Difficulty Verdict: A Highly Balanced yet Rigorous Assessment
The May/June 2025 Economics (9708) examination series presents a moderate to high challenge level (rated 3.8 out of 5). Across both the AS (Papers 12 and 22) and A Level (Papers 32 and 42) components, the examiners tested a balanced mix of fundamental economic principles and complex real-world data responses (such as South African economic challenges and global carbon emissions). High marks in this series are heavily contingent on candidate precision, quantitative calculation skills in MCQs, and the ability to formulate multi-dimensional policy evaluations.
Where the Marks are Won: Diagrams and Technical Definitions
The core of the structured papers (Paper 22 and Paper 42) demands clear diagrammatic capability. Candidates who secured high marks did so by drawing flawlessly labelled diagrams, such as the Marginal Social Cost (MSC) vs Marginal Private Cost (MPC) framework to evaluate carbon emissions and allocative efficiency. In macroeconomics, executing a precise injections and withdrawals graph was crucial for demonstrating the impact of interest rate changes on national income and employment. Furthermore, simple definition marks—such as defining economic sustainability or distinguishing public goods from free goods—served as easy mark accumulators for prepared students.
Examiner Pitfalls & Lost Opportunities
The principal examiner reports highlight several recurring pitfalls. A primary area of mark loss is the confusion between public goods and free goods, with many students incorrectly identifying public education or healthcare as public goods rather than merit goods. Additionally, when evaluating exchange rate adjustments, students often failed to reference the Marshall-Lerner condition or Price Elasticity of Demand (PED), assuming currency depreciation automatically corrects current account imbalances. Lastly, in the essay questions, many candidates wrote heavily descriptive, one-sided answers, which automatically restricted their analysis and capped their evaluation (AO3) marks to a minimum.
Strategic Revision and Predictions
Future candidates must move beyond passive reading to active diagram construction. Practising concurrent shifts in supply and demand, monopsonistic labour structures, and AD/AS shocks is highly recommended. Based on recent trends, structured questions focusing on oligopolistic market structures, game theory, and specific supply-side policy options are overdue and highly likely to appear in upcoming series.