Economics

Qualification: GCE AS/A2 (Examining Board AQA)

Head of Department: Mr A Thacker

Course components/units/outline:
AS level – Unit 1 – Markets and Market Failure (e.g. the nature and purpose of economic activity; inequalities in the distributing of wealth and income; Government intervention)
AS level – Unit 2 – The National Economy (e.g. the economic cycle; economic growth; inflation; unemployment)
A2 level – Unit 3 – Business Economics and the Distribution of Income (e.g. The Firm – objectives; monopoly; National Minimum Wage)
A2 level – Unit 4 – The National and International Economy (e.g. Unemployment; globalisation; the Euro)

How is this course assessed?
At AS level the course is assessed by two 1 hour 15 minute exams consisting of 25 objective test questions and one (of two) data response style questions.

At A2 there are two 2 hour exams including data response and essay style questions.

Where could this course lead?
Economics is an excellent qualification to get for those thinking about higher education due to the skills base you will develop. Anyone contemplating a career in business would find a grounding in Economics very useful. It will help to open doors in accountancy, banking and insurance as well as within public sector services such as health. Economics has a valuable contribution to make in the media as well as working in organisations linked to developing economies.

Where can you get more information?
Contact Mr Thacker at the school for a personal conversation or to be put in touch with former Economics students.

Additional information:
“Economics has positively changed the way I think about the world.”*

“I now understand a lot more about the world and can understand the news on television and in the newspapers in a more mature way”.*

*Comments from two former students.