to sign up to an exam insights event, Economics B teachers to read our notice about exam case studies and IAL Economics teachers to provide feedback on the October 2027 provisional timetable.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9 October | Deadline for feedback on the October 2027 IAL provisional exam timetable |
| 16 October | IAL entry deadline (January series) |
| 16 November | A level Economics A network event |
| 11 December | Last date to use the Access To Scripts service via Script Viewer. |
| A level Economics A |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Delivery support focuses on free support materials, networking and both free and paid-for resources. There are links to Pearson, Hodder and other publishers.
A level Economics B |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Assessment support focuses on assessment news and tools, support in understanding the command verbs, and information about grade boundaries and statistics.
The after-school network events resume this year and we have already scheduled an event for each of the first two terms.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 16 November 16.00 - 17.30 | A Level Economics A: Exam Insights Summer 2026 |
| 2 February 16.00-17.00 | A Level Economics A: Tackling the 15-mark 'discuss' question |
Past recordings can be viewed here:
The A level Economics A You Tube Channel includes recordings of events from previous years.
This recent podcast from the Institute for Fiscal Studies might be interesting for students in relation to:
- Economics A: 2.6 and 4.5
- Economics B: 2.6 and 4.4
We would welcome any feedback you may have on our FT case studies to help us improve these resources.
Two new case studies have recently been added and we now have twenty case studies mapped to the specification.
| Number | Title | Specification references | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Nickel prices | 1.2.4 Supply 1.2.6 Price determination 3.3.4 Normal profits, supernormal profits and losses 4.1.6 Restrictions on free trade |
|
| 20 | Tunisian olive oil | 2.4.3 Equilibrium levels of real national income 4.3.2 Factors influencing growth and development 4.3.3 Strategies influencing growth and development |
Economics class: teaching ideas
The FT panel of teacher advisors has also picked articles to help improve study, exam and interview success, with suggestions on questions for class activities and discussion.
We’ll be implementing a minor change to Pearson Edexcel A Level Economics B examinations from summer 2027 onwards.
Where examination materials have previously referred to small or medium-sized businesses by their real names, they will now be given substitute names to preserve their anonymity. Any supporting business data may also be adapted where necessary. This approach enables us to continue using authentic business scenarios whilst maintaining the validity and authenticity of assessment materials.
This change will have no impact on the knowledge, understanding or skills being assessed and students will not be advantaged or disadvantaged.
Importantly, examinations will continue to be firmly rooted in real-world economic contexts and scenarios. We will continue to name larger, well-known businesses where appropriate. Assessment materials will therefore continue to reflect real economic activity and issues.
This change is intended solely to support the responsible use of case material within assessments and will have no impact on specification content or assessment requirements.
Recordings of past Economics B events:
Summer 2027 - Economics A
Summer 2027 - Economics B
| IAL Economics |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Delivery support focuses on free support materials, networking and both free and paid-for resources. There are links to Pearson, Hodder and other publishers.
| International GCSE Economics |
|---|
| Delivery support |
| Assessment support |
Assessment support focuses on assessment news and tools, support in understanding the command verbs, and information about grade boundaries and statistics.
The International GCSE and International A Level Economics You Tube channel includes recordings of past training events.
| International GCSE | IAL |
|---|---|
Getting Ready to Teach Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Economics (Modules 1 and 2) |
Getting Ready to Teach Pearson Edexcel IAL Economics (Modules 1 and 2) |
| Exam insights events for International GCSE Economics | Exam insights events for IAL Economics |
November 2026 Timetable
Summer 2027 Timetable
The feedback window will run until Friday 9 October. Please send any feedback to timetables@pearson.com.
October 2026 Timetable
January 2027 Timetable
Summer 2027 Timetable
Post 16 qualification reform: New V Levels, Foundation Certificates and Occupational Certificates in development for first teach September 2027. Explore our new qualifications
A two year 360glh vocational course and an alternative to A levels.
A one year vocational course with a focus on applied learning.
A two year occupation-specific course.
Subject advisor
Colin Leith
Subject Advisor - Business and Economics
Email :
Phone :
+44 (0) 344 463 2535
(Teaching Services team | Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm GMT)
