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A Level Course Content
A Level Course
This is a two year course, which will cover 3 key components.
The detailed specification content is presented in three columns. The first column details the areas of study, the second column details the topics which need to be covered during the A Level course and the third column details the actual content which needs to be addressed within each individual topic.
Component 1: Microeconomics
Component 1 of OCR’s A Level in Economics focuses on microeconomics. From a base of microeconomic theory, this component enables learners to discuss and evaluate how well microeconomic theories explain our observations of economic agents in the real world. The theoretical workings of the free market provide a useful starting point for explanation and analysis. Imperfections and market failures provide a lead into a discussion of the merits and drawbacks of government intervention. The study of microeconomics encourages the learners to consider the usefulness of theory in explaining observations taken from the real world of Economics.
Component 2: Macroeconomics
Component 2 focuses on macroeconomics. This component provides learners with the technical and analytical tools required to understand how the macro-economy functions on both a domestic and global level. The content of this component encourages learners to adopt a critical approach to their study of policy through a development of their understanding of the limitations and conflicts which macroeconomic policies cause. Learners should be able to: recognise the assumptions, relationships and linkages of the possible impacts of macroeconomic policies; consider the possible impact of macro-economic policies; recognise the issues which a government faces in managing the macro-economy; argue for different approaches; and identify criteria for success and to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of different policy approaches.
Policy approaches are also considered in a historical context, as well as at the current time, in order to develop an understanding of how macroeconomics has changed over time.
Component 3: Themes in Economics
The assessment of this component will be fully synoptic in nature and will draw on both the microeconomic and macroeconomic components. Although there is no specific content prescribed within the assessment of this component, it is anticipated that both the microeconomic and the macroeconomic subject content will be applied, as appropriate, in relation to a specific unseen theme.
Assessment
Assessment
Students sit examinations in their A Level courses at the end of Year 13. All students will take internal end of year examinations at the end of year 12 to determine suitability to continue with the subject in Year 13. Students who do not meet the required pass grade in the Year 12 end of year examinations will not be permitted to progress into Year 13.
100% exam- three papers
Paper 1: Markets and Market failure (micro) lasts 2 hours, has 80 marks in total and is worth 33.3% of the A Level qualification.
Paper 2: National and International Economy (macro) lasts 2 hours, has 80 marks in total and is worth 33.3% of the A Level qualification.
Paper 3: Economic Principle and Issues (synoptic) lasts 2 hours, has 80 marks in total and is worth 33.3% of the A Level qualification.
Note: For the A Level certificate to be awarded, students have to successfully complete all three exams.
