Cambridge IAL Economics

Cambridge lists an introduction to the price system and government intervention, international trade and exchange rates, the measurement of employment and inflation, and the causes and consequences of inflation, plus the theory of the firm, market failure, macroeconomic theory and policy, and economic growth and development. The structure is six main topics at AS Level and five at A Level.

Cambridge states that Paper 2 and Paper 4 exam durations are now two hours each. This applies to the updated syllabus for examination from June 2023 onwards, so check that any past paper you practise from matches the current timing before you simulate exam conditions.

Cambridge added a new Section C to Papers 2 and 4. Section B is a microeconomics essay and Section C is a macroeconomics essay, and learners answer one question in each section. Plan your revision so both microeconomics and macroeconomics essay practice get equal time, since you cannot rely on one side alone.

The source page lists 2023-2025, 2026-2028 and 2029 syllabus documents. The 2023-2025 version applies from June 2023 onwards, and the page does not describe further assessment changes for later versions. Download the syllabus PDF for your examination year and confirm the details before teaching or revising.

The source states that examinations are available in March 2023 for India only. It does not describe March availability for other series or later years, so check the timetable and your centre's entry options rather than assuming a March sitting is open to you.

Cambridge clarified the subject content structure, refreshed sub-topics, moved content between AS and A Level, reduced the number of assessment objectives and broadened their descriptions, added the 'International economic issues' topic, and added Section C to Papers 2 and 4 with two-hour durations. The page directs candidates to the 2023-2025 syllabus document for full details.

Start with the price system and government intervention, since demand, supply and elasticity underpin later microeconomics such as theory of the firm and market failure. Then build macroeconomics: measurement of employment and inflation, causes and consequences of inflation, and macroeconomic theory and policy. Treat international trade and exchange rates and growth and development as synoptic topics that draw on both sides.

Weak answers tend to describe without analysing, omit diagrams, or reach a judgement that does not follow from the argument. Because Section B and Section C each require one essay, candidates also lose marks by misallocating time between the two. Practise timed plans that state the issue, develop analysis in steps, and end with a supported evaluation.

Cambridge says it paused grade descriptions during the pandemic and is producing up-to-date ones for most general qualifications, based on the awarding standards in place from June 2023 onwards. The page did not yet publish updated 9708 grade descriptions, so treat older descriptions with caution and rely on the current syllabus and marked examples.

Cambridge points teachers at registered schools to the School Support Hub, which hosts schemes of work, example candidate responses, past papers and specimen paper answers, and lists endorsed resources from publishers. Private candidates should ask their exam centre what support is available and use the public syllabus and specimen materials.