Economics
The department runs a highly popular course in Economics at AS and A level.
In teaching our students, we focus on trying to achieve four main objectives:
- Enthusing them about the subject through the use of real world examples and different teaching methods;
- Helping them to develop a disciplined approach to studying, both in lessons and in their own time;
- Assisting them to achieve the highest grade that they are capable of; and
- Helping them to develop some of the key skills that they will need at the next stage of their academic career.
The teachers have a genuine passion for their subjects. They relish the opportunity to nurture the interest of their students. With an atmosphere of enthusiasm, combined with a disciplined approach to studying, a very high level of success is achieved with respect to our four main objectives.
Blundell’s use the Edexcel examination board, which is well supported with learning materials and the department is always developing its methods of presentation.
Visit to land Rover
Analytical and evaluation skills will be used in a variety of ways in the students’ assessment. More details of the course, including the specification and question papers, can be found online here.
EXAMINATION BOARD: EDEXCEL (London Examinations)
ASSESSMENT
| AS - 50% | ||||
| Unit | Type of Assessment |
Weight | Time | Content & Summary |
| 1 | Written | 25% | 1 hr 30 mins | Microeconomics: Competitive Markets - How They Work and Why They Fail This unit provides an introduction to the nature of economics and examines how the price mechanism allocates resources in markets. It analyses the nature of market failure, its causes and possible policy remedies. At the end of this unit, students should be able to apply supply and demand analysis to real-world situations; to understand why markets might not allocate resources efficiently and the methods of dealing with market failure, together with an evaluation of their effectiveness. |
| 2 | Written | 25% | 1 hr 30 mins | Macroeconomics: Managing the Economy This unit introduces the key measures of economic performance and the main objectives and instruments of economic policy. Students should be able to use a basic AD/AS model to understand why demand and/or supply side policies may be seen as appropriate ways of managing an economy; predict the possible impact of such policies and to recognise the assumptions involved; argue for different approaches and identify criteria for success. |
| A2 - 50% | ||||
| Unit | Type of Assessment |
Weight | Time | Content & Summary |
| 3 | Written | 20% | 1 hr 30 mins | Business Economics & Economic Efficiency This unit develops the content of Unit 1 and examines how the pricing and nature of competition between firms is affected by the number and size of market participants. At the end of this unit, students should be able to analyse the pricing and output decisions of firms in different contexts. They should also be capable of making an appraisal of government intervention aimed at promoting competitive markets. |
| 4 | Written | 30% | 2 hrs | The Global Economy This unit develops the knowledge and skills gained in Unit 2 so that they can be applied in a global context. The application, analysis and evaluation of economic models is required as well as an ability to assess policies which might be used to deal with economic problems. An awareness of trends and developments in the global economy over the last 10 years is required. |
The majority of the exam questions rely on subject kowledge combined with the ability to write analytical and evaluative answers.
WHERE IT LEADS
The course can support other subjects, as many University courses now have business related options. It can give a taste of Business or Economics courses, though it is not essential to have followed such a course before University.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Grade B in English and Mathematics.