The A* in A Level Economics
It’s another new year and you’ve realised A Level Exams start in less than 6 months. Your stress levels have probably hit the roof and you’re not sure where to start.
Don’t worry! You have more than enough time to get an A* if you work efficiently. Here are some tips on exactly how you could do that.
Practice Past Paper Questions..
Exam questions and the specification should guide your revision. Expert Tuition has an immensely helpful resource on their website: Exam Questions by Topic. They cover nearly all the topics you need to know. Attempting the questions in order means simultaneously revising as well as mastering the all-important exam technique.
Structure your answers….
Before attempting the questions, it is imperative you understand how you structure your answers and hit level 4 marks. Waffling never helps. A confused attempt to answer questions, for example including your eval within an analysis paragraph, would confuse the examiner and yourself! It will be difficult to get level 4 marks that way.
A helpful video (soon to be available) on our website setting out the mark breakdown for the data response questions (5, 8, 10, 12, 15 markers) and the final 25-mark essay. Additionally, there is a clear structure to follow, please abide by it! It really does work; it keeps your thoughts succinct and clear. Most of all, it makes it easy for the examiner to tick of as they read through (imagine a Super Mario Kart game and you’re trying to collect as many coins as possible on the way to the finish line. Assume the examiner is Mario and you’re scattering these coins across your essay for them to effortlessly collect).
Diagrams, Diagrams, Diagrams…
I can’t emphasise how essential diagrams are. Make sure you practice all the diagrams you need to know for your exam board. Simply, you won’t achieve an A* without them. More importantly, however, is that they help structure your thoughts and make your essay flow. Drawing and explaining your diagram could fetch you up to 4-6 marks. Check out our videos page for easy-to-follow tutorials showing you how to draw all the diagrams you need to know. Go through all your diagrams at least once a week before your exams.
Application – learn real world facts…
Memorising the content is not sufficient. To show the examiner you’re a top economist and deserve an A*, you need to illustrate you have a good understanding of the domestic and global economy. Linking what you’ve learnt to the real-world glosses off your answers. It’s the bridge to level 4/top marks. For every topic you go through, look up a real-world example which you could easily reference. For a 25 marker I recommend at least 3 real world examples. For instance, if you’ve talked about dynamic efficiency, mention Apple making significant profits and how they’ve been able to invest in innovating an upgraded version of the iPhone as well as other products annually. If you talk about a country with low GDP per capita, include the name of one!
Time Management…
Time management is imperative. Spend too long on any of the questions and it is highly likely you’ve let the A* slip. As a rule of thumb, allocate 1 minute per mark. Don’t spend more than 2 mins on a 2 marker, 1 minute on 1 marker. Just move on! Imagine spending 5 mins on a 1 marker, not worth, is it? You’re better off spending off the 5 mins on a 25 marker and gaining an additional 4 or more marks.
Follow the above steps and you’ve increased your chances of getting an A* significantly.
Remember:
Diagrams
Application
Time Management
Exam practice
Structure
Good Luck!
