A-Level Economics is a fantastic subject to study if you’re a budding economist, a math whiz, or a business whiz. Students studying economics have a bright future ahead of them.
The one question that every student has is: how difficult is A-Level Economics really?
We’ve spoken to an A Level Economics Tutor – a very good one – to help answer that very question, which is fortunate for you. Shubh is his name, and he holds a DSE in Economics and Statistics. He is an expert in econometrics, statistics, and microeconomics, and the author of three Amazon Kindle books (One for Statistics and two for Econometrics). His services as an online economics tutor are available to students via the Spires and Profs tutoring platforms.
If you just want the short answer, here it is:
A-Level Economics isn’t particularly difficult in the grand scheme of things, but there are a few things to keep in mind. To get the best grades, you’ll need to follow a specific essay structure, and you’ll need to know your stuff to pass the exam. You should pass with flying colours if you can master these two aspects of A-Level Economics.
How Much Content Is There In A-Level Economics?
Quantity of Economics Content at A-Level
In terms of content, economics is usually divided into two categories: macroeconomics and microeconomics. When answering questions about broader economic issues, students are expected to use both of these areas.
In the first year, you’ll go over the fundamentals of economics, and then in the second year, you’ll go over them again (but in greater depth).
That means you’ll learn the majority of what you need to know in year one, and then have time in year two to revise and develop that knowledge.
In general, the second year of an A-Level is more difficult than the first. This is especially true for A-Level Economics, as the second year requires you to put what you’ve learned into practise in a variety of scenarios.
The good news is that many aspects of both microeconomics and macroeconomics overlap. This makes your life much easier because you won’t have to spend as much time revising multiple areas.
A-Level Economics has a relatively small amount of content when compared to other A-Levels. You should be fine as long as you understand everything.
How Difficult Is A-Level Economics?
Difficulty of A-Level Economics Content
A-Level Economics has a reputation for being relatively easy, but how difficult is it really?
The majority of the content is self-explanatory; paying attention and using common sense will get you a long way. The actual content in A-Level Economics isn’t bad if you have a basic understanding of how businesses operate.
The only difficult part is actually putting your knowledge to use. It’s a whole different ballgame when you can apply your economics knowledge to exam questions and essays.
Many students struggle with this, and it is possibly the most difficult aspect of A-Level Economics. When I was in college, I took A-Level Economics, and this was the subject with which I struggled the most.
Both macroeconomics and microeconomics are fairly self-explanatory if you’re willing to spend a few hours each week reviewing what you’ve learned.
Microeconomics is concerned with the decisions made by individuals and businesses, whereas macroeconomics is concerned with the decisions made by countries and governments.
What Are The Minimum Requirements To Study A-Level Economics?
Textbook – So, you might think that A-Level Economics sounds interesting, but can you actually enrol in it?
At least a C (4) in both GCSE English and GCSE Maths is required for A-Level Economics. Without these grades, this A-Level will become extremely difficult.
You’ll need these grades because you’ll need to be able to handle the amount of work that A-Level Economics will require of you.
There will be a lot of writing, and you will only be able to keep up if you are proficient in both English and math. Too many students have failed A-Level Economics due to a lack of communication skills – but more on that later.
If you want to do well in A-Level Economics, you’ll need certain qualities. You must be able to think critically and logically, and you must enjoy debating issues based on evidence.
These characteristics will help you succeed in almost any A-Level subject, but especially in Economics.
How Hard Is A-Level Economics Compared To GCSE Economics?
We all know A-Levels are difficult, but how difficult is A-Level Economics in comparison to its GCSE equivalent?
In order to answer that question, we must examine the pass rates for both A-Level and GCSE Economics. In 2019, 98.3 percent of A-Level students passed, but only 81.6 percent of GCSE students passed.
This may give the impression that GCSE Economics is significantly more difficult than A-Level Economics, but this is not the case. There are a number of reasons for the disparity in pass rates, so let’s take a look at a few of them now.
For starters, because there are so many of them, GCSEs are more difficult to revise for individually than A-Levels. As a result, students may have a preference for certain exams over others, causing GCSE economics to be overlooked.
Furthermore, it is common for students to be less concerned with their GCSEs than with their A-Levels. Many students take GCSEs they don’t want, whereas A-Levels are more tailored to your preferences.
So don’t let these pass rates fool you! In my opinion, A-Level Economics is slightly more difficult than GCSE Economics. You should be fine as long as you have a genuine interest in the subject.
How Hard Are A-Level Economics Exams?
Exam for A-Level Economics
Exams are the bane of the lives of most students. You may wish for a simple exam, but will A-Level Economics provide you with one?
I believe that as long as you understand what the examiners are looking for, the exams will not be too difficult. You’ll be fine as long as you understand paragraph structure and content.
However, this is the most difficult part of any A-Level Economics exam. It can be difficult to master exam technique because it differs from other A-Levels you may be taking.
The content, on the other hand, should not be as difficult to comprehend. As I previously stated, as long as you have a genuine interest in the subject, you should be fine.
However, if you don’t have a genuine interest in Economics, the exams will be more difficult than you think. A lack of interest in the subject matter may make it more difficult for you to apply yourself to learning exam technique, resulting in more difficult exams.
What A-Levels Go Well With A-Level Economics?
A-Level Instruction
There are a plethora of A-Level combinations that are ideal for A-Level Economics, but I’ll have to settle for a few of my favourites here. Check out 17 Good A-Level Combinations That Universities Love for a more comprehensive list.
A-Level Maths and A-Level Business Studies are two of the best combinations for A-Level Economics. These A-Levels go great together and will make your life as a student a whole lot easier.
Because so much content is shared between A-Level Business Studies and A-Level Economics, taking both of these A-Levels together will make both of them easier.
A-Level Business Studies, on the other hand, can be substituted for A-Level Accounting or A-Level Law. Along with A-Level Economics, anything related to business is a good choice.
A-Level Maths, on the other hand, would be something I’d definitely keep. It’s a fantastic A-Level to have because universities appreciate it. A-Level Maths, especially when combined with A-Level Economics, looks fantastic on a CV.
What Do A-Level Economics Students Say?
Students in the A-Level Programme
The majority of student reviews of A-Level Economics are positive, with the only criticism being that it was tedious. However, if this is a subject that you are passionate about, you should have no problems.
The more passionate you are about something, the more likely you are to devote yourself to it. This holds true for A-Level Economics, as well as all other A-Levels.
So long as you think this A-Level will be interesting to you, your grades will not suffer. That is, if you are willing to put in the effort that an A-Level requires.
For A-Level Economics, you’ll need two main skills: math and English. A-Level Economics has a math component that is similar to GCSE Math in terms of difficulty. (It’ll be even easier if you also take A-Level Maths.)
The English skills component of A-Level Economics is more difficult. You must follow a meticulous structure for your essays and exam answers, or you will not receive any marks.
This technique is difficult to master, but once you do, A-Level Economics becomes a breeze.