Is instruction needed in telling the time? (No)
So all you have to do is make absolutely sure that if the question is 12 marks then you spend no more than 13 minutes doing it.
Why 13 minutes?
To allow yourself a bit of spare time...
The paper is 120 minutes for 80 marks. BUT you will spend some time reading the case study!
1.5 minutes per mark so 4 mks = 6 minutes. BUT work faster than that to allow yourself to properly read the material in the case study
How do you do that?
Set a timer on your phone (if practicing at home) or simply look at your watch on a regular basis when doing the question.
You could even write the time you started the section at the top of the page and make sure that when the allotted time has been reached, then wherever you are in answering the questions, you move on.
Difficult?
No.
Need to practice it?
Probably - but all it takes is a little discipline.
Think how many marks have been lost because of poor time management.
What mark is a grade A?
Well, for the old specification it is EIGHTY PERCENT.
For Economics A you have to score 115 out of 160 = 72%
But for this Economics B all you need is a paltry 102 out of 160 = 64%
Don't believe me?
LOOK HERE
SIXTY FOUR PERCENT as an aggregate.
The easiest possible mark...provided you organise yourself in terms of time management.
SIXTY FOUR PERCENT!!!
That is all!!!
Now let's look at a breakdown of the papers.
So, organise your time!!!
PAPER 1
Question 1 (a)
This is a definition. NO MARKS FOR EXAMPLES.
How do you ensure this?
Obviously...learn your definitions!!!
How do you do that?
Make a list, use a glossary, write blogs, read textbooks, read this blog, read newspapers...not that difficult.
That gives you 2 out of 160.
Guaranteed.
100 to go.
1 (b) Probably a supply and demand diagram.
Done time and time and time and time again in class. Do not lose marks by failing to label axes. Show shifts (if asked). Label P & Q, dotted lines, equilibrium, show which direction the curves go.
NOT difficult.
That's 4 marks guaranteed.
96 to go.
1 (c) Explain one possible factor....etc
- That's ONE.
- Not two.
- Not three.
Just ONE.
4 marks = 5 minutes, tops.
Probably about a shift in demand or supply.
You should know this!
BUT....you MUST relate it to the question! Failure to do so...lose marks.
How difficult is this?
Remember: this exam is about relating your answer to the text. 'CONTEXTUALISE'.
It's 4 marks.
DO NOT WRITE LOADS.
Make sure you read the question properly.
How can this be a problem?
MAKE SURE YOU KEEP TO THE TIME ALLOTTED.
92 marks to go....
1 (d)...
Discuss the extent...name of business....
WATCH YOUR TIME AS THIS IS 8 MARKS.
9 minutes approx.
What must you do?
RELATE YOUR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, TO THE BUSINESS, PUT IT IN CONTEXT. If it is about a company then do not write all about the economy!!!
The command word 'DISCUSS' is an evaluative command word, requiring a two sided argument in order to achieve full marks.
Repeat: TWO SIDED ARGUMENT.
Where's the problem?
TWO sides...not one...
TWO....not one and not none.
Keep your eye on the time.
Maybe you make a slight slip and only get 7 out of 8.
Sobeit.
85 marks to go.
(e) With reference to Extract....
Repeat: with reference to Extract...assess......
That means you MUST refer to the extract.
Read it.
Refer to it.
APPLICATION.
Some of the answer will be there.
Remember what the Examiners are looking for:
"chain of reasoning"
" use of evidence'"
"counter arguments"
"balanced awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments"
- You remember to apply.
- You have some reasoning and it is logical.
- You have balancing arguments
YOU FOLLOW A PLAN
But your answer is not that good BUT it is logical, you APPLY your answer.
YOU USE THE EXTRACT.
Maybe only 6/12. (This is worst case scenario)
BUT you do not overrun your time.
You know how to tell the time and you remember to keep an eye on the time.
14 minutes, tops. Preferably 12.
