ECONOMICS-XEC11 · Pearson Edexcel International AS Level
ECONOMICS-XEC11/21
Paper 2
Economics · 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
160
210 min
Macroeconomic Objectives and Policies
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
High scorers set themselves apart by securing full marks on quantitative tasks and technical diagrams, which represent the bedrock of AS Economics.
Under Unit 1, calculating the Price Elasticity of Supply (PES) for cocoa as 0.35 0.35 0.35 and accurately drawing the dual shift (demand right, supply left) for the fertiliser market were high-yield areas.
In Unit 2, calculating Aggregate Demand to be $25.62 billion \$25.62 \text{ billion} $25.62 billion using AD=C+I+G+(X−M) \text{AD} = C + I + G + (X - M) AD=C+I+G+(X−M) was a straightforward numerical win.
In contrast, the 14-mark and 20-mark evaluation questions required multi-stage chains of analysis.
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.
Theoretical Knowledge
Weight: 8100%Quantitative
Weight: 675%Diagrammatic
Weight: 563%Critical Evaluation
Weight: 450%Contextual Application
Weight: 225%
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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Match the expected response style for “Examine” questions.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Illustrate” 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
Macroeconomic objectives and policies
36 marks this session
Government intervention in markets
35 marks this session
Measures of economic performance
25 marks this session
Market failure (Markets in action)
16 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
Macroeconomic objectives and policies
Government intervention in markets
Measures of economic performance (Macroeconomic performance and policy)
Government intervention in markets (Markets in action)
Measures of economic performance
Macroeconomic objectives and policies (Macroeconomic performance and policy)
Market failure
Introductory concepts (Markets in action)
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Markets in Action (WEC11/01): Unit 2: Macroeconomic Performance and Policy (WEC12/01):
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
Macroeconomic objectives and policies
36 marks this session
Practise in RevuiGovernment intervention in markets
35 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMeasures of economic performance
25 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMarket failure (Markets in action)
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
High scorers set themselves apart by securing full marks on quantitative tasks and technical diagrams, which represent the bedrock of AS Economics.
- 2Message
Under Unit 1, calculating the Price Elasticity of Supply (PES) for cocoa as 0.35 0.35 0.35 and accurately drawing the dual shift (demand right, supply left) for the fertiliser market were high-yield areas.
- 3Message
In Unit 2, calculating Aggregate Demand to be $25.62 billion \$25.62 \text{ billion} $25.62 billion using AD=C+I+G+(X−M) \text{AD} = C + I + G + (X - M) AD=C+I+G+(X−M) was a straightforward numerical win.
- 4Message
In contrast, the 14-mark and 20-mark evaluation questions required multi-stage chains of analysis.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2023 2023
Economics
High scorers set themselves apart by securing full marks on quantitative tasks and technical diagrams, which represent the bedrock of AS Economics. Under Unit 1, calculating the Price Elasticity of Supply (PES) for cocoa as 0.35 0.35 0.35 and accurately drawing the dual shift (de
High scorers set themselves apart by securing full marks on quantitative tasks and technical diagrams, which represent the bedrock of AS Economics.
Under Unit 1, calculating the Price Elasticity of Supply (PES) for cocoa as 0.35 0.35 0.35 and accurately drawing the dual shift (demand right, supply left) for the fertiliser market were high-yield areas.
In Unit 2, calculating Aggregate Demand to be $25.62 billion \$25.62 \text{ billion} $25.62 billion using AD=C+I+G+(X−M) \text{AD} = C + I + G + (X - M) AD=C+I+G+(X−M) was a straightforward numerical win.
- Total marks
- 160
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
High scorers set themselves apart by securing full marks on quantitative tasks and technical diagrams, which represent the bedrock of AS Economics. Under Unit 1, calculating the Price Elasticity of Supply (PES) for cocoa as 0.35 0.35 0.35 and accurately drawing the dual shift (demand right, supply left) for the fertiliser market were high-yield areas. In Unit 2, calculating Aggregate Demand to be $25.62 billion \$25.62 \text{ billion} $25.62 billion using AD=C+I+G+(X−M) \text{AD} = C + I + G + (X - M) AD=C+I+G+(X−M) was a straightforward numerical win. In contrast, the 14-mark and 20-mark evaluation questions required multi-stage chains of analysis. For example, discussing the external costs of fertiliser required an flawless market failure diagram showing MSC>MPC \text{MSC} > \text{MPC} MSC>MPC and the corresponding welfare loss triangle.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Markets in Action (WEC11/01): Unit 2: Macroeconomic Performance and Policy (WEC12/01):
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.
66% 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
(4-mark)
48·12·30%
Macro/Micro Essay
(20-mark)
40·2·25%
Extended Discussion
(14-mark)
28·2·18%
Medium Evaluation / Examination
(8-mark)
16·2·10%
Multiple Choice
(1-mark)
12·12·8%
Structured Analysis
(6-mark)
12·2·8%
Data Response Definition
(2-mark)
4·2·3%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Section A: Multiple
0.75 m/minSection B: Short An
0.80 m/minSection D: Essay
0.74 m/minTotal marks
46
Total time
60 min
Avg pace
0.77
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 vs Fiscal Policy
90%90%
Maximum/Minimum Wages in Labour Interventions
85%85%
Asymmetric Information and Public Goods
80%80%
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.