An engaging and up-to-date Economics specification to inspire, challenge and motivate every student.
Reflecting recent developments in international economics, this International AS/A-level specification places an emphasis on behavioural economics, the importance of financial markets, inequality within and between countries, and environmental issues.
- A clear separation between micro- and macroeconomics and clarity in the specification on what candidates are expected to know means teachers can prepare students effectively for exams.
- Exams feature an appropriate range of question types to enable Fair Assessment, including multiple choice and scaffolded long-answer questions.
- Quantitative skills are clearly signposted and make this International AS and A-level excellent preparation for university study.
International AS and A-level Economics (9640)
View the switching guide to see the differences between your old International AS/A-level Economics specification and the OxfordAQA specification (version updated November 2022).
OxfordAQA International AS/A-level Economics covers the following topics:
AS Unit 1: The operation of markets, market failure and the role of government
Exam: 1 hr 45 mins, 80 marks
- The economic problem and methodology
- How markets work
- An introduction to production, costs, revenue and profit
- Competitive and concentrated markets
- Market failure and government intervention in markets
AS Unit 2: The national economy in a global environment
Exam: 1 hr 45 mins, 80 marks
- The measurement of macroeconomic performance
- How the macroeconomy works
- Economic performance
- Macroeconomic policy
A2 Unit 3: The economics of business behaviour and the distribution of income
Exam: 2 hrs, 90 marks
- The objectives of individuals and firms
- Costs, revenue and profits
- Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly
- The labour market
- Poverty and inequality
A2 Unit 4: Economic development and global environment
Exam: 2 hrs, 90 marks
- Globalisation and trade
- The balance of payments, exchange rates and financial markets
- Economic growth and development
OxfordAQA provides all the resources and advice you need to teach the International AS and A-level Economics specification effectively.
- Download the specification
- Read our switching guide
- View our training courses to help you deliver OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Economics
- Approved textbooks and resources published by Oxford University Press
We have too many International AS and A-level Economics resources to list here, so please visit our resources for teachers area to see them all, including:
- Schemes of work to allow you to plan how to deliver the specification in a way that will best suit you and your students
- Teaching guidance to outline clearly the scope of teaching and learning
- Topic tests and mock exam analysers to allow you to track your students’ progress throughout the teaching year
The exams will measure how students have achieved the following Assessment Objectives:
• AO1: Demonstrate knowledge of terms/concepts and theories/models to show an understanding of the behaviour of economic agents and how they are affected by and respond to economic issues.
• AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding to various economic contexts to show how economic agents are affected by and respond to economic issues.
• AO3: Analyse issues within economics, showing an understanding of their impact on economic agents.
• AO4: Evaluate economic arguments and use qualitative and quantitative evidence to support informed judgements relating to economic issues
For full details of the International AS and International A-level assessment, see pages 9 and 10 of the specification.
Re-sits
Students can re-sit units. The best result for each unit will count towards the qualification grade.
Modular qualification
- AS students take AS units only.
- A-level students take AS and A2 units.
- AS grades A – E. A-level grades A* – E.
- Students can sit units in January or May/June.
Take a look at:
- The OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Economics switching guide
- Example specimen paper and mark scheme
You must be an approved OxfordAQA centre to enter students for our exams. Make sure you become an OxfordAQA centre before you start teaching a course.
