What is examined in the CIE IGCSE Economics Paper 2?
- Paper 2 tests your ability to:
- Use economic concepts in context
- Explain and analyse economic issues using written answers, calculations and diagrams
- Evaluate economic arguments and decisions
- Paper 2:
- Lasts 2 hours
- Is worth 80 marks
- Counts for 67% of the total qualification
- Is divided into Section A and Section B
- Contains questions on all parts of the syllabus (Topics 1–6)
- Paper 2 assesses:
- AO1 Knowledge and Understanding
- AO2 Analysis
- AO3 Evaluation (only on Paper 2)
Structure of Paper 2
Section A: Data Response (20 marks)
- Question 1 is compulsory
- It is based on a short data extract or description of a real economic situation
- The data may include text, tables, charts or diagrams
- Question 1 is divided into several parts, for example:
- (a) short definition or description
- (b) simple explanation or calculation
- (c) and later parts: longer written answers using the data
- You must:
- Answer all parts of Question 1
- Use the information in the extract to support your answers where relevant
- Marks in Section A can be any of the standard mark values used in Paper 2
- 2, 4, 6 or 8
Section B: Structured Questions (60 marks)
- There are four questions in Section B: Questions 2, 3, 4 and 5
- You must answer three of them
- Each question is worth 20 marks in total
- Each question has four parts: (a), (b), (c), (d)
- A typical Section B question:
- Starts with a short context paragraph about a country, firm or economic issue
- Includes parts that may ask for:
- definitions
- explanations and analysis
- use of diagrams
- discussion of advantages and disadvantages
- evaluation of an economic decision or policy
- Marks for each part again follow the 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 pattern
- The total for the four parts adds up to 20 marks
- The official mark schemes use levels of response for the 8-mark “Discuss” questions
- In Save My Exams resources, we break these down into clear, defined marks to show exactly how many developed points are needed
- This is fully explained in ‘Answering an 8-mark question‘
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