NSSCO Economics (6145) exam-day guide
NSSCO Economics (6145) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission letter and candidate number
Print or download the admission/registration confirmation issued by your school or exam centre and check that your name, candidate number and subject code (6145) match. If you have not received one, confirm the procedure with your school or the Namibia Examinations, Assessment and Certification division before exam day.
Valid identification document
Bring the ID document your centre requires (typically a Namibian ID card, passport, or learner card). Confirm with your school which form of ID is accepted for NSSCO candidates, since rules are set by the examining body and centre.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Write answers in ink. Bring a spare in case one runs out. Do not use pencil for final answers unless a question specifically asks for a graph or diagram drawn in pencil.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Needed for graphs, diagrams and any rough plotting. Keep them in a clear case so invigilators can see the contents.
Ruler (and a clear protractor if permitted)
Economics papers often ask you to read or draw supply and demand curves; a ruler helps you label axes neatly. Confirm with your centre which geometrical instruments are allowed.
Simple calculator
Check the permitted calculator model with your teacher or centre before the exam; programmable or stored-data calculators are commonly restricted. Practise percentage change, elasticity and multiplier calculations on the calculator you will actually use.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require stationery to be visible. Avoid opaque pencil cases, notes, or any printed material inside your bag.
Wristwatch (no smart features)
Centres usually display a clock, but a plain analogue or basic digital watch helps you pace the sections. Smartwatches and phones must be switched off and stored away.
Water in a clear bottle, labels removed
Confirm with your centre whether drinks are allowed at your desk; some venues only permit clear, unlabelled bottles.
Know your seat, venue and start time
Check the timetable for Paper 1 and Paper 2 dates and times and arrive well before the start. Confirm the exact reporting time and venue with your school, as these are set locally.
Revised summary sheets (for before you enter)
Bring one or two A4 summary sheets of definitions, formulas and diagram labels to review outside the hall, then put them away before entry. Nothing written may be taken to your desk.
Plan for transport and a light meal
Arrange your lift or transport the day before and eat something before a long paper. Confirm any centre-specific arrangements, such as where bags are stored, with your school.
Plan the day
Do a final syllabus sweep using the NSSCO Economics syllabus topics: basic economic problem and opportunity cost, demand and supply, elasticity, market equilibrium, production and costs, market structures, money and banking, inflation, unemployment, government objectives and policies, international trade and balance of payments, and development economics. For each topic write three things from memory: a definition, a diagram, and one real example (for instance Namibian inflation, SACU trade, or youth unemployment). Mark gaps and revise only those.
Practise past-paper style questions under timed conditions. For each paper, confirm the duration and marks with your teacher, then rehearse allocating roughly one minute per mark plus reading time. Do at least one full Paper 1-style multiple-choice set and one Paper 2-style structured/data-response set, marking your own answers strictly against the mark scheme.
Drill diagram accuracy: axes labelled price and quantity, curves labelled D and S, arrows showing shifts, and equilibrium points marked. Draw each core diagram (price ceiling, price floor, negative externality, demand-pull inflation, tariff) three times from memory without notes.
Build a formula card: percentage change, price elasticity of demand and supply, income elasticity, cross elasticity, cost formulas (TC, AC, MC), multiplier, and real versus nominal values. Check each formula against your textbook or class notes; if unsure, ask your teacher rather than guessing.
Do a light revision pass only: read your summary sheets, definitions and diagram card. Stop studying in the evening. Pack your admission letter, ID, pens, pencil, ruler, calculator and clear case in one bag and place it by the door.
Confirm logistics: start time, venue, transport, and what is allowed in the hall. Check with your school or the examining body about any item you are unsure of, such as calculator model, protractor use, or water bottles. Sleep a full night; avoid late-night cramming.
Eat breakfast, take your packed bag, and arrive at the venue early enough to find your seat without rushing. Leave phones and smart devices switched off and stored as instructed; hand in or store any notes before entering.
Outside the hall, skim only your summary sheets: definitions, formulas, and diagram labels. Do not try to learn new material. Once seated, read the front of the paper carefully and follow the invigilator's instructions.
Read the instructions and the whole paper briefly. Note the marks per question and any choice (for example, answer any four of six). Plan which questions you will answer and roughly how many minutes each deserves. Check whether there is reading time and use it only for reading.
Answer the questions you are most confident about first to secure marks, then return to harder ones. For data-response questions, quote figures from the passage or table and explain them; for essay-style questions, define key terms, use a diagram where relevant, apply an example, and evaluate (advantages versus limitations, short run versus long run). Watch the clock at the halfway point.
Reserve about five to ten minutes to check that every question you chose is answered, that question numbers match the answer booklet, that diagrams are labelled, and that units and currency are correct. Cross out rough work clearly. Hand in all materials as directed by the invigilator.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification document required by your centre; if you do not have it, speak to your school or the examining body in advance, as the exact rule on alternative ID must be confirmed with the provider.
Phones, smartwatches and any other electronic devices must be switched off and stored away from your desk; possessing unauthorised material in the hall is treated as malpractice and can lead to the cancellation of your results.
Write in ink in the answer booklet, number your answers clearly, and follow the instructions on the front of the paper about which questions to answer and how many.
Do not communicate with other candidates once in the hall, and do not look at another candidate's work; raise your hand if you need an invigilator.
If you need to leave the hall, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; rules on toilet breaks and supervised exit vary by centre, so confirm the arrangements with your provider.
Marks are awarded for what is written in the answer booklet, so show working for calculations and label diagrams; where a question asks you to evaluate, include a judgement to reach the higher mark bands.
If you believe there is an error in a question or you are disadvantaged during the paper, tell the invigilator immediately and ask your school to follow the official query procedure; do not attempt to resolve it yourself.
Check the official timetable and any rules on late arrival, extra time or access arrangements with your school or the examining body, as these are set by the provider and are not decided by the centre on the day.