This page contains model answers for Edexcel A Economics A Level for 25, 15, 12, 10, 8 and 5 mark questions.
These examples are written in the style of Edexcel Economics A. They demonstrate how to develop chains of analysis, use real-world examples or extracts, integrate diagrams, evaluate and arrive at conclusions. The page includes past paper answers, practice paper answers and answers to individual practice questions.
These free model answers are all written by me, Tom Furber, an economics tutor. I have been tutoring economics students since 2019 and have been uploading model answers and notes to this site since 2022.
Model answers to individual 25 mark questions
Government intervention: Evaluate possible methods of government intervention to reduce the environmental damage caused by the consumption of goods that emit CO2, such as cars (25 marks).
Monopoly: Evaluate the benefits of a monopoly (25 marks).
Minimum wage: Evaluate the microeconomic effects of a rising minimum wage. (25 marks)
Policies to intervene in market power: Evaluate policies to mitigate the effects of market power. (25 marks)
Supply-side policies: Evaluate the effectiveness of market-based supply-side policies such as privatisation and deregulation (25 marks).
Quantitative easing: Evaluate the effects of quantitative easing. (25 marks)
Globalisation: Evaluate the effects of globalisation on developed economies. (25 marks)
Tariffs: With reference to examples, evaluate the effects of a tariff (25 marks),
Income inequality: Evaluate the causes of an increase in income inequality within a developed economy of your choice. (25 marks)
Decline in house prices (Paper 3 style): Evaluate the microeconomic and macroeconomic consequences of a decline in house prices (25 marks).
Past paper model answers for Edexcel A (Sections A, B and C)
Full model answers to the 2024 Paper 1 exam: Sections A, B and both 25 mark questions.
Full model answers to the 2024 Paper 2 exam: Sections A, B and both 25 mark questions.
Practice paper model answers (5, 8, 12, 25 mark questions and more)
These are model answers to practice papers I have written. These are written in the style of Edexcel Economics A.
The links to the practice papers are also available on the specific model answer pages below.
Section B model answers (themes 1 and 3) to practice paper 1K: 5, 8, 10, 12 and 15 mark questions on the water industry.
Section B model answers (themes 2 and 4) to practice paper 2J: 5, 8, 10, 12 and 15 mark model answers on UK fiscal and monetary policy as well as currency fluctuations.
Video plus full model answers to practice paper 3A 5, 8, 12 and 25 mark model answers. Includes:
- The topics of trading blocs and monetary policy in Europe
- Current labour market issues of CEO pay and working from home.
More Section B model answers (15, 8 mark questions)
Tradable pollution permits 15 mark question: Evaluate the effects of introducing tradable pollution permits (15 marks).
Economic growth 15 mark question: Evaluate two benefits of economic growth (15 marks).
Externalities in coal 8 mark question: Examine the externalities involved in the coal industry (8 marks).
How to write 25 mark responses for Edexcel Economics A – a summary
How are 25 mark questions assessed?
The marking for 25 mark questions for Edexcel A is split into 16 marks for KAA (knowledge, application and analysis) and 9 marks for evaluation.
These are marked in “levels”. You can reach up to level 4 for KAA and level 3 for evaluation.
How should you structure a 25 marker?
A 25 mark response should have five paragraphs:
- Analysis paragraph 1
- Evaluation paragraph 1
- Analysis paragraph 2
- Evaluation paragraph 2
- Conclusion.
Introductions are not needed. There are model answers in the examiner’s reports without introductions. Time is limited on the Edexcel A papers in any case.
Further analysis and evaluation points may make it harder to achieve the depth needed for top level KAA and evaluation. Depth is generally better than breadth, unless there is a major issue with one of the previous points.
How much time should you spend on a 25 mark question?
Generally about 35 minutes on 25 mark questions should be sufficient.
This does assume you made up time on other parts of the paper. If you have made up time on other questions in the paper, such as the Section A questions in Papers 1 and 2, then you may be able to spend 35 minutes here on the 25 mark question.
Otherwise, if you spend 30 minutes on Section A and 60 minutes on Section B for Papers 1 and 2, this leaves only 30 minutes for the 25 mark question. This is still doable but the extra 5 minutes may come in handy for the 25 mark question.
What makes for top-level knowledge, application and analysis in a 25 mark question?
When assessing my tuition students’ answers against the KAA criteria, I would be looking for:
- Knowledge:
- Showing you know and understand key ideas and economic theories.
- Either implicitly (through explaining the idea as you go) or explicitly by defining the term if it is something particularly complex. It is possible to show you understand concepts without defining them.
- Application:
- Use of real world context or relevant extracts.
- Using your knowledge in context, applying theory to the particular question or setting.
- Analysis:
- Chains of reasoning without gaps (“logical” is the word used in the mark schemes) and that make sense as a whole (“coherent”).
- Chains of reasoning should be of a sufficient length.
- Diagrams are useful ways to extend the chain of reasoning and show off knowledge. While not compulsory to score well.
This is based on the mark schemes, but I have tried to interpret these in my own words and understanding as a tutor.
What makes for top-level evaluation in a 25 mark question?
For top level 3 for the evaluation criterion, as a tutor I would be looking for the following in students’ answers:
- Evaluation points that are explained by both 1) a mini-chain of reasoning and 2) referring to context in a relevant way.
- Considering assumptions or the importance of key “parameters” such as the price elasticity of demand. This is where “depends on” evaluation points can come in handy.
- A final judgement is made using evaluative justifications.
This is again based on the mark schemes. However I have tried to interpret these in my own words and using my understanding as an economics tutor.
Related resources for Edexcel Economics A
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