QCAA Economics

The QCAA lists the Economics General senior syllabus 2025 (v1.4) for implementation with students who will complete their study of the course in 2026 or beyond. An amendment report for v1.4 is published alongside it. Check the QCAA page for the version in force for your cohort before relying on any older copy.

Published past papers are released as four separate documents: a multiple choice question book, a question and response book, a stimulus book and a marking guide. That indicates a paper combining selected-response questions with written responses built around stimulus material. The QCAA page does not state question counts or time limits, so confirm these in the syllabus.

The QCAA publishes three sample instruments. For Unit 3: an examination - combination response (IA1) and an investigation (IA2). For Unit 4: an examination - extended response (IA3). These are school-set and school-marked, subject to QCAA quality assurance through confirmation, for which submission information is published.

The QCAA page lists external assessment materials for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, each with a marking guide, multiple choice question book, question and response book and stimulus book. Older papers predate the current syllabus, so treat them as skills practice rather than a precise model of your paper.

Read the syllabus first, since it defines what is assessed. Then work through the sample assessment instruments for each internal task to see expected response styles. Use past external papers under timed conditions, and mark yourself against the published guides. Finally, read the subject reports, which describe how candidates performed and what weaker responses typically missed.

A recurring weakness flagged in subject reports is responding without using the stimulus or data provided, and describing rather than analysing. Written economics answers need chains of reasoning linking a change to its consequence. Practise applying each concept to an unfamiliar scenario, and use the marking guides to see how marks are allocated before attempting full papers.

The QCAA assessment page does not state a passing score, a retake policy or a validity period for this subject. Do not assume a fixed pass mark. Ask your school about any re-engagement or re-submission arrangements for internal assessment, and check QCAA policy documents for external assessment rules.

The QCAA page does not publish a weighting split between Unit 3 and Unit 4, so do not assume an even division. Internal assessment covers both units, with two tasks in Unit 3 and one in Unit 4, and the external assessment draws on the whole course. Allocate time according to your own task schedule and confidence.

Yes. The QCAA notes that alternative format past papers can be accessed using the senior syllabus resource search. Teachers can additionally access further resources through the Syllabus application in the QCAA Portal. For questions about the subject, the QCAA directs enquiries to the subject Principal Education Officer.