AQA A-Level · Analysis & Prediction

2024 AQA A-Level Economics 7136 Past Paper Analysis

The AQA A-Level Economics June 2024 series represents a comprehensive and balanced test of both micro and macro-economic theory. It featured a strong emphasis on current issues such as student housing, labor strikes, and the implications of deglobalization, challenging students to demonstrate high levels of synthesis, analytical depth, and precise evaluation.

Updated: 14 Jun 2026

Analysis Sample paper

Difficulty 3.8/5

Total marks

240

Duration

360 mins

Most tested

Government intervention and market failure policies

Paper breakdown

Paper 1: Markets and Market Failure: 80 marks · 120 minsPaper 2: National and International Economy: 80 marks · 120 minsPaper 3: Economic Principles and Issues: 80 marks · 120 mins

Top chapters

The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets · 45 marksFiscal policy and supply-side policies · 35 marksPerfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly · 30 marks

AQA A-Level Economics 2024: A Balanced but Highly Demanding Assessment

The June 2024 AQA A-Level Economics papers (7136/1, 7136/2, and 7136/3) presented a rigorous test of both microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts, showcasing the contemporary relevance of economic theories. Ranging from housing shortages and public sector strike actions to global deglobalisation and regional UK disparities, the exams demanded that students confidently translate theoretical models into real-world applications. The difficulty was elevated not by obscure terminology but by the sheer depth of synthesis required in the high-tariff 25-mark and 15-mark essay questions.

Where the Marks are Won: The Power of Chains of Reasoning

To secure top-band marks, candidates had to master logical, unbroken chains of reasoning. In Paper 1, the 9-mark demand-and-supply analysis of student accommodation with inelastic supply, and in Paper 2, the 9-mark analysis of the impact of depreciation on cost-push and demand-pull inflation, were prime examples of where precise diagrammatic accuracy directly translated into marks. Clear labelling of axes, explicit identification of original and new equilibrium points, and step-by-step written descriptions of market forces returning to equilibrium were essential. For the 25-mark evaluation questions, examiners looked for balanced discussions that juxtaposed free-market outcomes with government failure, using the provided extracts as springboard evidence rather than simply rewriting them.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

According to examiner reports, a recurring area where candidates drop marks is in the 2-mark and 4-mark quantitative and data-interpretation questions. Simple calculation errors, such as forgetting the "%" sign, failing to round to the specified decimal places, or getting ratios the wrong way round (as seen in the UK to Hungary productivity ratio), cost students easy marks. Furthermore, in Paper 3, many candidates struggled to interpret the multi-dimensional dataset on regional inequality, often confusing nominal income figures with real standards of living by neglecting regional price level variations, particularly housing costs.

Tactical Strategies for Future Success

Integrate Diagrams Habitually: Do not treat diagrams as optional illustrations. For any market mechanism or policy change question, draw the diagram immediately to anchor your written explanation.
Embrace the "Depends On" Framework: Evaluation is not just listing pros and cons. Use evaluative qualifiers such as the short-run versus long-run impacts, the magnitude of shifts, and the elasticity of supply/demand to reach a robust conclusion.
Polish Quantitative Precision: Dedicate revision time to practicing index numbers, percentage changes, real vs. nominal conversions, and ratios. These are guaranteed marks if executed with attention to detail.

Syllabus Predictions and Overdue Topics

Given the heavy emphasis on supply-side policies, labor markets, and market structures in this series, future exams are highly likely to pivot back toward monetary policy tools (such as Quantitative Tightening and interest rate transmissions) and environmental economics (such as carbon pricing, emissions trading schemes, and positive externalities of green technology). Prepare thoroughly for these historically popular topics in upcoming sittings.

Charts

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

Multiple Choice30 marks · 30 questions
Quantitative4 marks · 2 questions
Data Analysis & Comparison18 marks · 3 questions
Diagrammatic Explanation18 marks · 2 questions
Analytical Exposition45 marks · 3 questions
Evaluative Essay125 marks · 5 questions

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

67%within easy or medium reach

100

easy: 60 marksmedium: 100 markshard: 80 marks

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

Market Failure and Government Intervention

45 marks · Difficulty 2.2 · recurrence 95%

Fiscal and Supply-Side Policies

35 marks · Difficulty 2.5 · recurrence 90%

Perfect Competition, Oligopoly, and Monopoly

30 marks · Difficulty 3.2 · recurrence 85%

The Labour Market

30 marks · Difficulty 2.8 · recurrence 80%

The International Economy

25 marks · Difficulty 3.5 · recurrence 85%

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

marksmins

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Monetary Policy Transmission Mechanism88%

Given the focus on fiscal policies in recent sittings, monetary policy tools (QT, interest rates) and financial regulation are overdue for a heavy-weight appearance in Paper 2.

Environmental Economics & Negative Externalities85%

While general market failure was tested through food markets, specific environmental regulation tools (tradable permits, carbon taxes) are highly likely to reappear soon.

The Balance of Payments and Exchange Rates82%

Slightly touched upon in short-response questions, but a full-scale 25-mark essay evaluating policy tools to correct a current account deficit is overdue.

Cumulative marks ladder

The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.

Topic-year heatmap

Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.

Jun 2022

Jun 2023

Jun 2024

The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets

The international economy

Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly

The labour market

Economic performance

Fiscal policy and supply-side policies

The distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality

Production, costs and revenue

Financial markets and monetary policy

The measurement of macroeconomic performance

Examiner insights

Official report

Common pitfalls

Failing to round calculation answers to the correct decimal places as requested (e.g., leaving a ratio unrounded or without the appropriate units).
Neglecting to include or clearly label key parts of diagrams, such as axis titles, supply and demand curve shifts, and the exact direction of shift arrows.
Copying long passages directly from the extracts in lieu of original explanation, which fails to demonstrate analysis (AO3).

Misconceptions

Assuming that a depreciation of the currency automatically improves the trade balance immediately without considering the Marshall-Lerner condition or the J-curve effect.
Confusing nominal changes in income with real changes in living standards by ignoring regional price differences, specifically in housing and rent.
Believing that trade unions can raise wages without risk of unemployment in all market structures, failing to distinguish between competitive and monopsonistic labour markets.

Where marks are lost

Losing easy quantitative marks due to simple mathematical slips, missing percent signs, or presenting ratios in the wrong order.
Failing to write balanced evaluations that culminate in a justified final judgment, instead offering one-sided descriptive arguments.
Not using data from the extracts to support analytical arguments, resulting in generic answers that do not address the specific context of the question.

Estimated grade cut-off

Updated: 15 Jun 2026

Source: AQA

Level	Mark	Percentage
A*	173/240	72%
A	149/240	62%
B	127/240	53%
C	105/240	44%
D	83/240	35%
E	61/240	25%

Official grade boundaries published by AQA.

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