Economics

Key Contact: Tom Crassweller tom.crassweller@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Syllabus Information

GCSE Economics students follow the AQA specification. The course is split into two halves: Microeconomics (the study of individuals, businesses and markets) is covered in Year 10, and Macroeconomics (the study of the national and international economy) in Year 11. The exams for both of these sides of the course are sat at the end of Year 11.

Course Content

Year 10

• Half Term 1: Economic foundations | Resource allocation | Specialisation and the division of labour
• Half Term 2: How prices are determined
• Half Term 3: Production, costs, revenue and profit
• Half Term 4: Competitive and concentrated markets
• Half Term 5: The labour market
• Half Term 6: Introduction to the national economy

Year 11

• Half Term 1: Government objectives
• Half Term 2: Government objectives
• Half Term 3: How the government manages the economy
• Half Term 4: International trade and the global economy
• Half Term 5: The role of money and financial markets

Assessment

Students will complete twelve assessment tasks in Year 10, and ten in Year 11. These will be topic based with a retrieval section of previous content, formed from past exam questions. The Assessment headings are as follows:

Year 10

• Assessment 1: Economic Foundations
• Assessment 2: Resource Allocation
• Assessment 3: Specialisation and the Division of Labour
• Assessment 4: How Prices are Determined (Demand and Supply)
• Assessment 5: How Prices are Determined (Elasticities)
• Assessment 6: Production, Costs, Revenue and Profit
• Assessment 7: Uncompetitive Markets
• Assessment 8: Competitive Markets
• Assessment 9: Year 10 PPE
• Assessment 10: Market Failure and Externalities
• Assessment 11: Interest Rates
• Assessment 12: Paper 1 Full Paper

Year 11

• Assessment 1: Government Income and Expenditure
• Assessment 2: Government Objectives (Growth and Unemployment)
• Assessment 3: Year 11 PPE (1)
• Assessment 4: Government Objectives (Inflation, Balance of Payments and Distribution of Income)
• Assessment 5: Fiscal Policy
• Assessment 6: Monetary Policy
• Assessment 7: Supply-Side Policy
• Assessment 8: Year 11 PPE (2)
• Assessment 9: International Trade and the Global Economy
• Assessment 10: The Role of Money and Financial Markets

Homework

Students are expected to follow current affairs through the news, articles or podcasts. This is integral to obtaining the highest grades, and will form the basis of in-class discussion. They will also complete a Microsoft Forms quiz once a week.

Useful information, links and resources

GCSE Economics Specification 
BBC News
AQA GCSE Economics Revision Guide (not compulsory)
Tutor2u GCSE Economics Guides (not compulsory)

Economics Learning JourneyDownload