# A Level Economics (9708) tutoring online

> Our A Level Economics tutors teach Cambridge International 9708 alongside AQA 7136, Pearson Edexcel Economics A 9EC0 and OCR H460. Live 1:1 or small-group online classes cover microeconomics, macroeconomics and the global economy, with structured practice on diagrams, data-response questions, multiple choice and evaluative essays.

Source: https://www.gradeupinternational.com/a-level/economics
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Publisher: GradeUp International (https://www.gradeupinternational.com/)

Taught by: our most qualified teachers for the subject.

A Level Economics suits students considering economics, business, finance, accounting, law, politics or international relations at university. It is usually a new subject for students who did not take IGCSE or O Level Economics, but the logic of supply and demand is quick to pick up. The real step up lies in applying theory to unfamiliar real-world data and weighing competing arguments, which is why universities value it as evidence of analytical writing.

Cambridge 9708 is staged: the AS Level has a one-hour multiple-choice paper and a two-hour data response and essays paper, while the A Level adds a second multiple-choice paper and a second two-hour paper with unstructured essays. AQA, Edexcel and OCR are linear, each setting three two-hour papers at the end of Year 13. Every board blends data-response questions, extended essays and some objective questions, though the balance differs between specifications.

Students commonly lose marks by drawing diagrams with unlabelled axes, by describing data instead of analysing it, or by writing one-sided essays without a supported judgement. Evaluation is the skill that separates top grades: weighing short-run against long-run effects, considering elasticity, or questioning the reliability of the data. Our tutors use a clear paragraph structure for analysis and evaluation, then mark practice essays against official level descriptors so students see precisely what moves a response up a band.

## How is A Level Economics examined?

### Cambridge International AS & A Level Economics (9708), Cambridge International Education

| Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paper 1: AS Level Multiple Choice | 1 hour | 30 | 33% of AS Level / 17% of A Level |
| Paper 2: AS Level Data Response and Essays | 2 hours | 60 | 67% of AS Level / 33% of A Level |
| Paper 3: A Level Multiple Choice | 1 hour 15 minutes | 30 | 17% of A Level |
| Paper 4: A Level Data Response and Essays | 2 hours | 60 | 33% of A Level |

2026–2028 syllabus. Series: May/June and October/November.

Official syllabus: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-economics-9708/

### AQA A-level Economics (7136), AQA

| Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paper 1: Markets and market failure | 2 hours | 80 | 33.3% of A Level |
| Paper 2: National and international economy | 2 hours | 80 | 33.3% of A Level |
| Paper 3: Economic principles and issues | 2 hours | 80 | 33.3% of A Level |

Linear: all exams in May/June of one year.

Official syllabus: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/economics/a-level/economics-7136/specification

### Pearson Edexcel A Level Economics A (9EC0), Pearson Edexcel

| Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paper 1: Markets and business behaviour | 2 hours | 100 | 35% of A Level |
| Paper 2: The national and global economy | 2 hours | 100 | 35% of A Level |
| Paper 3: Microeconomics and macroeconomics | 2 hours | 100 | 30% of A Level |

Official syllabus: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/economics-a-2015.html

### OCR A Level Economics (H460), OCR

| Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paper 1: Microeconomics | 2 hours | 80 | 33.33% of A Level |
| Paper 2: Macroeconomics | 2 hours | 80 | 33.33% of A Level |
| Paper 3: Themes in economics | 2 hours | 80 | 33.33% of A Level |

Official syllabus: https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-and-a-level/economics-h060-h460-from-2019/

## What topics are in A Level Economics?

- Basic economic ideas and resource allocation: Defining opportunity cost as 'the cost of a choice' instead of the next best alternative forgone.
- The price system and the microeconomy: Shifting a curve when the question describes a movement along it.
- Government microeconomic intervention: Drawing a subsidy diagram without showing the cost to the government.
- The macroeconomy: Treating a fall in inflation as a fall in the price level.
- Government macroeconomic intervention: Recommending a policy without considering time lags or conflicting objectives.
- International economic issues: Confusing the current account of the balance of payments with the government budget.
- The price system and the microeconomy (A Level): utility, costs and market structures: Placing the profit-maximising point anywhere other than MC = MR on a market-structure diagram.
- Government microeconomic intervention (A Level): efficiency, equity and labour markets: Describing a minimum wage effect without referring to the elasticity of labour demand.
- The macroeconomy (A Level): growth, employment, money and banking: Mixing up the multiplier and the accelerator when explaining changes in national income.
- International economic issues (A Level): exchange rates, development and globalisation: Applying the Marshall–Lerner condition without stating it or explaining the J-curve timing.

## How do you get top marks?

- Label every diagram fully: axes, curves, equilibrium points and the direction of any shift.
- In data-response questions, quote figures from the extract and calculate changes where the question invites it.
- Build each essay paragraph as point, explanation, application to the context, then evaluation.
- Finish essays with a justified judgement that answers the exact question rather than repeating earlier points.
- Practise multiple-choice items with a quick sketch; many questions are solved faster on a rough diagram.

## Fees

1:1: PKR 3,500 / AED 140 / GBP 28 per 60-minute class. Small group: PKR 12,500 per month. [All currencies](https://www.gradeupinternational.com/pricing).

## Frequently asked questions

### How can I get an A* in A Level Economics?

An A* in A Level Economics comes from precise diagrams, applied analysis and consistent evaluation that reaches a supported judgement. Learn the core diagrams until you can draw them accurately from memory. Then practise essays under timed conditions and compare them with level descriptors in the mark schemes. Reading economic news regularly also gives you current examples to apply.

### Is A Level Economics hard?

A Level Economics is moderately demanding, with most difficulty coming from essay evaluation and applying theory to unfamiliar data rather than from the maths. The concepts are logical and build steadily, so students who keep up rarely feel lost. Writing balanced, well-structured essays under time pressure takes practice, which is why regular marked essays make a large difference.

### Do I need Maths for A Level Economics?

You do not need A Level Maths to take A Level Economics, but you should be confident with percentages, index numbers, averages and reading graphs. Economics exams include calculations such as elasticity, percentage change and multipliers. However, many university economics degrees require A Level Maths, so take it alongside Economics if you plan to study economics further.

### How many papers are there in Cambridge A Level Economics 9708?

Cambridge A Level Economics 9708 has four papers: two at AS Level and two more for the full A Level. Paper 1 and Paper 3 are multiple-choice papers, and Paper 2 and Paper 4 combine a data-response question with essays. AS candidates sit Papers 1 and 2 only. The A Level papers assume knowledge of the AS content.

### Which A Level subjects go well with Economics?

Mathematics, Business, Accounting, History and Politics are common partners for A Level Economics. Maths is the most useful for economics degrees, while Business and Accounting suit commercial careers. Essay subjects such as History or Politics build the writing skills that economics essays reward. Compare university entry requirements before deciding your final combination.