Paper 1- The Essay

This is the first paper for both higher and standard level students. Candidates have a choice of four questions and they are required to write an answer to one of them in one hour.

All questions on the paper are divided into two parts. Part (a) is worth 10 marks and part (b) 15 marks. Remember that you will get five minutes reading time before you can start writing. This is gives you an ideal opportunity to identify which questions you are definitely not going to attempt, likewise it may become apparent very quickly which question you are going to write. Use the five minutes to sketch out in your mind a structure to the essay you have chosen. Clearly most marks are available for part (b) so make sure you will have plenty to put down onto paper for this second part when you are making your essay choice.

When the five minutes reading time are over don’t plough straight into writing your response. Clarify your thoughts and jot down the plan to your essay that you were considering during the reading time. Sketch out the diagrams you are intending to make use of. Make sure at this stage you have read the question properly. It is a common error for students to see a key term, such as monopoly, and throw everything own they have learnt on the topic. Be selective with material to ensure your material gets to the heart of the question asked.

Parts (a) and (b) will be linked with regards to the strand of the syllabus that the examiner is testing you on. This is not to say that your answer should be one long essay make sure there is a clear distinction between part (a) and (b)

Remember that part (a) is testing your core economic theory. You will be asked to explain a concept (i.e. natural rate of unemployment) or theory (i.e. the law of diminishing returns) or distinguish between two related economic concepts (i.e. demand and supply side policy). Make sure you write down definitions wherever possible , explain the theory and where appropriate make use of diagram. Remember from an earlier blog never just ‘dump’ a diagram in your answer. Draw it then explain it.

Part (b) will asked you to do more than simply explain an economic theory, you will be asked to evaluate a policy or theory. Don’t repeat all the theory you have used in part (b) but if the question mentions a new economic term make sure you define it. If though you are going to use diagrams similar to in part (a) I would redraw them, examiners don’t want to be flicking back through your answer book.

Always look to evaluate throughout, don’t wait until the end paragraph to use unoriginal phrases such as ‘In summary’ or ‘in conclusion’. Likewise IB examiners will be impressed if you can include real world examples to back up your economic theory. There is no excuse for not doing this in the current economic climate where news papers and websites are packed with economics everyday.

Finally good luck and make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to write a thorough answer to part (b) where most marks can be picked up.