AS Macro: Preparing for Unit 2 (May 2011)

I have updated my revision presentation for students preparing for their Unit 2 macro paper this Friday. Designed mainly for AQA students but might also contain some useful advice for students with other boards. You can download the presentation in several formats using the links below.

Download the PPT version of this presentation
Preparing_for_the_AS_Economics_Macro_Paper.pptx

Streamed version of the presentation can be accessed here

PDF version of the handout can be downloaded here

Remember for the crucial 25 mark evaluation question (AQA)

1/ Several ‘explicit’ references to the extracts (or 21/25 max).
2/ Some reference to the UK economy, using your own knowledge (or 21/25 max).
3/ Plenty of evaluation, throughout your answer (or 13/25 max).
4/ A ‘final judgement’ (or 21/25 max).

Low Level Evaluation (12-16 / 25)
A simple recognition of the advantages and disadvantages of a certain policy.
e.g. “increasing consumer expenditure should generate short-term growth but could prove inflationary”

High Level Evaluation (17+ / 25)
Greater consideration of + and –
e.g. “increasing consumer expenditure should generate short-term growth but could prove inflationary, especially as the economy approaches full capacity and factors of production become scarce and hence more expensive”

*A conclusion is essential and should not just repeat earlier points.
*A supported final judgement is a criterion in the Level 5 mark band (i.e. to get 22+)
*Leave yourself 3-4 minutes for a final judgement of 4-5 lines. This is time proportionately well spent. Try to incorporate a new idea, e.g. how a policy may impact on different parties; how the policy may have different short v long run effects.

Examiner Comments:
Answers should include alternative points of view and these should be clearly identified.
Some attempt should be made to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the different viewpoints. [Rank them if possible]
Where possible, candidates should use data to provide support for arguments or to refute a point of view.
Candidates can also use their own knowledge of developments in the economy to support or reject a point of view.

Online marking
Make sure that you leave at least 2 blank lines between each part of the question. Don’t allow parts of diagrams or inserted words to stray into that space.
Don’t refer to diagrams, or other material, used in other parts of the question. If the diagram is helpful, you will have to draw it again.