ECONOMICS-J205 · Cambridge OCR GCSE (9–1)
ECONOMICS-J205/21
National and International Economics
Economics - J205 · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
160
180 min
Low unemployment
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
Success in both papers heavily rested on Section B's case studies, which comprised 75% of the total available marks.
In Paper 1, candidates who secured high marks demonstrated precise graphical construction.
Drawing demand shifts and illustrating differences between elastic and inelastic demand curves (such as in the Celandine Hotel scenario) were easy targets for those with solid visual prep.
Conversely, many dropped marks in Paper 2 by failing to make explicit use of the quantitative data provided in the extracts.
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.
Knowledge and Understanding
Weight: 6100%Application of economic theory
Weight: 583%Analysis
Weight: 350%Economic Evaluation
Weight: 233%
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. 74% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 67% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 61% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 53% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 44% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 36% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 28% of maximum mark
Level 2
Approx. 19% 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
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.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Low unemployment
20 marks this session
Main economic groups and factors of production
12 marks this session
Price
12 marks this session
Fair distribution of income
12 marks this session
Demand
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
Demand
Low unemployment
Economic growth
Globalisation
The role of money and financial markets
Production
Price stability
Main economic groups and factors of production
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
J205/01 Introduction to Economics: J205/02 National and International Economics:
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
Low unemployment
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMain economic groups and factors of production
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPrice
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiFair distribution of income
12 marks this session
Practise in RevuiDemand
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 both papers heavily rested on Section B's case studies, which comprised 75% of the total available marks.
- 2Message
In Paper 1, candidates who secured high marks demonstrated precise graphical construction.
- 3Message
Drawing demand shifts and illustrating differences between elastic and inelastic demand curves (such as in the Celandine Hotel scenario) were easy targets for those with solid visual prep.
- 4Message
Conversely, many dropped marks in Paper 2 by failing to make explicit use of the quantitative data provided in the extracts.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
Economics - J205
Success in both papers heavily rested on Section B's case studies, which comprised 75% of the total available marks. In Paper 1, candidates who secured high marks demonstrated precise graphical construction. Drawing demand shifts and illustrating differences between elastic and i
Success in both papers heavily rested on Section B's case studies, which comprised 75% of the total available marks.
In Paper 1, candidates who secured high marks demonstrated precise graphical construction.
Drawing demand shifts and illustrating differences between elastic and inelastic demand curves (such as in the Celandine Hotel scenario) were easy targets for those with solid visual prep.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
Success in both papers heavily rested on Section B's case studies, which comprised 75% of the total available marks. In Paper 1, candidates who secured high marks demonstrated precise graphical construction. Drawing demand shifts and illustrating differences between elastic and inelastic demand curves (such as in the Celandine Hotel scenario) were easy targets for those with solid visual prep. Conversely, many dropped marks in Paper 2 by failing to make explicit use of the quantitative data provided in the extracts. Under the strict OCR Level 3 marking criteria for the 6-mark analysis questions, failure to reference specific data points limits candidates to Level 2, regardless of how theoretically sound their arguments are.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
J205/01 Introduction to Economics: J205/02 National and International Economics:
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.
75% 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 / Explanation
(2 Marks)
44·22·28%
Multiple Choice Question
(MCQ)
40·40·25%
Case Study Analysis
(6 Marks)
36·6·23%
Case Study Evaluation
(6 Marks)
36·6·23%
Diagram & Label
(2 Marks)
4·2·3%
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 A (
0.75 m/minPaper 1 Section B (
0.80 m/minPaper 2 Section A (
0.75 m/minPaper 2 Section B (
0.80 m/minTotal marks
150
Total time
190 min
Avg pace
0.79
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.
Supply side policies
95%95%
Globalisation
85%85%
The role of money and financial markets
80%80%
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 80
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice Question (MCQ), Short Answer / Calculation / Explanation (2 Marks), Case Study Analysis (6 Marks), Case Study Evaluation (6 Marks)
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.