79 Marks to go.....
2 (a) A definition.
LEARN YOUR DEFINITIONS.
2 (b) Calculate....2 decimal places...
Calculate.
You DO know how to work out percentages? No? Then practice!!!!!
You do know how to work your calculator? Yes? Good.....
Make sure you read the WHOLE of the question. Example being: 'to two decimal places'
Quantitative skills will be tested throughout the paper. This means: graphs or diagrams, calculations or using the data in the Extracts to provide the application in the 4 mark questions
Quantitative skills will be tested throughout the paper. This means: graphs or diagrams, calculations or using the data in the Extracts to provide the application in the 4 mark questions
SHOW YOUR WORKINGS
STATE THE FORMULA
IF THE QUESTION SAYS 2 DECIMAL PLACES THEN....
- But...you get it wrong.
- But you have still followed the above plan.
2/4.
75 marks to go....
2 (c) Explain one possible reason why...
EXPLAIN!!!
The 4 mark 'Explain' questions will always have two application marks so ensure that there is enough application to achieve both marks.
4 marks = 4 minutes.
Explain how many?
ONE
So...explain...O-N-E
It's just 4 marks.
4 valuable marks...
REMEMBER TO APPLY.
APPLY!!!
So you get 4/4
71 marks to go....
2 (d) Discuss the.....
A DISCUSS question.
The command word 'DISCUSS' is an evaluative command word, requiring a two sided argument in order to achieve full marks.
- Argument 1 (for)
- Argument 2 (against)
- Some evaluation.
FOR AND AGAINST
AGAINST AND FOR
Easy to remember!
But...your answer is poor.
But your plan is good.
4/8
Importantly you did not waste time.
9 minutes tops!
67 marks to go...
2 (e) Assess whether...the most effective.
ASSESS
THE MOST EFFECTIVE
We want 'This is how it works...it has this effect... but it is not completely effective because....There are other methods that may be more effective...because...because...'
Remember what the Examiners are looking for:
"chain of reasoning"
" use of evidence'"
"counter arguments"
"balanced awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments"
Your answer was not that good BUT you did USE THE EVIDENCE; you DID have a chain of reasoning; you DID have balance.
You followed a PLAN.
You did NOT take more than 13 minutes.
6/12 (Being very negative...)
61 marks to go......
3. Evaluate the importance of.....
OK this is the major question.
20 marks.
Maybe 25 minutes.
- HAVE YOU LEFT ENOUGH TIME?
- HAVE YOU KEPT LOOKING AT YOUR WATCH?
- You will need to be able to UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
So before you start writing make sure you fully understand what is being asked - what the key terms mean.
So we are back to definitions!!!
Remember what the Examiners are looking for:
"chain of reasoning"
" use of evidence'"
"counter arguments"
"balanced awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments"
So...you can define.
YOU DO NOT RUN OUT OF TIME.
Because you have enough time you are not rushed and therefore there is a chain of reasoning, logical development, you have counter arguments, you have BALANCE, you make a judgement, you EVALUATE.
You follow a plan!
So, even though it is not brilliant, you still get 10 out of 20.
51 marks to go.
(Surely you can do better than the above????)
Now we move to Paper 2.
1 (a) definition
2/2
49 marks to go
1 (b) Calculate to 2 decimal places.
TWO.
No marks thrown away.
4/4
45 marks to go.
1 (c) Using Extract A....
Repeat: USING.
Refer to evidence.
APPLICATION.
4/4
41 marks to go...
1 (d) Discuss the possible benefit to....
REFER TO THE EXTRACT.
APPLICATION.
The command word 'DISCUSS' is an evaluative command word, requiring a two sided argument in order to achieve full marks.
TWO SIDES.
'One benefit is...but there is a disadvantage...one cost is this but not necessarily....'
TWO SIDES
REFER TO THE EXTRACT
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR WATCH.
8 marks = 9 minutes tops BUT you saved time earlier.
