A Level Economics 2025-26

Economics A Level is not just for those wishing to pursue a career related to this field of study. It is for those who have an interest in having a greater understanding of our world. Economics helps to prepare you for adult life and all of the challenges that come with becoming financially independent. It is a relevant, useful and interesting subject that engages you in debates, grounds you in the main economic theories and allows you to become more aware of the economic issues that affect you and the world around you.

Whilst Economics is not listed by The Russell Group as a 'facilitating subject', it is a highly regarded academic field of study which can provide the underpinning knowledge, awareness and skills to progress to a wide range of further studies and professions.

Typical A Level subject combinations with Economics are:

Economics, Geography and Maths.
Economics, Geography and Politics.

A Level Economics opens up many options for students at university, and there are many courses available with permutations of Business, Management, Administration, Economics, Accounting and Finance.

Economics also stands up as a strong social science for students who wish to pursue this route and is ideally coupled with the human geography element and the statistics element of mathematics.

Students will apply economic theory to support analysis of current economic problems and issues and appreciate the interrelationships between microeconomics and macroeconomics. The content is engaging and students will relate to what they are learning to the world around them - locally, nationally and globally.

Year 1:
• Economic methodology and the economic problems
• Price determination in a competitive market
• Production, costs and revenue
• The market mechanism, market failure and government intervention in markets
• The measurement of macroeconomic performance
• Economic performance
• Competitive and concentrated markets
• How the macroeconomy works
• Macroeconomic policy

Year 2 (All of the above, plus):
• Perfect competition, imperfectly competitive markets and monopoly
• The labour market
• The distribution of income and wealth: poverty and inequality
• How the macroeconomy works: the circular flow of income, AD/AS analysis and related concepts
• Financial markets and monetary policy
• Fiscal policy and supply side policies
• The international economy

Economics can lead to a wide range of careers in Economics and Finance-related professions including Accountant, Actuarial Analyst, Chartered Accountant, Data Analyst, Economist, Finance and Banking, Financial Risk Analyst, Financial Planner, Forensic Accountant, Investment Analyst, Statistician, Stockbroker.

In addition, the knowledge and skills learned would also be useful for careers including: Actuary, Business Analysis and Development, the Civil Service, Data Science, Diplomacy, Economic and/or Political Journalism, Government and Politics, Management Consultancy, Policy Development and Management, Quantity Surveying.

A-level Economics opens up many options for students at university, and there are many courses available with permutations of Business/Management/Administration/ Economics/Accounting and Finance.

Economics also stands up as a strong social science for students who wish to pursue this route and is ideally coupled with the human geography element and the statistics element of mathematics.

For A Level Economics you will need a grade 5 or above in GCSE Mathematics.

For a three A Level programme you will need to have a minimum of five 9 - 4 grade passes at GCSE which include English
and mathematics.

For a four A Level programme you will need to have a minimum of six 9 - 4 grade passes at GCSE which include English and
mathematics; it is expected that the majority of passes will be at 9 - 7 grade.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

This A Level is assessed at the end of year 2 in three externally marked examinations. All three papers make up a third of the overall final grade.

Paper 1: Markets and market failure.
Paper 2: National and international economy.
Paper 3: Economic principles and issues.

September 2025

Two years, full time.