This report details the exact exam structure, common pitfalls, and master strategies for AQA GCSE Economics (8136). It provides a complete diagnostic of both Paper 1 and Paper 2, highlighting key errors such as failing to apply personal allowances, confusing trade and budget deficits, and writing one-sided essays.
A scientific or graphical calculator that meets JCQ regulations may be used (some GCSE Mathematics and Science papers are non-calculator). Graphical calculators must be set to exam mode; you must clear any stored programs, notes or data before the exam, and the calculator must not be able to retrieve stored text or formulae.
AO1: AO1: Recall, select and communicate knowledge of economic terms, concepts and issues (35%)
AO2: AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding to highlight relationships and explain economic problems (35%)
AO3: AO3: Analyse and evaluate economic data and information to make reasoned judgments (30%)
根據歷屆試題與評分準則整理（2022–2024）。
計算機程式
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.
使用時機: Solving or sketching a function when you want to find where its graph crosses or turns.
步驟
Enter the function in TABLE mode, set the start, end and step, then read where the sign of \(y\) changes or where it peaks.
考試提示: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
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.
使用時機: Any data-handling, statistics, or required-practical analysis question.
步驟
Enter the data in STAT mode (1-VAR or A+BX), then recall \(\bar{x}\), \(\sigma\) or the regression coefficients.
考試提示: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
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.
使用時機: Multi-step calculations where premature rounding loses the final accuracy mark.
步驟
Use Ans, STO/RCL or the M+ memory to reuse the unrounded result of each step; round only the final answer.
考試提示: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
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.
使用時機: As a check only, after solving by hand.
步驟
Enter the coefficients in EQN mode (or use SOLVE) and confirm they match your worked solution.
考試提示: Allowed under JCQ rules, but you must still show your method — an unsupported calculator answer earns no method marks. Clear all stored programs, notes and data (graphical calculators in exam mode) before the exam.
常見錯誤
1high涉及分數: 2Government income and expenditure
Failing to subtract the initial tax-free personal allowance (e.g. 12,500 or 14,000) before calculating tax liabilities from income tax bracket rates.
如何避免: Always calculate taxable income first by subtracting the personal allowance from gross income, then apply the tax percentage rate to the remaining amount.
2high涉及分數: 3Balance of payments
Confusing a current account trade deficit (imports exceeding exports) with a government budget deficit (expenditure exceeding tax revenue).
如何避免: Keep the current account balance separate from government finances. Trade deficit is external/global; budget deficit is national/fiscal.
3high涉及分數: 3Intermarket relationships
Shifting the supply curve instead of the demand curve when drawing the impact of complement market price changes on equilibrium (e.g., petrol and petrol cars).
如何避免: Complements represent a joint demand relationship. An increase in the price of petrol cars reduces consumer demand for those cars, shifting the demand curve for petrol to the left.
4high涉及分數: 15Globalisation: benefits and drawbacks
Writing one-sided, unbalanced arguments in 15-mark evaluation essays without introducing a final, reasoned judgment based on context.
如何避免: Structure essays with balanced pros and cons, use evidence directly from Item A and Item B, and conclude with a justified, dependent evaluation ('depends on' factors).
5medium涉及分數: 2Price elasticity of demand
Omitting the negative sign in price elasticity of demand (PED) calculations or missing clear units (, , billions) in final answers.
如何避免: Always check the direction of relationship for PED (typically negative) and ensure units match the data provided in tables.
6medium涉及分數: 2Monetary policy
Believing that commercial high street banks have the authority or responsibility to set national interest rates or manage inflation targets.
如何避免: Understand that the Bank of England (the central bank) sets the official base rate of interest to control monetary policy and maintain price stability.
7medium涉及分數: 9Economies of scale
Failing to calculate average cost (AC) in economies of scale questions when total cost and output figures are provided, preventing candidates from demonstrating cost advantages.
如何避免: Always calculate Average Cost (Total Cost / Output) for multiple levels of production to provide objective, numerical evidence of economies or diseconomies of scale.