BECAUSE YOU KEPT TO THE TIME.
8/8
33 marks to go....
1 (e) Assess the likely impact...
ASSESS.
The use of relevant evidence is required throughout and this can be from Extracts provided or using examples provided by yourself. The Extracts are there for a reason - use them.
Use ECONOMIC CONCEPTS, economic terminology rather than generic 'commons sense' answers
Use ECONOMIC CONCEPTS, economic terminology rather than generic 'commons sense' answers
Remember what the Examiners are looking for:
"chain of reasoning"
" use of evidence'"
"counter arguments"
"balanced awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments"
12 marks = 13 minutes but you have saved a bit earlier on so you spend 15 minutes.
This time you get 8/12.
Unreasonable?
NOT IF YOU FOLLOW THE PLAN!!!
25 marks to go....
2 (a) definition
2/2
23 marks to go
2 (b) Calculate....
Quantitative skills will be tested throughout the paper. This means: graphs or diagrams, calculations or using the data in the Extracts to provide the application in the 4 mark questions.
- Can you use your calculator?
- Can you use your brain and see that if the question asks for a percentage then your answer must be in percentages???
4/4
19 marks to go...
2 (c) Explain ONE factor....
That means there is more than one.
Surely you know ONE?
You can explain it.
4/4
15 marks to go...
2 (d) Discuss ....
The command word 'DISCUSS' is an evaluative command word, requiring a two sided argument in order to achieve full marks.
The use of relevant evidence is required throughout and this can be from Extracts provided or using examples provided by yourself. The Extracts are there for a reason - use them.
Use ECONOMIC CONCEPTS, economic terminology rather than generic 'commons sense' answers
The use of relevant evidence is required throughout and this can be from Extracts provided or using examples provided by yourself. The Extracts are there for a reason - use them.
Use ECONOMIC CONCEPTS, economic terminology rather than generic 'commons sense' answers
Repeat: two sided argument
TWO SIDED ARGUMENT
RELEVANT EVIDENCE.
You are now an expert in your time management.
8 marks = 9 minutes.
So, you apply, you use evidence, you have balance...but...you don't actually know that much.
- BUT YOU DO HAVE A PLAN
- YOU FOLLOW THE PLAN
- YOU KEEP TO THE TIME
4/8
11 marks to go.....
2 (e) Assess the importance...
Read the question twice.
Define the key terms.
DEFINE!!!!!
'Assess' - that means make a judgement.
Remember what the Examiners are looking for:
"chain of reasoning"
" use of evidence'"
"counter arguments"
"balanced awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments"
Your definitions of key terms...your understanding of key terms IS correct. So your answer - though not fantastic - FOLLOWS A PLAN, has a chain of reasoning, has balance.
4/12 (very negative result!)
7 marks to go....
3. Evaluate the impact....
YOU HAVE KEPT TO YOUR TIME
Remember what the Examiners are looking for:
"chain of reasoning"
" use of evidence'"
"counter arguments"
"balanced awareness of the validity and significance of competing arguments"
But...you don't really know much about Economics (I am being deliberately negative here.) But you DO read newspapers/blogs/TV news/radio news/The Economist
YOU HAVE A PLAN
YOU KEEP TO THE TIME
So you define - helps keep your focus
- You make a point
- You develop it
- You evaluate
You make another point
But then your knowledge of Economics dries up - as said, you don't really know very much - BUT YOU HAVE FOLLOWED A PLAN.
7/20 (poor)
Add the marks up.Grade A !!!!
GRADE A
WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT ABOUT THAT?
Some people have made money about writing about getting a grade A for coursework or used a pseudonym to write a similar book and even books for Beginners in Economics but really this is about following a PLAN, knowing definitions, being able to read Case Studies...and TIME MANAGEMENT.
- Get a watch
- Learn definitions
- Practice calculations
EVERYONE CAN GET A GRADE A
