Overall Difficulty Verdict

The June 2022 AQA AS Economics examination sits at a moderate to challenging difficulty level. While Section A multiple-choice questions across both papers tested standard conceptual knowledge, Section B required deep contextual application. The transition to data calculations and quantitative comparisons caught several students off guard, particularly with multi-step percentage changes and scale conversions.

Where the Marks are Found

A staggering portion of the marks in both papers is concentrated in the 10-mark explanation questions and the 25-mark evaluation essays. In Paper 1, the 25-mark question demanded a sophisticated balance between market efficiency (compulsory water metering as a rationing mechanism) and social equity (affordability for low-income households). In Paper 2, high-scoring essays successfully distinguished between short-run demand-side fluctuations and long-run supply-side growth determinants, using well-structured AD/AS diagrams as analytical anchors.

Examiner Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Labeling Inconsistencies on Diagrams: A persistent issue identified by examiners was the confusion between microeconomic and macroeconomic axes. On Paper 2, writing simple "Price" and "Quantity" instead of Price Level and Real National Output/GDP cost students straightforward accuracy marks.
  • Neglecting Units in Calculations: In Paper 1 (Q22) and Paper 2 (Q22/28), many candidates lost easy marks by failing to state currency symbols (e.g., £ or p) or denominators (e.g., "billion" or "bn").
  • Superficial Evaluation: In the 25-mark essays, weaker responses simply listed pros and cons without arriving at a supported final judgment. High-achieving scripts utilized the "depends on" framework (e.g., the effectiveness of minimum unit pricing depends on the price elasticity of demand for different income groups).

Strategic Advice & Future Preparation

To maximize your score in future series, prioritize mastering quantitative skills alongside core theory. Practice converting raw index values into percentages and vice versa, as this appears frequently in the 4-mark calculation questions. Additionally, build a repository of real-world economic contexts—such as utility privatization, congestion pricing, and recent UK fiscal policies—to enrich your application in Section B.