8136 · AQA GCSE
8136/21
How the Economy Works
Economics · June 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
160
210 min
Policies to Correct Externalities and Market Failure
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
Success in this series was highly correlated with precision in the quantitative and graphical questions.
In Paper 1, calculating the veterinary surgeon's annual net pay and the average fixed cost of surfboards offered a straightforward 4 marks, but only for candidates who kept their workings clear.
Drawing the petrol market diagram (Q20) was a major discriminator: candidates who recognized that petrol cars and petrol are complementary goods correctly shifted the demand curve to the left, while weaker candidates incorrectly shifted the supply curve.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Quantitative
Weight: 6100%Graphical Representation
Weight: 583%Economic & Critical Evaluation
Weight: 350%Analysis
Weight: 233%Evaluation and
Weight: 117%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level 9
Approx. 83% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 78% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 74% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 66% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 58% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 51% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 38% of maximum mark
Level 2
Approx. 25% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Assess” questions.
Support your choice with specific evidence from data or the scenario given.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.6
Min per mark: 1.6
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Policies to correct positive and negative externalities
24 marks this session
Inflation and price stability
20 marks this session
Externalities
11 marks this session
The labour market
11 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Globalisation: benefits and drawbacks
Policies to correct positive and negative externalities
Inflation and price stability
Distribution of income
Economic growth
Externalities
The labour market
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1: How Markets Work:
Paper 2: How the Economy Works:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Policies to correct positive and negative externalities
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiInflation and price stability
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiExternalities
11 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe labour market
11 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
Success in this series was highly correlated with precision in the quantitative and graphical questions.
- 2Message
In Paper 1, calculating the veterinary surgeon's annual net pay and the average fixed cost of surfboards offered a straightforward 4 marks, but only for candidates who kept their workings clear.
- 3Message
Drawing the petrol market diagram (Q20) was a major discriminator: candidates who recognized that petrol cars and petrol are complementary goods correctly shifted the demand curve to the left, while weaker candidates incorrectly shifted the supply curve.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2023 2023
Economics
Success in this series was highly correlated with precision in the quantitative and graphical questions. In Paper 1, calculating the veterinary surgeon's annual net pay and the average fixed cost of surfboards offered a straightforward 4 marks, but only for candidates who kept th
Success in this series was highly correlated with precision in the quantitative and graphical questions.
In Paper 1, calculating the veterinary surgeon's annual net pay and the average fixed cost of surfboards offered a straightforward 4 marks, but only for candidates who kept their workings clear.
Drawing the petrol market diagram (Q20) was a major discriminator: candidates who recognized that petrol cars and petrol are complementary goods correctly shifted the demand curve to the left, while weaker candidates incorrectly shifted the supply curve.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
Success in this series was highly correlated with precision in the quantitative and graphical questions. In Paper 1, calculating the veterinary surgeon's annual net pay and the average fixed cost of surfboards offered a straightforward 4 marks, but only for candidates who kept their workings clear. Drawing the petrol market diagram (Q20) was a major discriminator: candidates who recognized that petrol cars and petrol are complementary goods correctly shifted the demand curve to the left, while weaker candidates incorrectly shifted the supply curve.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1: How Markets Work:
Paper 2: How the Economy Works:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
65% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Short Answer & Calculation
42·20·28%
Data Analysis & Extended Explanations
(6 marks)
42·7·28%
15-Mark Essays
30·2·20%
Multiple Choice Questions
20·20·13%
9-Mark Assessments
18·2·12%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section B (
0.64 m/minPaper 2 Section B (
0.64 m/minTotal marks
64
Total time
100 min
Avg pace
0.64
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.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Globalisation: benefits and drawbacks
90%90%
Balance of payments
85%85%
Supply-side policies
80%80%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The Complementary Good Trap: In Paper 1 Q20, shifting the supply curve instead of the demand curve for petrol following an increase in the price of petrol cars was a common error.
- Failing to Address Both Sides of the Prompt: In Paper 2 Q15, many candidates discussed income redistribution but completely omitted wealth redistribution (e.g., property/assets), limiting their mark band.
- Rounding Errors: Simple computational slips, such as not rounding the Paper 2 Q23 average inflation rate to one decimal place, cost candidates valuable marks despite correct initial steps.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 45min
- Total marks
- 80
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice, Short Answer & Definition, Quantitative & Diagrammatic, Analytical Writing, Extended Evaluation
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.