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)
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 Switching Guide for OxfordAQA International AS and A-level Economics
- Example specimen exam 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.
