9640 · Oxford AQA International AS Level
9640/11
Paper 1
Economics · Winter 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Oxford AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
160
210 min
Economic growth and the economic cycle
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
160
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
A comprehensive and balanced pair of papers (EC01 and EC02) testing core microeconomic market mechanics, market failure (specifically fracking and commodity price volatility), and macroeconomic policies/indicators with a strong focus on precise data response and multi-stage evaluation.
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 & Understanding
Weight: 5100%Application (AO2)
Weight: 360%Analysis (AO3)
Weight: 240%Evaluation (AO4)
Weight: 120%
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 A
Approx. 80% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 70% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 50% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 40% 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
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
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 “Assess” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.4
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Economic growth and the economic cycle
28 marks this session
The determination of market prices
25 marks this session
Market failure and government intervention in markets
20 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
Government intervention in markets
Private goods, public goods and quasi-public goods (Market failure and government intervention in markets)
Monetary policy
Economic growth and the economic cycle
The determination of market prices
Economic growth and the economic cycle (Economic performance)
Positive and negative externalities in consumption and production
Supply-side policies
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: The Operation of Markets, Market Failure and the Role of Government: Unit 2: The National Economy in a Global Environment:
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
Economic growth and the economic cycle
28 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe determination of market prices
25 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMarket failure and government intervention in markets
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
A comprehensive and balanced pair of papers (EC01 and EC02) testing core microeconomic market mechanics, market failure (specifically fracking and commodity price volatility), and macroeconomic policies/indicators with a strong focus on precise data response and multi-stage evaluation.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
Winter 2025 2025
Economics
A comprehensive and balanced pair of papers (EC01 and EC02) testing core microeconomic market mechanics, market failure (specifically fracking and commodity price volatility), and macroeconomic policies/indicators with a strong focus on precise data response and multi-stage evalu
A comprehensive and balanced pair of papers (EC01 and EC02) testing core microeconomic market mechanics, market failure (specifically fracking and commodity price volatility), and macroeconomic policies/indicators with a strong focus on precise data response and multi-stage evaluation.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
A comprehensive and balanced pair of papers (EC01 and EC02) testing core microeconomic market mechanics, market failure (specifically fracking and commodity price volatility), and macroeconomic policies/indicators with a strong focus on precise data response and multi-stage evaluation.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: The Operation of Markets, Market Failure and the Role of Government: Unit 2: The National Economy in a Global Environment:
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.
60% 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.
Evaluative Essay
40·2·25%
Multiple Choice
30·30·19%
Analytical Essay
24·2·15%
Diagrammatic Analysis
18·2·11%
Short Definition
12·4·8%
Calculation
12·4·8%
Explanation
12·2·8%
Data Evaluation
12·2·8%
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.
Section A (MCQs)
0.75 m/minSection B Part 1 (S
0.80 m/minSection B Part 2 (E
0.70 m/minTotal marks
96
Total time
130 min
Avg pace
0.74
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Oligopoly and game theory
85%85%
Monopolistic competition
80%80%
Monetary Policy and Quantitative Easing
75%75%
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.