An expert guide to Cambridge International AS Level Economics (9708). This pack highlights core examination metrics, common candidate misconceptions regarding market failure, macroeconomic graphs, and terms of trade, and provides an analysis of the exact requirements needed to secure Level 3 analytical and Level 2 evaluative marks in the essay papers.
阅读时间 5 分钟更新于: 2026年6月21日
试卷概览
卷数
2
总分
90
考试时间
3小时
题型
4
试卷
时间
分数
题数
比重
题型
Paper 1
1小时
30
—
—
—
Paper 2
2小时
60
—
—
—
评级
ABCDE
计算器规定
A silent scientific calculator is required where the syllabus permits one. It must NOT be graphical, programmable, or capable of symbolic algebra (CAS), and it must contain no stored programs or notes.
AO1: Knowledge and understanding (30%)
AO2: Analysis (40%)
AO3: Evaluation (30%)
根据历届试题与评分标准整理（2023–2025）。
计算器程序
Table mode for roots & turning points
Scientific calculator (e.g. Casio fx-991 series)
用途: Tabulate \(y\) across a range of \(x\) to locate sign changes (roots) and approximate maxima/minima.
使用时机: Solving or sketching a function when you want to find where its graph crosses or turns.
步骤
Enter the function in TABLE mode, set the start, end and step, then read where the sign of \(y\) changes or where it peaks.
考试提示: Allowed, but the calculator must be silent, non-graphical, non-programmable and free of stored content; always show the working the mark scheme requires.
Statistics mode (mean, SD & regression)
Scientific calculator (e.g. Casio fx-991 series)
用途: Read the mean \(\bar{x}\) and standard deviation directly, and the gradient/intercept (and \(r\)) of a linear regression for bivariate data.
使用时机: Any data-handling, statistics, or required-practical analysis question.
步骤
Enter the data in STAT mode (1-VAR or A+BX), then recall \(\bar{x}\), \(\sigma\) or the regression coefficients.
考试提示: Allowed, but the calculator must be silent, non-graphical, non-programmable and free of stored content; always show the working the mark scheme requires.
Carry exact values with Ans & memory
Scientific calculator (e.g. Casio fx-991 series)
用途: Keep full-precision intermediate values to avoid rounding errors.
使用时机: Multi-step calculations where premature rounding loses the final accuracy mark.
步骤
Use Ans, STO/RCL or the M+ memory to reuse the unrounded result of each step; round only the final answer.
考试提示: Allowed, but the calculator must be silent, non-graphical, non-programmable and free of stored content; always show the working the mark scheme requires.
Equation solver — to CHECK your working
Scientific calculator (e.g. Casio fx-991 series)
用途: Use the built-in EQN/SOLVE mode to verify roots of quadratics or simultaneous equations you have already solved by algebra.
使用时机: As a check only, after solving by hand.
步骤
Enter the coefficients in EQN mode (or use SOLVE) and confirm they match your worked solution.
考试提示: Allowed, but the calculator must be silent, non-graphical, non-programmable and free of stored content; always show the working the mark scheme requires.
常见错误
1high涉及分数: 4Classification of goods and services
Confusing public sector provision with the economic definition of public goods (e.g. state-provided healthcare/education/roads).
如何避免: Define public goods strictly by their two non-excludable and non-rivalrous economic characteristics. State education and roads are merit/private goods because they are rival and excludable.
2high涉及分数: 4Production possibility curves
Shifting the PPC to the left to represent unemployment, or drawing a PPC that does not touch both axes.
如何避免: To show unemployed resources, keep the PPC stationary and place a point inside the curve. Ensure PPC diagrams touch both axes cleanly and are labeled with specific outputs.
3high涉及分数: 4Methods and effects of government intervention in markets
Providing one-sided analysis in Paper 2 Part (b) essays (12-mark questions), which limits the evaluation score to zero.
如何避免: Always structure your Part (b) essays with a balanced, two-sided argument (advantages vs. disadvantages or policy A vs. policy B) before drawing a justified conclusion.
4medium涉及分数: 2Price stability
Confusing disinflation with deflation on percentage price change graphs, leading to incorrect macroeconomic analyses.
如何避免: Remember that disinflation is a fall in the inflation rate (prices are still rising, but slower). Deflation only occurs when the inflation rate falls below zero percent.
5medium涉及分数: 4Policies to correct imbalances in the current account of the balance of payments
Confusing 'Terms of Trade' (an index of relative prices) with the monetary 'Balance of Trade' or current account value.
如何避免: Define terms of trade explicitly as the ratio of an index of export prices to an index of import prices: \( (P_x / P_m) \times 100 \). Do not confuse this with physical export revenues and import costs.
6high涉及分数: 2Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply analysis
Labeling macroeconomic AD/AS diagrams with micro concepts (P, Q) instead of Price Level (PL) and Real GDP (Y).
如何避免: Always label the vertical axis as 'Price Level' (PL) and the horizontal axis as 'Real GDP' or 'National Output' (Y) in all macroeconomic AD/AS questions.
7medium涉及分数: 1The reasons for international trade
Failing to construct proper opportunity cost matrices when solving comparative advantage problems, leading to incorrect calculations.
如何避免: Always write out a structured 2x2 matrix of opportunity costs for both countries and both goods. Calculate the exact opportunity cost of producing 1 unit of a good before determining trade viability.
8high涉及分数: 1Current account of the balance of payments
Classifying worker remittances as Primary Income instead of Secondary Income in the balance of payments.
如何避免: Classify worker remittances (personal transfers) strictly under Secondary Income, the current transfers section of the current account. Do not confuse them with compensation of employees for cross-border/seasonal workers, which is the separate item recorded under Primary Income.