AS/A LEVEL ECONOMICS
ECONOMICS AT SUTTON COLDFIELD COLLEGE
Economics is one of over 40 subjects offered at A level in the College, and is taught in the Department of Business and service Sector Studies. You can study it as part of a business A level package, eg along with accounts, business studies and law, or as part of a broader A level programme of study.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The College has a minimum entry requirement of 4 GCSE passes at Grade C or above or an Intermediate qualification to study on an AS and A level programme. We do not expect you to have studied economics at GCSE level, but we do ask that you have at least a grade C in English Language. We also ask that you have a desire and interest to learn about the world around you, so that you can apply your economics studies to real life situations.
THE AS AND A LEVEL PROGRAMME
A full A level economics programme will take two years to complete, with AS economics covered in the first year and A2 economics in the second year.
You can study AS economics as part of your studies on a variety of courses:
· as part of an AS programme of study where you study four AS subjects
· as an additional subject on an AVCE or BTEC course
· as part of any other level three course, eg Legal Executives
To progress on to the A2 economics course, you will have to pass AS economics in the first year of study. The results from the AS and A2 examinations will give the full A level economics grade.
You will study the AQA economics specification which involves studying six modules over the two year programme:
· Year One: AS level
o Module One: Markets and Market Failure
o Module Two The National Economy
o Module Three Markets at Work (the housing market)
· Year Two: A Level
o Module Four: Working as an Economist or coursework
o Module Five: Business economics and the Distribution of Income
o Module Six: Government Policy, the National and International Economy
The AQA website gives full details of the specification content. A summary is given in the Specifications page.
THE AIMS OF THE ECONOMICS PROGRAMME
Many students who start an economics course will be unsure of what they will be encountering during their studies. However, a glimpse of the TV news or a look through the newspapers will show that economic issues are topical and have an important influence on all our lives. Examples include whether taxes should be raised to help fund the NHS; should we pay motorway charges; should the UK join the Euro and is the minimum wage good for British industry?
In your economics studies, we shall give you an introduction to the theories and ideas which underpin many of the policies and strategies implemented by governments and industries across the world. As the course progresses, you will be encouraged to develop your own ideas and views so that you can analyse and evaluate many of the economic issues which you encounter in a rapidly evolving modern world.
The AQA specification encourages students to:
a. develop an understanding of economic concepts and theories through an appreciation of economic issues, problems and institutions that affect everyday life;
b. apply economic concepts and theories to a range of contexts and appreciate their limitations in explaining real world problems;
c. analyse, explain and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the market economy and the role of the government within it.
ASSESSMENT
In the first year of the course you will sit three examinations to get the AS economics qualification. A typical AS assessment pattern will be:
|
January YR1 |
Unit 1: Markets and Market Failure |
|
Summer YR1 |
Unit 2: The National Economy Unit 3: The Housing Market Unit 1: Resit if needed |
At the end of the first year, you can finish your studies and accept the AS economics qualification, or you can carry on and complete the full A level qualification in the second year of the course. Units 4 and 5 contain synoptic assessments and are taken at the end of the course. A typical second year assessment pattern will be:
|
January YR2 |
Resit any outstanding AS Modules |
|
Spring term YR2 |
Complete coursework |
|
Summer YR2 |
Unit 5: Synoptic Assessment Unit 6: Synoptic Assessment |
The Assessment Page will give full details of the assessment method for each Unit.
YOUR WORKLOAD
There will be four and half hours of teaching time per week for AS and A2 economics. In the classroom a range of teaching methods will be adopted. These include:
· note taking,
· class discussions,
· group and individual presentations,
· a variety of assessment methods.
The assessments will prepare you for the examinations and will include multiple choice tests, answering data response questions and completing case study exercises. In the second year there will be more of an emphasis on developing essay skills which are an important part of the second year examinations.
Out of the classroom you will be expected to keep an up to date file containing class notes and any extra notes which you have made. It should also contain all the assessments you have completed during the course. You are also expected to develop an understanding of economic issues as they occur, so that you can apply your classroom knowledge to real world economic situations.
There will be regular homework including:
· background reading
· internet investigations
· case studies
· data response questions
· preparing for presentations
· revision
We would expect you to undertake an average of three to fours hours private study per week. This includes making extra notes, general economics reading, completing homework, revision and maintaining your economics file.